This is a narrow minded way of looking at the off season. I think JR has done a solid job.
Got rid of the crap 3rd D pairing (Johnson and Schultz) and replaced them with younger and cheaper Matheson and Ceci.
Replaced Marleau with Kapanen for the top 9.
Added Jankowski to the 3rd line
Got rid of MM's contract and allowed Jarry to become full time starter.
Got rid of Bjugstad's albotross of a contract.
I think every single move JR made this off season made the team better.
All JR had to do with Marleau and Schultz is not re-sign them. They didn't need to be replaced because they didn't play valuable roles last year, they just needed to not be resigned. It took no effort to let them go and deserves no credit.
JJ was JR's own stupid decision from Day One, and he paid handsomely for it. Great to see him go, but that was cleaning up his own indefensible mess and LOOOOOONG overdue.
Matheson, Ceci, and Jankowski are all crapshoots coming off of garbage years. The fact that they're young doesn't mean that they're good. "Adding" Jankowski - a forward who produced worse than Ruhwedel - as our 3C isn't cause for celebration because a) he's playing above his head and b) there were better options that signed for comparable money.
JR didn't "get rid of" MM's contract. MM didn't have a contract this summer until JR QO'd him.
The only player we added with any positive value is Kapanen, and we overpaid hugely for him because he's unproven in the role we a) need him for and b) paid a high price for him to play.