I think this roster puts them in the top tier of the league. They’ll have 16 million in cap space in the off season the whole right side are RFA’S and under team control. You’ll probably lose copp and ristolinen. High chance Kane resigns. Holloway won’t be in the minors next year. Bouchard will take a step forward next year.

So that said the team will need a right shot 3rd pair D man and a 1b goalie like holtby to run with skinner for two years and konovalov will be ready for back up duties.

Yes the next 3 years are mortgaged but with theses suggested moves they’ll be a top tier team for the next 5 years.

You need to be bold and take risks sure mid season move to do a major turn over. But it tells your team your all in! Do you think we can keep McDavid and DRAI happy and motivated to stay here. Even if they don’t win with this lineup and lose to Colorado in the WCF or in the finals against Tampa. It’s still a win. The learning experience for a young group would be huge. The best thing for Crosby was his first final loss to Detroit! The penguins weren’t lighting the world on fire with Crosby, Letang, Malkin and fleury. They missed the playoffs or early eliminations. They finally loaded up and re hauled and lost in the finals. The next year they won and where a top tier team for years after. And when fully healthy they can still win it all because they have that pedigree and know what it takes to win. McDavid, DRAI, Nurse and nuge need that same lesson and also same belief in them from management by taking drastic measures