I doubt CHI even attempts to sign Reinhart, and most of those UFA signings wouldn't be on my radar, but I do like the Demidov pick. People can say whatever they want about him, but he is dynamic and electric on the ice, and he has a real shot at being a superstar some day. The biggest problem is probably the supposed mandates Putin has put on young KHL players where they are required to stay for longer before they can move on to other leagues. Which is weird that he has anything to do with that in the first place, and it could be total bull5hit.

I think once they draft this offseason the tanking part of the rebuild is over. It’ll be time to start signing talent to put around Bedard, Korchinski and hopefully another F.

It really isn't, though. They aren't tanking, they are rebuilding. There is a difference. KD has preached patience and wants any progress to happen from within, through drafting and development. Any outside additions will more than likely be supplementary and short term. He has adamantly and emphatically stated as much multiple times since taking over as GM. Maybe when the kids are in their second contracts and the team overall is a lot closer to being ready to contend, they look to free agency and trade availability, but that almost certainly won't be for a few more years.

Most UFA's over the next two summers will be in their early to mid 30's by the time this team is ready. KD doesn't want contracts with a high potential of becoming boat anchors, to be on the books when this team is ready to contend again.

Semantics. Yes, they're rebuilding, and Davidson also intentionally assembled a roster he knew would be bad enough to have them in the running for the 1st overall pick again, which a lot of people would call tanking. Davidson easily could have accelerated his timeline once Bedard was drafted, but he has remained patient knowing that building the prospect pool is priority #1. Having 2 first round picks in 3 straight drafts should help that.

You're right in that any move he makes this offseason will be with an eye on Bedard (and even Korchinski) needing a contract extension in 2026. I could see him potentially paying over market value for guys on a 1 or 2 year deal just because of all the cap space he needs to fill until then.

Well, he intentional assembled a roster that partially in mind. But I think the bigger ideas there were to not get locked into any gigantic and/or long term contracts, bring in experienced veterans to be mentors, and make sure there aren't any roadblocks on the roster so when the kids are ready to take a spot from someone they can jump in right away. Plus, he doesn't want to create cap roadblocks that could force him to have to trade players he doesn't want to trade. We went through that sort of short attention span for years with Bowman and it was an utter failure. Yes we won three cups, but that success could've gone on for longer without the poor steps he took.

KD certainly could've accelerated the timeline, but that would have completely gone against his plan. Bedard is a great piece, no doubt, but one player doesn't win you cups, and short cuts are more likely to get your team stuck in mediocrity with a bone dry prospect pool and no draft capital. He is building for long term success through the draft and development. Full stop.