I answered 'Stanley Cup Contenders' but I wish there was an option between that and "regular playoff team but never serious contenders.' I see the incoming core turning into a regular playoff team that isn't usually a serious contender but has 1 or 2 seasons where things go right and they are genuinely in that mix. So more than 'never' serious contenders but not enough to be viewed as one of the truly elite teams of the decade.
All that said, I think it is extremely hard to predict this since we have already confirmed a GM change within the timeframe. If Dvorsky/Snuggy are ready to make the jump as legit NHL contributors next year, does Army make a massive move to bring in immediate D help to make one final kick at the can in his last year as GM? how involved is Steen in the medium-to-long term decision making process right now? Are they working together specifically to open a window for Steen's tenure or is Steen simply waiting to inherit whatever the roster/organization looks like when Army leaves? Will Steen have the same/similar lines in the sand as Army in contract negotiations? How much of the front office moves on after Army leaves?
This organization could go so many different directions in the next couple years. As much as Army has been publicly talking about staying competitive, I genuinely have no clue what the internal expectations for this 2024/25 roster are.
Thomas is untouchable. Buch is untouchable (he was given a full NTC for this year when he signed the extension). Kyrou could theoretically be moved prior to his NTC kicking in 7/1/25, but I think it is highly unlikely and it wouldn't be in a deal for pure futures. And while we probably don't have a truly "untouchable" prospect, I feel comfortable saying that Dvorsky, Jricek, Lindstein, and Broberg aren't getting moved.
Other than that, I could see anyone else in the organization being moved by this time next year. I'm not convinced that we're finished with the 'asset accumulation' portion of the retool and I have a really hard time gauging what we could eventually be without knowing how the next 18 months goes. I don't see many people penciling in Faulk, Leddy, or Saad into the long term plans (for good reason). At some point during the Thomas contract, the team will be moving on from Binner. The timing and method of how the Blues move on from these guys makes a big difference when you're talking long term outlook.