MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Tough to give his off season a grade with the tactical shit show that has gone on. I mean, on paper he turned Kadri-Zaitsev-Hainsey into Kerfoot-Barrie-Ceci. That's a pretty significant infusion of ability overall.
The backup goalie issue is imo, inextricably linked to the Marner mistake he made. I get why he did it, but it was always a bad contract. Free up the 1.5 million in cap space between Mucho's deal and what he should have gotten, and you get yourself a Casey DeSmith for free on waivers in October.
I know you will bring up the "signing elite talent is never the problem" angle, but I'm honestly not sure if Mitch is legitimately elite 5 on 5. That he's flopped pretty hard at the same time JT flopped pretty hard during 5 on 5 play can't be ignored man. Overpaying for what might not be actual elite talent might very much a problem this year.
The backup goalie issue is imo, inextricably linked to the Marner mistake he made. I get why he did it, but it was always a bad contract. Free up the 1.5 million in cap space between Mucho's deal and what he should have gotten, and you get yourself a Casey DeSmith for free on waivers in October.
I know you will bring up the "signing elite talent is never the problem" angle, but I'm honestly not sure if Mitch is legitimately elite 5 on 5. That he's flopped pretty hard at the same time JT flopped pretty hard during 5 on 5 play can't be ignored man. Overpaying for what might not be actual elite talent might very much a problem this year.