Based on what DUBAS said today in his press conference

i think this is a great way to approach next season because this team can definitely make a playoff push and develop young players as well. Only guy missing i think is puusty he deserves a resign maybe even a roster spot

yeah, I agree with you. It will be interesting to see what he does with cap space. But Puusty to me didnt do enough on the 3rd line this yr. I thought he got an extended look too. I am fine with signing him, but I dont think I want him on the 3rd line again.

This is the only realistic way forward. There aren't going to be any takers for the older guys with longer-term contracts without significant retention and sweeteners. If you can get rid of them, you may as well try to inject some youth in the roster and hold onto your 1st and 2nd round picks to start replenishing the pipeline for when Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang are officially off the roster. From there, you can really bottom out and pick in the top 10 for a few years to add some potentially elite young talent.

Similar to Chicago in 2006 and 2007, Toews and Kane were the "finishing touches" on rebuilding through the draft. The team already had a lot of future mainstays on the roster from previous drafts.

in my opinion, reading through the line of what he said today, we need graves to go back to last years form because we are kind of stuck with him with his contract which will be tough to trade. I do believe he will trade smith, last year of his contract and easy to trade for a late pick to a rebuilding team that will flip him retained at the deadline. honestly he wasn't awful but at the same time we needed more from him in particular down the stretch. Blomqvist I agree will be the backup (I do believe dubas might try to trade jarry if Ned can resign for less, very difficult tho we'll see).
personally, I would stay away from debrusk. he is good don't get me wrong but I think we need more consistency and not having a similar player to smith, even if a bit better.
if you trade smith and not sign debrusk you have 12mil left on the cap which I would give to puusty and guentzel. I know not easy but I do believe bringing back Jake is a huge boost not only for the present trying to make the playoffs but also for the future rebuild in a couple of years.
imo 7x10m is a tough offer to decline.
have like:

Jake sid rust
bunting geno raks
o'connor eller puusty/yager
and your fourth line.


what about Koivunen : is he actually close to make the team or not really?

From what I’ve looked at and researched, he’s probably our best prospect not to see the NHL, as for if he’s coming, I’d have to look idk if he’s under contract in Liiga, but he’s flourished there. Only question will be if he translates to the nhl, but the prospects I’m most excited to see are yager and koivunen.