This team desperately needs to clean up some of this roster. Smith, Kindl, Big E, Howie, Helm, Quincey, and Richards need to go before next season. The first half just aren't good and the latter are just redundant players. If we need to eat a bit of salary or lose a pick or two so be it. This franchise cannot continue to overspend on midline players, if they want to compete.
In the cap world you have to spend big on your stars and rotate almost everyone else. Very soon guys like Larkin and Mrazek are going to be making 5 or 6 mil, and we are still going to be eating Z and Franzen contracts. Abby will also eventually join them.
Holland needs to figure out soon if Pulks is a legit NHL winger. If he is, then one of Tats or Nyquist needs to be moved for a dman. If not, he needs to be moved before he becomes waiver fodder, ala Jurco. Wings don't need 3 small top 6 wingers, especially since Z will join that group soon.
Holland also needs to figure out who of Marchy, Jensen, Oulette, and Sproul are legit NHL dman. Marchy appears to be, but he needs a full time spot, and Oulette at least needs a cup o tea at the NHL level. They are all losing waiver exemption soon and if we can spend 2 mil on the bottom pair vs 5 or 6 we are in a much better position cap wise.
Your old guard Z, Dats, Kronner and new base Mrazek and Larkin should be the only people safe. I'll throw in DD unless we are moving him for a true number 1. Young cheap guys don't remain cheap for very long anymore. You have to plan for this, and I don't think Holland has done a very good job in planning for this next crop of raises. Loyalty to mid level players doesn't get you anywhere in the cap world.