I too have been a fan since day 1. With 2 notable exceptions the team has never been a real contender Most of the time in between as with now, the team is mediocre, it manages to barely get in to the playoffs, or has a late season surge to get somewhat close. What it always means is the teams potential is ALWAYS over estimated, they never break it down and try to build it when they have an opportunity, and instead spend endless draft picks on rental players, and over pay guys like Rousell, Erickson, Beagle, Sutter, Pearson, OEL, and the list goes on, thinking that one guy is all they need.
Two years ago they could have gotten significant returns for Tanev and Markstrom, two guys they knew they couldn't sign. Instead they give away prospects and picks for Toffoli, who they also couldn't sign. A year later they try to replace Toffoli with Garland, and give up 9th overall pick and take on an albatross contract in OEL (and have a worse defenseman than Tanev for 3 million more AND 3 extra years!) . In a world where they were trying to build a top team, they would have sold the guys they could have gotten returns for , let all the bad contracts ( Beagle, Erikkson Rousell etc) run out this year, have another decent pick this year, and some cap space next year to fill some holes. Instead they are capped out, have no prospects, and are stuck with OEL for another 6 years. Will they sneak into the playoffs? Maybe and face Colorado! Perhaps that's all ownership wants, to get 2 or 3 playoff revenue games per year, maybe get lucky and get 4 or 5 once in a while.