All the things I'm missin'… Are waiting at the end of my ride

I'm with ya JW. No point being cautious in a year that we aren't contenders (yet). I would have been ok with a guy like Marty who is versatile and could have played about 40-50 games in a mentor role. I'm willing roll the dice on Brodziak.

Is Cogs willing to eat, breathe, live game tapes of Mike Peca and Todd Marchant?

Is Pouliot willing to release his inner Carbonneau?

Is Penner willing to backcheck hard at 3LW?

This could turn into a real ugly mess or work out beautifully. I'm hopin for the latter, but suspect the former.

This is a serious issue. I don't think the organization can survive another year out of the playoffs, in its present form.

With Gagner, Cogliano, Brodziak as developing centres on the team and lots of pluggers in the system, there is NO reason to be developing a Pouliot right now.

Not when we could've had a Peca or Vasicek type at an affordable price for a couple of years.

I like Pouliot, don't get me wrong, but we have a team that can do some damage in the playoffs this year without him, and there's really no long term need to hold him (unless Cogs or Brodz are expected future trade bait)...

So what the eff? Why risk the playoffs themselves?

Pouliot to me, does not look like a "mission fom Gad".

With Gagner, Cogliano, Brodziak as developing centres on the team and lots of pluggers in the system, there is NO reason to be developing a Pouliot right now.

Not when we could've had a Peca or Vasicek type at an affordable price for a couple of years.

I like Pouliot, don't get me wrong, but we have a team that can do some damage in the playoffs this year without him, and there's really no long term need to hold him (unless Cogs or Brodz are expected future trade bait)...

Well, developing Pouliot is a side not for an organization with serious questions yet to be answered about the young players (particularly the forwards). Here are some of the questions that I imagine need answering this year:

a) How high is Nilsson's upside? Are we talking a guy who can play second-line minutes effectively, or an all-round player who can bolster the powerplay and see first-line duty?

2) Where does Cogliano fit in? Centre or wing? Checking line or scoring line? Tradebait?

3) Can Penner play an all-round game? Can he mesh with a variety of linemates or will his lack of foot-speed serve as a roadblock? What can he do if he shows up all season in good shape?

4) Is Erik Cole part of this team long-term?

5) Is Kyle Brodziak suited for a checking line or scoring role? Can he cut down on goals against. or play better opposition?

6) Is Gilbert for real?

7) Where does Grebeshkov fit in?

8) What is Ladislav Smid's upside? Shut-down defender?

9) Is Mathieu Garon a legitimate starting goaltender?

With these kind of key questions, why not develop a guy who could be an elite checker and maybe fill-in on a scoring line in Pouliot on the cheap? Why not see if Deslauriers can play NHL hockey?

It certainly wouldn't have broken my heart to see Vasicek signed to a three year deal, or an offer tossed at Curtis Brown/Marty Reasoner, but I don't think this team contends now. This year they need to take positive steps (incl. the playoffs), and seperate the wheat from the chaff. Next year they contend.