I don't think it will be difficult to move into the top 4 or 5 late in the season. For one, we have pieces to sell at the deadline. For some teams "ahead" of us like Buffalo and Seattle, they are going to want to salvage the last 1/2 of the season. Especially Buffalo who has been tanking for 12 years. And I don't see a guy like Trotz or Lamoriello giving up on the year, they'll keep trying to win games. The Sharks and Blackhawks will certainly be at the bottom.
Detroit has McLellan and they're going to move ahead of us. We trade Petts for futures, maybe toss Beauvillier and Grzelcyk to contenders, start "shutting down" the big guys in the last couple weeks of the year, we're in the top 5 easily. Ideally top-4 obviously.