This is a fair point, but I think you have to do your best to sell Eichel on 2-3 more years of pain so that they can complete the rebuild properly. Those 5 guys are an amazing core, and they’re only a few complementary pieces (Reinhart+#8+Jokiharju is a good start for add-ons) away from being a consistent playoff threat. Trying to do a patchwork job like this makes you the new Wild, consistently in the hunt and usually making the playoffs, but never actually going anywhere. Short term pain for long term gain is tough to sell to an outstanding player who’s put up with you losing for 5 years already but if they panic the whole thing’ll fall apart. I also don’t even think this is a playoff team next year, it’s basically the same team except with Cirelli and a ton of young, unproven players, and Reinhart replaced by someone with a lower ceiling. That bottom 6 will get eaten alive.

I didn't have them tendering Montour as a RFA. I personally like him, but I see them wanting some of their young D to potentially get some NHL time if a callup is needed. Hickey Or Borgen specifically.

Trading Sam gives you options. Cap space to make other deals, another high draft pick. Both of these could be HUGE at a trade deadline, where maybe they make a play for a winger? Just spitballing some ideas here. I know Sam going isn't good. Personally, I would like to see him stay. But this roster I made wasn't from what i wanted, it was from what i could see them actually doing. If its me, keep sam on the roster. Kahun as a L1 winger definitely isn't guaranteed, but I feel like he has the best chance to succeed there.

And the UPL situation is obviously up for debate, I just think they may have him get some NHL time. There are plenty of players who struggled at AHL level but have had success in NHL (Keith, Shattenkirk, Tanev, Sheahan), and even some goalies (Pickard, Talbot), so going solely off his limited AHL performance doesn't worry me too much. I get its still a risk, but I'm ok with taking this one.

I sincerely hope you are right with selling Eichel for 3 more years. Thats a true TBD though so we will wait and see. I like Sam staying, but I could also see him going, which is why I made the deal. And i get the bottom six is rough. But there also wasn't the full list of UFAs available when making this roster, and I couldn't remember them all (and didnt feel like looking them all up). So with 8m in cap based off this roster i made, they could make moves for bottom 6 guys that would replace guys like Murray or Ruotsalainen. This roster also has me putting a lot of faith in someone like Virtanen, but I feel like a change of scenery would do wonders for him, and he would have a larger role on BUF than he did on VAN. just my thoughts.