I simply can't get past Gillis' biggest mistake, which was trading Cory Schneider for peanuts.
This to me this was an absolute bomb of a move, that has the potential to set us back for 5 years or more, while it set New Jersey up for the next decade (just look at Edmonton who is still searching for a #1 goalie).
Here's why it was such a colossal failure:
- Schneider was developed patiently and pretty much perfectly for 6 years by our organization.
- That type of time and investment is not easy to re-create.
- He is still only 28 years old and puts up some of the best numbers in the NHL.
- We got a (barely) top-10 pick for him.
- I like Horvat and hope he can be a top-6 centre, but he's a prospect. Schneider is a blue chip asset just entering his prime.
- Now we are in a position for the forseeable future where we "hope" Lack can take us there and get hot at the right time.
If we aren't careful, we will turn into the Edmonton Oilers, a veteran group that ages out of form, is replaced by young prospects, and has no goaltending, leaving the organization and fan base hoping that a young core can lift the team back up again. A lot harder to do without the pillar of strength of a Cory Schneider between the pipes.