Dubas can say what he wants, but next year is no better, not with Acciari, Hayes, Malkin, Letang all still signed and declining. Add in Jarry, Ned, Rust, who is due a decline at his age and play style, and Graves.... There's way too many passengers to be much of a threat. Playoffs in a horrible East, yeah maybe. But if he's planning a competitive run, the turnover on this team is going to be insane.
There's some promising younger guys like Thomasino, Novak, Koly etc etc... but I think we have way more anchors than we do oars.