Last post till next year.
On one hand, if we had lost to Columbus in the first round the year before (we were very, very lucky to win), this team would go down as one of the biggest choking dog teams over a prolonged period in all of sports! On the other hand, there is a lot of luck in the playoffs and we won a Cup!
On the coaching - I'm not sure about Rierdon, but don't know enough to really judge him. I do know he needed to make changes in the special teams play - either by changing the assistant in charge or dictating a new system. He also needed to get a faceoff coach (other teams do that). However, overall he might be stuck with a team chemistry that just doesn't have the continuing burning desire to win - other than a few players.
On the players, I fear we are going to get smoked in the next few years as some other teams are really looking strong, with some special young players. I watched Colorado with Kale Makar joining their defense right out of college - that kid is fantastic. Look out for Colorado next year and a handful of others. I had hoped that Kuzy, Vrana and Orlov would be those guys for us and they were all non-factors in the playoffs.
On Carlson, like Rush, I have a reluctant acceptance/tolerance.
Overall, I keep trying to stay optimistic. If nothing else, hockey has proven to be a game where the best team doesn't always win the Cup and we should at least have some hope in the next couple years.