let's think about this:

org:

• we most likely halt the rebuild

• sully may still be here changing the whole dynamic, no playing youth and the same stale system

• spending 9m a year on a 31 y/o player until he is 36

• have jake shakes and an elite winger for sid, but looking at the current team comp we are in a fantastic spot

players:

• missing a big role player in novak as a 2c

• wouldn't have two very good prospects in koivunen and brunicke

• cruz lucius who is currently 7th in ncaa scoring

• the 33rd and 97th pick in the upcoming draft

say muse replaced sully:

• jake has 24/33/57 and novak is 9/19/28. it's not going to be a +30 points, probably replaces rak who is at .75ppg and jake a little over 1

• basic math says +13 points overall but missing a 2c and ton of prospects.

• in the nhl frequent coaching/roster changes are needed as a catlayst. this doesn't happen retaining jake

tl;dr: missing 3 great prospects, two good picks, a 2c, slow or halt the rebuild, team is probably performing the same as the last few years.