They haven't tanked, but they're going to be the 2nd youngest team in the NHL this season or close to it. And will remain one of the youngest teams as they shed Deslauriers, Risto, Laughton, Seeler and eventually Hathaway over the next three seasons.
They traded Provorov for what is turning out to be (2) 1sts, (2) 2nds & Grans.
The only older player added by Briere is Hathaway.
Staal/Johnson are 7th D-men on one year deals. Eventually replaced by prospects.
He extended Seeler as a caddy for Drysdale.
Briere inherited Sanheim and Couts contracts, extended TK, that's your three veterans that teams like NJ traded for/bought in FA (Meier $8.8M, Palat $6M, Noesen $2.75M, Hamilton $9M, Pesce $5.5M, Dillon $4M - Meier cost 2023 1st, 2024 2nd, Mukhamadulin #20-2020)
TK isn't about rebuilding/not rebuilding.
They're already a PO caliber team if goalies are merely league average instead of 30th.
Think TK is more about how thin the FA market has become, instead of adding a couple 30 year old veterans two years from now they'll just ride their trio of veterans under long-term deals.