E154: Should the Blues trade for Nikishin? What is their biggest weakness?

Yeah.

I mean, I feel like the more I sit with this team and I think this is probably going to be the case in just off season mode, but the more I sit with this team, the more I like it, the more I'm getting excited about what they can do.

And you know, you, you as, In my head, as the metagame evolves, there's more and more to like, I feel like, or more ways for them to be a real threat in the NHL again.

And yeah, there's even ways that they could still improve on this roster, though, if they were to...

I guess we'll get into how much they have or haven't pushed in the chips, I think, and what... you know, potentially could come into this episode.

But also, I would say as as of what they've done so far, I would say they've definitely, I think, put, you know, put it on the table, put the chips in a little bit.

But could they go a little bit more? I think that's what we're here to discuss.

Yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

I think I'm liking what they have done so far with this roster.

Feels like they have addressed a serious area of need, which is the center depth.

Another sort of secondary area of need, which is maybe a little bit more experience on the blue line by bringing in Brandon Carlo.

Maybe he relied a little bit too much on the youth last year.

So I'm seeing the vision for what they're doing and they've done it in a way that hasn't really sacrificed the future of this team.

You know, they haven't put all the chips in on the table necessarily to try and compete in this upcoming season.

Right.

I think sort of.

At best right now, they're competing for maybe the third spot in the central, but more realistically, a wildcard.

I'm thinking divisional spot is like an upper tier outcome for this team.

But realistically, probably going to be hunting for a wildcard spot.

I think they've done a good job of trying to get this team back on track.

but also setting themselves up well for the future, both the next couple of years by bringing in some young players like McTavish and McMichael that can stick around, but also for the future.

They still drafted twice in the top 16 and sort of restocked the...

The prospect pool, they've got a really solid, really deep prospect system now that can continue to replenish the team over the years or to use those as trade pieces once you have identified the type of team you want to build.

So I see the vision.