I would suggest that after this season the cupboards will be stocked pretty well and they could have a Cup contending team in the '25-'26 season. Next year a few of the 2023 draft picks might make it to the NHL for some seasoning and they can use others as chips to get the veterans they need to infill. Buchnevich will almost certainly be traded in the off-season, unless they can find a team like the Sabers or some other saps to take Kyrou. But that's unlikely. Both Binnington and Hofer could carry this team on a playoff run. Binnington has already shown it and Hofer looks to be the real deal. At $6m a year, Binnington is a steal. They could get a king's ransom for him, but that would be foolish. If they can make a playoff run next year (unlikely) or the next, he becomes invaluable. He and Robert Thomas are the best players on this team, by far!

Firing DA would be a huge mistake, unless they have a can't miss replacement.

As an added bonus, the Blackhawks will be on about the same trajectory with Bedard and whatever high pick they get this year. It could be fun to have a Blues / Blackhawks rivalry that means something again.