To me he’s the bellweather for whether they are serious about contending, for the exact reasons you mention.
If he’s on line 1, 2, or 3 they aren’t good enough to sniff a cup, because it means they didn’t improve the top 6 enough to ensure that line three consists of 3 out of Coyle, Poitras, Geekie, Frederic.
Their shot at contention lies in their ability to add two difference making forwards to the top 6, while providing a third line that is going win their matchup most nights.
They can win a cup with:
Pasta, Zacha, Marchand, one of Lindholm, Stephenson, Monahan, one of Kane, Tarasenko, and Geekie or Frederic in the top 6.
Geekie/Frederic, Coyle or Poitras on line 3.
Beecher, Lauko, Kastelic, possibly Boqvist (who will probably be cheaper than Heinen) or maybe Kuntar on line 4.
Screw the plays up and down the lineup garbage. Unless he wants to be here for 1.5-1.75, which he probably won’t…he’s not worth it.
Especially with the Korpisalo disaster, you can’t spend 2.75 or more on a guy who’s best skill is that “he won’t hurt you too bad if he needs to fill in for someone better”.
Among everyone I placed in the above lineup, he’s only better than a few guys in the bottom 6……but all of them make less and are already signed (or will make less in the case of Boqvist).
He’s entirely Unnecessary.