Kuzmenko > Monahan
1st > 2nd

No reason for the Canucks to do this

Remove Kuzmenko and trade Podz or Hoglander.
That’s my suggestion in my opinion.

I'm not sure what you were thinking here. Vladi Gavrikov is signed for the 2024-2025 season and Mikey Anderson is signed for forever, so Jayden Stuble is not an appealing target for Los Angeles.

Absolutely not

To answer the title question, patience and perseverance.
You have to wait for development and/or opportunities on the market.
What they shouldn't do is try to resolve issues with short term moves, that's the playbook for capped out contenders, not rebuilders lookings to become contenders.

Acquiring picks is sound. You can use them to draft or trade for the talent you're seeking.
Acquiring players under short term control is not.
Kuzmenko is a coincidental choice made because he is available now, not because it's a good choice for the future.
Before you even get to evaluating the player's long term fit, you have to know they will be here for long term. You can't determine that reliably with a soon pending UFA.

The one player possibly of interest from the Canucks is Podkolzin.
Players who have not had the opportunity to secure a spot at the NHL level and/or seem to be held down by organizational depth or team choices, are suitable targets where the price is reasonable.
Players who are not currently contributors on a contender are targets if you can provide more immediate help to fill needs for them.
UFA's who will be effective for at least the front half of their contracts (therefore young enough to have an impact before age/injuries become a concern.

Podkolzin is a non-factor for the Canucks who are in a position to contend, so may be available. Bourque in Dallas is in a similar situation.
Zegras and Wahlstrom are players potentially on the "outs" with their current clubs. (Not definitive, but based on speculation and they work as examples.)
Reinhart is a pending UFA that can still be an impact player for long enough to warrant a contract.
It might be better to wait for next year where players like Rantanen and Draisaitl are available or even beyond.

Anyone else, where team control expires or a free agent contract doesn't warrant more than 3 years, it's simply the wrong time to consider those players.
Keep an eye on opportunities to acquire high end talent through trade, but patience, drafting, and development are currently the keys.
Adding a 50 goal scorer for a year or two isn't going to change much. We simply have too many things to resolve before adding an impact player will make a real difference.

I don't like the trade, but the condition of the 2nd turning into a 3rd if the Canucks make it to the third round is hillarious.