Step 1: Sell at the 2021-22 TDL.
Deal Tierney (half retained for a 2nd), Holden (3rd), Ennis/J. Brown/Sanford/Forsberg (4th to 7th, whatever we can get). Could also likely get a 2nd or 3rd for Paul if he decides not to resign, or wants more than 2mil. If we can get a pick for MDZ then do that, but I find it hard to believe anyone actually thinks he's good anymore.
Step 2: Dump bad cap.
Murray doesn't have a terrible buyout tbh. Dump Zaitsev for a 2nd+3rd, we have the picks for it, even if it's a little more. Dump MDZ for a 6th if there's no buyer, someone would surely be willing to take him on as the 7D if they get a pick out of it.
Step 3: Get a new goalie.
Brannstrom is a high end young LD, which Anaheim lacks (they have plenty of LD prospects but none of them are close to Brannstrom's level). White gives them a young middle six forward with upside that could probably benefit from a change of scenery. Mandolese gets them a decent extra goalie prospect (QMJHL goalie of the year in his D+2 year), Abramov is a good winger that will only have one more year in the KHL and will probably crack the NHL right after that, and a 2nd as well. Probably 2.5 1sts worth of value.
Step 4: Resign RFAs.
Give Norris the Monahan deal. Monahan had 3 20+ goal years and 2 60+ point seasons under his belt when he was signed. Norris may hit those numbers this year, but even if he doesn't, that's about what his production will be, with good defensive play to boot, so it's a worthwhile bet to make to get him locked up for a long time. Bridge Formenton and play him at full time 3LW+PK2. Gambrell or Bishop can be kept for 4C, and Mete as a 6/7 depth D.
Step 5: Bolster the defense.
This should be a go for it year. Or at least a don't supremely suck defensively again year. The Chabot-Zub top pair is pretty good, so bolster the 2nd pair by signing the big FA in Klingberg, and a reliable 4/5 guy for a couple years (de Haan, Cole, Murray, Holden, Goligoski, Maatta, Edler are all fine, try to find one for ~2x2.5). Sanderson should be signed out of college this year and be on the 3rd pair next year. He can gradually take over from whatever short term veteran 4/5 guy we sign. Thomson, Mete, and JBD can duke it out for 3RD.
Step 6: Bring in the local veteran.
We could really use another top 9 forward. A versatile guy like Giroux would be great, giving us many different lineup combinations. He can play 2C or 3C with Pinto taking the other spot if we draft Kemell, or even 2RW if we draft a centre like Wright or Savoie. Give him the Pavelski deal, so it expires at the same time as the ELC of our 2022 1st.
Long term outlook: we'll have 6.7mil+1.4mil (buyout drop)+1mil (likely cap rise) to give raises to Stutzle, Pinto, Gustavsson, and Zub in the summer of 2023. Might have to move on from the 4/5D if a little extra wiggle room is needed but none of those guys has really broken out yet, so we should be able to get by with bridge deals (Gus especially will be cheap as the backup/1B). There's also not a huge need to spend 4.5mil on the 4th line with a steady influx of prospects on the rise competing for spots (Sharkolov, Jarventie, Greig, etc.). We'll also see if Thomson+JBD make Zub expendable on the right side.
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