Oh no...

The amount of times someone said a goodbye to me that was not applicable to me and I repeated it back to them without using my brain cannot be counted. It's embarrassing every time.

Example:

Customer says to me, the worker: "Hope the rest of your shift goes well"

Me, an idiot: "Thanks, you too!"

Pretty much this.

Mind you, he could also figure all that out by the end of the year still. I just know that RIGHT NOW he doesn't seem like one of the top tier first overall picks and may not wind up being first overall this year.

He's not BAD, and he'll be top 5. But there's a lot to his game that's been less than good from what I've seen and read, to the point you can consider him more like a Nylander (who is good! but flawed) than a Celebrini/Schaefer/Bedard.

McKenna also isn't that good

(ducks)

I try not to go on and on about it, but... I hate him so much.

And they don't have the speed/passing outside of a small handful who could do it reliably anyway lol

They got away with this last year, but I do think their defensive zone system combined with their personnel exacerbates their inability to get it out. They stick in their tight grouping to deny dangerous shots, but refuse to chase for loose pucks and take themselves out of the alignment.

Arguably the biggest problem isn't even losing Marner. It's losing who Stolarz/Woll were last year. They went from one of the top goalies in saves above expected/still upper third of the league to below average and hasn't even played yet but Hildeby and Primeau have and oh god the flashbacks!

Not all playmakers need to be the best passers. Guys like Knies can be good playmakers just by causing offensive chaos. His size and scoring prowess in close has actual gravity, pulling defenders towards him. His in-close skill, puck thievery and ability to keep plays alive creates chances.