I certainly hope this team does find 12 solid NHL forwards from the group they have available (tough task imo).
I also wish coaches would actually ice the players that would help the team have the highest chances of winning games rather than going by who they think "should" be good, all the while repeatedly watching them underperform over and over.. which we saw too often last year.
New coaches though... so hope springs eternal that changes for the better may come this season.
I see it this way for our forwards.
Nhl caliber: McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH, Lucic, Strome, Kharia, Brodziach, Kassian, Puljujarvi, Reider, and just barely Caguillia. To me, unless Caguillia takes a big step forward, is the perfect 13th forward. Plays all positions. Can, but should not, play in the top 6. That leaves 2 spots for 2 offensive types in the top 6 most likely.
Those players are guys that imo have proven to be at least decent in thier roles at the nhl level.
Potential nhl caliber this year: Rattie, Yama, Upshaw, Marody, Aberg, Benson, Maxismov, and even a guy like McLeod could surprise.
Plus a slew of ahl guys that could have taken a unlikely but still possible jump in the offseason.
That's a ridiculous amount of players for two spots at the most. People exaggerate our "lack of forward depth". We still have an above average group of forwards at the worst.
Defense without Sekera is thin. Goaltending a question. But forwards are solid and built down the middle as weLloyd. Great group.