I'm not buying the Elias Pettersson rumor yet, retention is usually just an excuse for teams trying to appear picky... still, gotta be disappointed about no Bunting, would've been a nice speed boost on the wing...
I'm with you, Bunting's speed would be a game-changer. And I think we're sleeping on what could've been a sneaky-good value in terms of upside/floor for the 32nd pick. Can't help but wonder if he'd have filled the void left by Larkin's injury bug last season...
I think we're giving retention as an excuse too much credit, teams are just trying to manage their cap space effectively these days and get value for their assets, after all retention is a myth of old now. I'd love to see what Bunting could've done for us, but let's not forget he was only 5'9" with 15% zone entries this season, we need players who can dominate on both ends of the ice and create offense consistently.
I'm with Dan on Bunting being that speed boost we needed. Annie makes some good points about cap management and retention, but for me it's still hard to let go of what could've been when it comes to getting a potential speed demon like him to fill in those voids.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around missing out on Bunting's speed - it would've been a total game-changer for us especially with Larkin being injured so often lately. I think we did have some solid chances at making moves, but now we're left wondering what could've been, and yeah, retention doesn't really cut it as an excuse anymore in today's NHL.
You're all getting worked up about Bunting, kid. I get it, he would've been a nice addition, but let's remember the Production Line was built on players like Abel and Lindsay who didn't exactly match up size-wise with the opposition either.
I think we're getting caught up in what could've been on offense, but let's be real, the real issue was our D-zone coverage and gap control last season. We didn't really address that with the moves we made or didn't make.
can we please give Kasper some time too? all this talk about what could've been with Bunting is understandable but let's not forget Marco was still only 20 last season and has plenty of potential - his ceiling is still higher than many are giving him credit for.
I'm surprised no one's brought up the cap implications of signing Bunting - his AAV would've likely put us right at the luxury tax line, which is a major consideration given our current roster and future free agents like Mantha. We need to balance adding speed with keeping room for our RFA players, especially if we're planning on pursuing big names in the offseason.
I agree with you on the cap implications, Mike - that AAV would've been a stretch considering our current commitments and upcoming UFAs. It's possible Kasper was considered but ultimately deemed too pricey given our roster needs and financial realities.