There aren’t many ways to shed 3 million contract in December without giving up draft capital or prospects. Just to trade more draft capital and prospects for Zadorov for 5 months . Please make it make sense . I’m begging you . BTW my family has had season tickets since they moved to NJ and I’ve been going for 35+ years . LGD
Well you start by making better decisions on who you sign. With the cloud over them I save money by not resigning McLeod, and not signing Foote. In the off-season Fitzgerald needed to give himself MORE cap space. Everyone knew the deficiencies we have now, we're likely there then. So yes I think he should have traded at least 1 player he signed, to give him more cap room and get an intimidating player(s) to make us more able to take care of each other.
That is a quick cliffnotes like example. Our problem is NOT just Ruff, it is roster construction! I'm not going to envision a hypothetical trade, but for a physical presence like Zadorov there is a lot I would do to make it happen. We're almost in March, and the same issues still need to be dealt with. We still need toughness!
Fitzgerald also is responsible for a few really bad contract decisions. Of course Palat. For the term I wouldn't have signed him for more than 3.75 million per year. Not to be outdone, don't sign Jonas and Marino for so MUCH, off of 1 contract year. Tough call but in hindsight I would have traded Bratt last year before the trade deadline. He is a great talent, but with no real snarl or huge nasty player's, we needed to trade one of our fast skilled forwards. We are way too easy to play against.
Fitz picked great with the Captain and Jack, but you add in Luke, Nemec, Bratt, Mercer, Toffoli, and Holtz to name a few, and we are too small to maximize the top end talent because everyone sees you beat on the Devils and they wilt. So the way I see it once you have several really good scorers who are small and skinny, you should get size, power, and grit. The fighting/toughness is coming back to the NHL, especially in the playoffs. You need more than speed and skill. You must HAVE size, strength, and defense. Besides Nico our forwards aren't great defensively, and we don't have legitimate Pair 1 defensemen. Yes maybe Nemec and Luke in time, but not now.
Congratulations on your season tickets, I reacted to your subtle knocks. I DON'T try to bust balls of anyone else here as such I don't appreciate it. If I don't agree 99.9% of the time I leave it alone. I don't try to make an example of someone, so I can seem cool as that person gets ridiculed. I don't live where I can go anymore, but I watch them all. As important as this is to me, it's not real life, I try to have fun with it as such.
I'm sure this thread is read by more than the few that post, they may be new or casual fans. When people read posts like the one you sent me this morning, I'm sure some think forget about it, because no one wants to deal with annoyance when they are trying to have fun and will get publically called out if they don't address an aspect.