I think the number 1 priority in the offseason (other than signing Marner to something "reasonable") is to try to move Marleau. I know he has the no movement clause but he did say something in his exit interview that gave some hope that he might consider it (something about we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it) . If we can cut that contract a lot of other stuff becomes easier. We can keep Kadri, move Nylander with Matthews where he belongs, and probably keep both Johnsson and Kapanen (and/or maybe Gardiner provided his back isn't going to be a chronic problem). Or we can move someone and try to acquire another good dman.
If we can't do that, I'd still rather keep Kadri and put Nylander back with Matthews. It's obvious that Kapanen doesn't have the same kind of complementary game that Nylander does for Matthews. I'm on the fence about whether to move Kappy or Johnsson if one has to go. Maybe it depends on which brings the better return in a trade (Kappy I would guess).
Brown can go. Goat can go. Don't know if Engvall is ready to step in but can he be much more useless than Goat? Don't care about Zaitsev but I doubt he's going anywhere.
If we can't do that, I'd still rather keep Kadri and put Nylander back with Matthews. It's obvious that Kapanen doesn't have the same kind of complementary game that Nylander does for Matthews. I'm on the fence about whether to move Kappy or Johnsson if one has to go. Maybe it depends on which brings the better return in a trade (Kappy I would guess).
Brown can go. Goat can go. Don't know if Engvall is ready to step in but can he be much more useless than Goat? Don't care about Zaitsev but I doubt he's going anywhere.
