Quoting: Bias_it_self
I don’t necessarily think we need to commit to a full rebuild at this point. We have a 1C prospect in Eklund, a 2C prospect in Bordeleau, a 1G prospect in Gaudreau, and several top 6 wing prospects in Guschin, Coe, Wiesblatt, and Robins. We also got Merkley, Ferraro, Knyzhov, and Hatakka who’ve shown they can play at the NHL level and be good + underrated prospects like Laroque, Knizev on the back end. Add to that probably one of the best 4th lines in 2-3 years with Viel-Weatherby-Raska. And then of course Meier and Dahlen who will be top 6 staples for the next decade. Along with a couple other pieces in Couture, Barabanov, Karlsson, and Balcers; I think we only need 2 more years with high picks and we’re back to being the power house of old. (Sorry if that was rambly)
Not rambly, I get where you're coming from, but I think you have to consider a few things:
1) Not all of those prospects will pan out, but let's respectively the top ones you mention do and maybe two of the others top-six wing prospects you mention do as well.
2) They may all make the NHL, but they will not all have the same impact. Some will be better than others.
3) These guys are all 19 to 20, so it's going to be a solid two years before they start to have a real impact.
4) By the time they are having an impact, your older players are now even older.
So MAYBE you don't need a full-on rebuild, but something in the model of what the Rangers did would be wise.
IMO it's better to stink for a few years of their development, bank some more top picks and then start shopping FA to build around them.
EDIT: I'd consider retaining half on your bigger/badder contracts to get some picks, maybe one buyout, get some top picks for Hertl and maybe Couture (retaining a little) and in a few years you can have a lot more money to build around the younger players instead of being hampered down.