Final mock for a while. I've refined this one for weeks, to the point where I don't think I can improve it.
This is a realistic path back to success. Rather than firesale a bunch of assets for a likely short-term answer, here's the plan:
Step 1:
Trade two dmen who didn't perform well in Krueger's system to completely stabilize the center spine. If this team doesn't make the playoffs, it'll be on offensive talent, not completely broken team composition. (I know Krueger loves Risto, but math doesn't)
Zacha may not get people excited, but he's an elite penalty killer on a beautiful contract, and the kind of center Skinner has played well with. (NJD was also rumored to want Risto, and rumored to be dangling Zacha).
Tierney is the ideal Larsson replacement, and saves us the trouble of paying Montour. (Btw, Ottawa fans love this deal.)
Step 2:
Use ufa to fill out the defense, short term. Solutions are coming, so just try to find some good placeholders. Gudas would be perfect next to Dahlin. Sekera can be a good vet 3rd-pair guy on the cheap.
Step 3:
BE PATIENT and wait for pick-8, Cozens, and Mittelstadt to lead the charge. Every kind of dman prospect you can want, we have. (The superstar - Dahlin, the Hjalmarsson - Joker, the new age Defensive Dman - Johnson, the toughness- Samuelsson/Borgen, the transition guy - Bryson, the offensive guy - Laaksonen). Our goaltending prospects are also solid.
These trades/moves also give us decent cap. If the Pegulas really cheap out, they could skip Kyle Clifford (I wouldn't. We need that veteran toughness).
This plan doesn't have that pipedream sexy move, but it's realistic, simple, and gives us a chance to actually develop the talent we possess rather than selling low.
If Jack continues to grow, Skinner rebounds with a real center, Ullmark continues to grow into a real 1, Dahlin transcends, we'll be a playoff pushing team in 2021-2022, AND have a bright future that's close.
