From my point of view our problem is this.
We are a hardworking team. When we win, its because we work harder, are more disciplined and focused than the team we play. That does not really apply to the other top teams in this league. Our style takes it toll on us, and naturally we gaze at the teams that that for parts of the regular season can somewhat cruise to a top position in the league and then win the cup when they can combine a dominating style with hard work in the POs (kind of, nobody can really cruise during the reg season anymore, but you get my point). So far this season, we have played some really good hockey for stretches in certain areas. But overall when playing that style we give up chances and we do NOT put games away. The result of course is that it is.
Hence, I think we somewhat are at a crossroads here. From my point of view, we should do anything possible to win a cup. To win that Cup, I think we got to try to evolve our play. Become better with the puck. Take another step and close in on a team like Chicago. To do that we need players like Yandle be put in a role on this team where he can function well and we can use his passing game. We need skilled players learning how to make plays with the puck without exposing us defensively. We need to learn how to put games away. We just need to do all of those things better, or odds seem -- overwhelming -- that we will be a team that comes close year in and year out, but not really close because some team will always "ace it" any given year and we will not have that potential. There is a reason for why we got Yandle, and its not mainly the PP. Its to be a part of a team that plays with much greater confidence with the puck and to a larger extent takes the puck to the other team. I definitely think he has been quite good in that area this year. Not many players in this league process the game as fast as he does and still have that quality in his passing game. Not any PMD really would thrive under AV since he wants his Ds to move the puck as fast as he does. I think many players have been very so-so for this team this year. McDonagh for example has IMO really struggled. I love him, and I am not trashing him, but he has been awful lately. And many many others. Still, Yandle is basically made the primary target and scapegoat for our struggles. I don't like that at all.
At this point, I think its easy to give the grinders a pass and hang the skilled players. Trade Nash for a solid 2nd line player, say a Kyle Palmieri, and Yandle for a Andy Green type. Bench Oscar Lindberg, JT Miller and co in favor of guys like Stoll and Stahlberg and lean back and enjoy a solid October, November and December. From my POV, that approach will however never win us a Cup.