That would honestly be a huge blow, a few observations here:
1-Mike Smith is likely retiring in a few months, and this is an overpay for a 39 year old
2-the lack of 3C or anything close to that would kill this team
3-You still need another winger here
4-another d-man would also be nice

I would hate to see him go but the word out is Seattle may be willing to pay him 1C money. EDM can't do that. So if that's the case and they can't get him signed for 6-6.5 then EDM might lose him.

I keep reading he might want to come back and that's what's he's got the last 2 years with bonus and what not.

Ryan is the "3C", defensive zone draws and deployment. McLeod, could steal it next year. I'm sure there are better options but I think he would be good.

I think with Tatar and Hyman on the LW and JP and Yamo on the RW the top 6 is covered. I mean it wouldn't hurt to get another top 6 winger and bump any one of those guys down but might be hard to sign 3 top 6 wingers on good contracts. Not to mention Benson and Marody are due for a good look on the wings.

Could always use more D. Right now with the RD side how it is Bouchard isn't getting playing time so as long as he's in the line up plus Larsson and Bear I think it's set. The LD top 4 is solid. Klef was good even with his injury I can't imagine after having surgery and months if rehabbing he's going to get much worse. Could still come back and improve so I'm not worried there. Yet. Nurse has stepped his game up. No concerns there. Just that 3 LD spot. I'm a fan of Russel but he's pretty 1 dimensional. I think another year of development for Lagg and Jones is going to make them better. But there is space to sign another solid vet.

If Holland is willing to pay to have either Kassian or Neals cap come off the books that makes a huge difference in them being able to shore up the D or a primo winger.

I know I pretty much debated everything you said but I do think your points are valid. I hope Holland can work some magic and do better then I did.

Edit: scratch what I said about Jones.

Healthy constructive debate like this is 💯

We are all hockey fans right aha

I think EDM needs to make a trade to get rid of the Turris contact and bury Neal for next season, and buy him out in the following offseason. Wood and Rakell could be some potential targets. I think Dylan Holloway will make the team. Lavoie also looks to be getting close as well. If one of those two can handle third line minutes this team's forward core could be much improved. A lot of moving parts, perhaps i'll build a team on it.

Look at Benson, Marody and McLeod in the A. Unless that is a super high scoring league, that's A pretty good, young and cheap 3rd line.

Also think Seattle takes either Benson or Marody. Jones and Lagesson are interchangeable. Which either says a lot about Lagesson or a lot about Jones...

It's a different style of play going from 1st line minutes in the A to 3rd line minutes in the NHL. Most 3rd lines are tasked with shutting down opponents. I get they're scoring a lot, but they'll need to be on scoring lines in the NHL in order to stick or learn how to play shut down roles. I've seen so many good scorers come out of the AHL and bust or accept the role change. Jurco, Nicklas Jensen (Former Canuck prospect RW), Emmerton, Pirri, and you could argue Frk, never made the change. But I have seen Nosek, Roy, Nico Sturm, and others adjust and become valuable depth pieces to teams. It really depends on the willingness of the players to play both ends of the ice the right way.