Whether Treliving/Ownership like it or not this team is forcing their hand into a rebuild. The writing is on the wall.
Treliving built a cap team that is unintentionally tanking so he knows he has to make some pretty significant moves, especially if he wants to maximize the value of his assets. Currently he has two decent assets, on a very bad team, in Monahan and Gaudreau with expiring contracts, along with their team captain who also has an expiring contract. At the very least two of those three pieces will be dealt in the next two seasons.
Gaudreau should be dealt this season, and soon, because his contract is such good value and he's our most talented player. This should accelerate the teams race to the bottom of the standing as well which can only be a good thing for the future of this franchise. The return on Gaudreau should be significant, a top prospect, a good roster player and a high pick.
Monahan should fetch a first round pick. Though his current status as playing injured doesn't help that situation, might be wise to hold onto him, let him get healthy and hopefully put up some better numbers next season and he can be dealt at the trade deadline.
Our upcoming UFAs should likely all return a handful of mid to late round picks as well. Bennett should be dealt this season as well, hopefully he can net a 2nd round pick.
Hopefully some of these futures can be spread out over this year and next years draft, though I imagine 2022 draft picks might be more highly coveted due to GMs anticipating a bit more certainty in their scouting.
I know there are arbitrary lines between what a "re-tool" is and what a "rebuild" is but either way this team is moving towards a dramatic roster turnover.
I guess if we wanted a full scale "rebuild" Tkachuk would be another significant piece to be moved out. He could return a kings ransom of futures, in my opinion.
Personally I want to see every single piece of this core moved out as the core is clearly rotten with this team, but I don't see that actually happening.
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