Look at it on the bright side - Colorado just made the playoffs from an actually worse season than ours. Toronto did the same the year before. There is hope. For me it's always new season - new hope. Yes, I might start steaming at the roster again in November but I won't give up hope before I see the product on the ice come October.
First step is getting rid of the FRAUD that is Housley. Joke of a coach, joke of a motivator, joke of a mentor for a young team. Start from the top and work down with the changes.
Forward:
We have the spine set. I think ROR stays despite the rumors he's made available. If he doesn't I expect some 3C to be coming back as part of the trade as a replacement so I am not worried about the 1-2-3 down the middle. Larsson as 4C is passable but I prefer some experience defensive stalwart off UFA - there are some choices so that Larsson slides as the extra forward, where his place is....
On the wing things are getting a bit desperate but let's assume we draft one of Svechnikov or Zadina. Both in theory should be NHL ready. Let's assume that Oloffson can make the team out of camp too as he's had 4.5 full pro seasons in Sweden. Don't think he needs any slow cooking considering the state of the team. Baptiste is OK for the bottom 6. CJ Smith should be alright for the bottom 6...and just give Nylander his shot - whether he's looking ready or not, he needs to start getting established at the next level if we are going to go somewhere next season. So assuming we draft Svech it's something like this:
Girgs - Jack - Olofsson
X - ROR - Reinhart
Nylander - Mittelstadt - Svechnikov
Smith - X - Baptiste
Larsson, Bailey (extras)
In the case of getting Svechnikov who is RW we should look to offload Okposo...for nothing, retain some salary and get it done. Some team would bite at him at 4mil per cap. We still have to find a good LW off UFA. Try to get JVR or Perron off UFA - the draft class is not looking good for UFA's if we assume Neal and Kane are re-signed. Nash is shot, Maroon is useless, and there is not much else there too. Would be great if they can find some college or Euro gem for the LW position as things are a bit desperate there.
If we get Zadina things are looking easier to fit:
Girgs - Jack - Olofsson
Zadina - ROR - Reinhart
Nylander - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Smith - X - Baptiste
Larsson, Bailey (extras)
We could then keep Okposo and then we have Bailey, Baptiste and Okposo to rotate for the bottom 6 RW. Zadina could realistically slot in the top 6 solving a big organisational headache there after Kane left.
If we get D, you keep Okposo and you still have a hole on the left to fill:
Girgs - Jack - Olofsson
X - ROR - Reinhart
Nylander - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Smith - X - Baptiste
Larsson, Bailey (extras)
Defensively things are not looking good at all IMO. Our best shot at fixing that mess is if we get Dahlin obviously:
X - Risto
Scandella - Dahlin
Guhle - Nelson
Finding a top pairing-worthy D is a headache. There is not much in UFA - maybe take a shot at a stopgap like Enstrom or De Haan and hope for the best while using the 32 pick on LD or trading one of Davidsson or Asplund for an NHL-ready LD?
If we get F or D that is not NHL ready it's a glorious mess
X - Risto
Scandella - X
Guhle - Nelson
Would love to get Carlson at RD but don't think he will hit UFA. Best bet is to get 2 stopgap D in Green, Pateryn (RD) and Enstrom, De Haan (LD) but this is still not a great D corp:
Scandella - Risto
Enstrom - Pateryn
Guhle - Nelson
I'd be ready to trade one of Davidsson or Asplund in a trade for an NHL-ready D prospect (something along the lines of Fabbro, McKeown, Gabe Carlsson, Fleury, Bean, Myers, Andersson, Kylington, Valimaki to fill one of the spots as it will be extremely challenging getting 2 competent D off UFA without giving our silly contracts. For some of these probably the other team has to add, for some we have to add - just make the trade work, we only really need 1 and there are plenty of potential targets.
In goal things are not looking great. We have Ullmark and not much else. Off UFA, I'd throw money at Bernier if the Avs don't re-sign him before the season ends or if they really believe in Ullmark as starter then at least get an upper level backup in Hutton. I know it may sound crazy to some, but I'd trade someone like Asplund or our 2019 1st (top3 protected) for Grubauer, I like Grubauer that much. If there is no good trade to be made for a goalie stick with Ullmark, he has at least shown he deserve a shot, whether he takes it or not we will see.
Buyout the crap we don't need to keep - Pominville is a prime candidate, so are Tennyson and Beaulieu who are absolutely a drag on the organization with them just being present here. Bogo can stay as 7D or even down in Rochester but I wouldn't rely on him to build my starting roster with his injury record and Botts shouldn't either if he has any common sense.
Bottom line is we can make it work by reshuffling the supporting cast and going with youth.
If we go into the season with this team, I will be excited and it doesn't even assume we pick top2 or trading for Grubi or landing some not very realistic UFA like Tavares or Carlson! :
Girgs - Jack - Olofsson
Zadina - ROR - Reinhart
Nylander - Mittelstadt - Okposo
Smith - Brodziak - Baptiste
Larsson, Bailey (extras)
Scandella - Risto
Enstrom - Andersson
Guhle - Nelson
Bogo
Ullmark
Bernier