I would be shocked if Grier DID NOT target someone in the following UFA pool this offseason. Whether we actually sign them or not is obviously unclear. Dillon, DeMelo, Pesce, Skjei, Myers, and various others like them... veterans that are better than Rutta, still have some years in them, on a 2-3 year deal at 3-5MM, or the Skjei/Pesce 5 years/ 6-7MM kind of level (don't crucify me, maybe higher, maybe lower, I don't really care, I think he'll kick the tires, but no more than 5 years term).
The Cernak debate is about more than Cernak (Per
@Gecklund post just above). I think a lot of people would be OK with a trade for a player like this, I don't think very many of us are OK with trading 14OA or an asset like Bystedt for him or like him. But it is a relevant discussion and it's not out of the realm of possibility if Hasso is getting itchy after that horrendous season.
Given what Grier said, I don't think he'd add term for 7 years, as he said looking for more 3-4 year terms or "5 if we really like the player" but if he did, it would be with a 27 year old or younger.
We do need a trade or signing in the top 4 of our D so that we can push everyone down the lineup one slot. Ideally 2 of them. Could give us a shot to finish bottom 5 (but still likely bottom 3). With 2 picks next year, we could be rolling in excellent prospects by June 2025. IMHO that's what we need, so any trade should not give up a top 5 prospect of ours (maybe we see Bords or Gushchin moved though).