Quoting: Prime_Jimbo
We're just missing a better RHD really. Burroughs is fine as 7/8 but not a regular. They are just very difficult to come by without giving up assets and finding the cap space. Paul played well for TB but he strikes me as someone who will be overpaid in FA. Over 3m for sure. Maybe close to four depending on the FA market this summer.
Yeah, honestly it's better to find the next Paul, instead of overpaying for Paul himself, but I have no idea who that'll be, so Paul is kind of a placeholder. Motte might fit that role, but he might be better in a 4th line role. Finding a solid 3C is def a priority, especially if Miller is on the way out. For us to really be competitive, we obviously need the top 6 to work. If Miller leaves, we need Poddy to step up, and be the top tier player we saw flashes of last year, but that only works if Kuzmenko can play like he has in the KHL.
RHD is obviously also a priority. The Hughes - Schenn pair seems to work, and Myers should be solid in a bottom pair role, alongside Dermott, but we really need someone with offense to play alongside OEL. I feel like if Boeser signs a cheap-ish deal, and we can move Dickinsons contract, we could perhaps sign a good RD. Ideally someone like John Klingberg, but more likely someone around the 4-5M range. Ideally our D-core would look something like this:
Hughes - Schenn
OEL - [Insert good RHD]
Dermott - Myers
Burroughs
Really the only silver linings are that we have Elias Petterson, and our goaltending should remain great for the next half-decade!