Everyone Stays - Realist Approach

Detroit declines

because you called this a realist approach, I am going to nitpick:

-this team is near the cap with only 21 players. Hextall has said time and time again he doesnt want to cut it this close. I could see a solution to this being trading mcginn for a mid round pick and having zohorna play
the 4th line
-I find it tremendously unlikely that none of heinen, Erod, or kapanen are back. I think you can replace Vlad with one of them in your team here (even though I like vlad). The way Hextall spoke about Kapanen it sounded like he would be back. Even with the terrible season, it would be super early to give up on a guy we payed a first for and had a solid year the year before.
-I think Lindgren needs a full year in the AHL, he has the potential to be a very good goalie in this league - been dominant at every level since 2017-18. I think their is a real chance we get Fleury back, but if not I would be happy with Scott Wedgewood or Eric Comrie.
-POJ gets the spot over Friedman. I even think there is a world where POJ plays with marino if they show more chemistry together than dumo with marino. Having dumo on the third pair could form a monster shut down pair and let them focus totally on defense and PK

I think all of your contracts are solid (I think malkin does 3 years and letang does 3-5) and I love the vision

I don't think Kapanen will be back. I think Hextall was just giving a canned answer. I think Heinen prices himself out of here unless they move McGinn and I don't think ERod will be back. Other teams will give him the payday he wants.

Nice 21 man roster, what if a forward is injured? You don't even have enough money to call one from the AHL.

Rakell won't sign for less than 5M. And no one is giving a 2nd for Peterson.

Nobody ON HERE is giving Pettersson a 2nd. In the real world he's worth a 2nd.