I've had a lot of time to think it over. If we're gonna suck we need to just let it happen. I know I said that already. But Stamkos and Hedman are legitimately old AF now in hockey years and the idea of winning a championship with Stamkos and Hedman at 34 and 35 as our cornerstones is insane. That is the kind of crap Pittsburgh wakes up and snorts every morning but I argue our situation is far better. The Lightning as a whole need to accept that guys like them Point, Vasy and Kucherov will soon be the secondary pieces of the next championship puzzle now. And that is okay. Now, this like year 11 of the window. Unless our boys in Syracuse are literally gonna pull 2016 reload weight, we need to just accept that it is closed for now. And that is okay.
That doesn't mean "gobble gobble oMg tradez Kucherov11!!!1!!!" more like the HOFers just reprise the role of St. Louis and Lecavalier in 2011 and 2012. If we are out of answers, look like shit every night and can't even crack .500 at Christmas then just trade your Cirellis, Pauls, Cernaks, Sergachevs and pick 6th overall. THAT'S the guy we need that we can't get right now.
Who cares? 4 trips to the Finals and a back to back. Haters can bite our ass. It's not like we won't be back. I have unconditional trust that if we go that route, we are going to kill it. It wouldn't take more than a few years and in the meantime we get to watch glorious stat padding for our hall of famers.