[quote name="whalerhawk"]I'm not arguing with you Ron, but that's a lot of assumptions.
Gone are:
A two time Stanley Cup Winner (Ladd)---Worst of the guys that left(meaning the most important to them). His two way game, primarily defensive is astonishing. I don't know the fact he's NOW a two time Cup winner has much to do with that though. His first was him as a rookie and last was a Stacked team. Hardest spot to replace IMO, but does Bickell, Brouwer step in that role? I'd take Brouwer over Ladd at this point.
A Conn Smythe candidate (Buff)---Played great in the playoffs for 2 1/2 series. Non factor against Nashville, part of the Sharks, and Part of the Flyers. Had fans screaming all year for him to be traded for his lack of consistency. Hands down right or wrong he was most definitely inconsistent all year AND in the playoffs. (was huge against the Canucks and last two games against Philly). Could be replaced by Beach, Bickell, but to short change them before the chance? Not happening by me
A former Selke winner and three time cup champion (Madden)---Was pretty much a non factor other than the experience he brings from the Limo incident on. Now that we have OTHER Cup winning experience and his age means Dowell/Reasoner will fill in nice.
A penalty kill specialist (Sopel)--As long as Cullimore only got PK he would be just as good as Sopel there. For PK only. PK and blocking shots were really the best things about Sopels game.
A solid fourth line center (Fraser)----Could be replaced by a number of guys. I'd say very close to Dowell and probably Reasoner. Sorry Fraser is NOT a make or Break Player.
And two, above average energy forwards (Eager and Burish) 4th line players. Period.
Bickell-Dowell-Skille would be a BETTER 4th line than last year IMO.
and maybe both of our netminders (one for certain).---Going to miss Huet? Really? Is that something to even laugh at now? Huets record was directly due to the team in front of him. His SV% sucked. One could almost say the same thing about Neimi in winning behind a great team, although technically I think Niemi is the better technical goalie.
That's a fair amount of talent and guys who knew how to win. Replacing them in the lineup, most likely, will be...
Stalberg, Bickell, Reasoner, Skille, Visnievskiy, Lalonde, and Jake Dowell.
Could our "core" guys improve to the point where the drop off isn't noticeable? Certainly. It could happen. I just don't see nearly 50 goals and 11 Stanley Cup rings being fully replaced by the 7 guys that are coming in. I just don't. That's not being negative, that's being realistic.[/quote]
I clearly don't agree with you. And again think the team coming could be just as talented as the team leaving. And if those three guys Toews, Hossa, and Kane get 30 goals more between JUST THEM, you've accounted for almost half of the 74 goals you've lost by ALL the players leaving combined.
Winning the Cup two years in a row is almost impossible. Keeping your core and building around it is what makes IT possible.
