Lines

This is the optimal lineup with this group. When Gautier gets back, he goes to 3RW and Vesey to 4th. Is this team ready to contend for Cup? Not at all…but they are not a player away- which is why adding Kane or another expensive rental (Meier, Tarasenko) would be wasteful and foolish. I say this because too many players are in still develop mode (Miller, LaF, Kakko, Krav) to name a few…and this is fine- their time will come. So keep the TDL rental moves cheap and simple. Maybe add a wing…guys like Nyquist or Motte or Bonino come to mind. And look to upgrade the back of the D…someone like Megna comes to mind. Kane? Meier? Chykrun? Any of these moves are still not enough to improve 5x5 play (the team’s biggest weakness) and should not be remotely considered. Keep the young players, picks, and prospects…2023 draft is deep and the core of this team might really be ready to realistically compete for Cup as soon as 2024.

Yes exactly, why kid ourselves that we are a Cup contender. We are playoff contenders. No amount of rentals is going to change that.
Offense completely dried up. Stick with this and pray it works.