Have we learned nothing from Burakovsky and Stephenson?
I get it, Vrana is the new whipping boy (just as we knew he would be after Burakovsky was traded). But at a certain point patience is going to pay off more than cycling thru all of the team's skilled wingers.
Quotation shortened.
I dont have clear vision over what to do with Vrana right now, but Burakovsky and Stephenson succeeding in other organizations should not weight anything on the debate. Those guys are succeeding because they got out to a better fit for where they were as players, not because they just "needed another year". It wasnt just a fit here, with the team and where the players were and the comfortable level they were with us, and they got more than enough of years here to find their place. We can just be happy they were part of the SC team and founded success elsewhere aswell.
If Vrana-train goes that way too, then so be it. These are good players (Bura, Majo, Vrana), but not something we should be overly worried about. Those guys come and go. If BM and Lavi decides they want someone else on the 2nd line, im fine with it. If they decide to keep Vrana, im fine with that too. Whatever it takes to give our real core the best kicking chance to win four playoff series.
I like Vrana, but also see the flaws. Sometimes he is a bit of a passenger, and although i think playoff stats are highly overrated, it doesnt look all good that he does have 0 points the last two runs. Its propably best to re-evaluate after this season anyways, but I wouldnt hang up the phone if someone wanted to discuss before that either.
I agree with Raikkonen for that asset management should not be much of an priority for us right now. Whatever assets it takes to compete for the remaining short window, I just dont care. I have zero interest right now how we look the season after Ovie retires. If you can find a guy who BM/Lavi thinks is better for us than Vrana this season or the next, go get him. I dont care if its for an older or slower guy, but just make sure its a fit.