My stab at the quickest route to contention

Team: 2020-21 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 14, 2020

Published: Apr. 14, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

No cap raise due to the shutdown. 2020 season does not finish (I have a hard time seeing it come back before August). No season finish, no draft lottery, the lottery is based on standings. 1 compliance buyout.

This is how the season will end (2021 ending). Also need to consider the expansion draft, where you have to expose players for each level (a goalie, 2 F, and a dman). 7/3/1 or 8 skaters and 1 G can be protected. Zadina, Veleno, Lafreniere, Seider are exempt (along with anyone else drafted in 2018-2020). I'd protect this way:

Larkin
Bertuzzi
Mantha
Fabbri
Rasmussen (assuming he extends by then)
Hronek (assuming he extends by then)
Cholo (assuming he extends by then)
Svech or Timashov (depending on which one extends)
Talbot

They aren't a playoff team yet, but a lot of dead weight in gone, draft picks are starting to play in the NHL (with room to grow), and a lot more picks/players still to come.

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