I'll be the first to point out that James "the Real Deal" Neal and MAF are true greats, and they took the least complete Vegas Knights team I have seen yet to the Stanley Cup Finals.
This MAF is no longer that MAF. Vezina or not...I have watched the decline.
Now Lehnar helped him just like Lankinen would....because he struggles with fatigue. Thats been rumored since the Murray tandem days...and he had a resurgence when Murray showed up to take some load.
I think he could give a great season or two and get flipped at the trade deadline if we aren't contenders, help Lanky with techniques and professionalism, and its a great deal whether its dead cap to use at the deadline, or whether its trade bait.
Suter to me is the big loss. Pious Suter was legit and we let him go. I'd look at the scoring draughts on other "bad" teams.
Something gave a Hawks team some of us knowledgable fans predicted for 6 wins as a challenge a chance.
Lankinen clearly was the unexpected there, but Suter was also huge in creating a competitive spark and avoid embarrassment.
I do think this all-in business can at least save the Hawks from deep embarrassment before they finally decide to cash in on there remaining assets.