Exactly. Lets look at some of the names in the roster from last year in no particular order: Wheelers, Scheifele, Laine, Ehlers, Byfuglien, Trouba, Morrisey, Connor, Myers, Hellebuyck and even Little (who had an awful year but nonetheless). Which ones would you not consider star players at the NHL level now or looking long-term? I would say maybe Little and Myers, and even those two have respectable resumes. There is just no way you can hold on to every single one them and like I already mentioned earlier, I do hope Chevy is exploring different avenues and directions they could take. It might and probably will lead to letting go some of the players. It's easy to argue now that they probably should have let Little slide off after last season, but of course they didn't know at the time that his career might have been in a turning point. Next year will determine if not or if so.
Anyway, in my opinion they should do everything to keep the young core intact and if cut offs are necessary along the way, then try unload whatever you can from the old core cause the future relies on the youth. If that bites back next year but is for the best long-term, will it even matter? There are more prospects in the pipeline and some are already probably ready to take a role. Niku looked excellent and had a terrific season last year. Roslovic (although no longer a prospect) might be able to take on the second line center duties and Vesalainen is probably just one year away from being full time NHL player. That could mean two instant replacements to various roles and three in the next two years (if not more with the other guys you mentioned). There are avenues for sure and I think this is the time when the GM really needs to prove his worth and make the right moves.
