If we're talking 2027-28, more than half of that season's roster is not on the current roster and likely isn't even in the organization right now, guaranteed. One or two are yet to be drafted, at least three will be the result of trades of current players, and there will be at least two FA signings if not more.
I'd hazard that all of Jenner, Olivier, Danforth, Johnson, Tarasov, Jiricek, Greaves, and Gudbranson are gone then at the very least. At least one of the Russian trio is gone, if not two or even all three.
flashy FA/trade target/2025 1st rounder - Fantilli - Brindley
FA/trade target/one of the Russians - Lindstrom - one of the Russians
35yo Gaudreau - Sillinger or FA/trade target - FA/trade target/2025 pick/current prospect we don't expect
Malatesta maybe - large bruising FA/trade target - McCue maybe
Werenski - Mateychuk/trade target/FA
Mateychuk/Svozil/FA/trade target - Severson/Elick
FA/trade target/prospect/Svozil - Severson/Elick
FA/trade target
Ivanov
Maybe we get lucky and development explodes for a Pinelli, Strathman, Whitelaw, etc.
This team needs to follow the Avalanche build path, imo. Build from your MacKinnon analogue even if he's lesser than MacKinnon (one of Fantilli/Lindstrom). Get him a Nichushkin from the scrap heap, then get a Rantanen-type or hope we've got one in house (ideally you go get McGroarty and hope that that terrifying Wolverine line can continue to be terrifying in the NHL too). Lower lines you need violent boys and sleek skaters, and hope you got lucky during the build phase and have your 2C in house (hopefully the other of Fantilli/Lindstrom). Find a puck-moving, top-tier skating first line D and pair him with someone who locks it down (and fiding your Toews might actually be harder than finding your Makar-lite, which we might already have in Mateychuk and/or Werenski since Jiricek's skating is not his strength), then find another who can score sneaky goals. If you've got that, you can rely o ann average goalie who isn't a liability. The rest is noise.