I don't see it. I think they're simply doing yet another new-GM reset to make his own team. Just like TM and JBot did. Now -- what's even scarier is that ownership truly believes this is the way. Just like getting the most overpaid UFA (Leino, Ehrhoff, Moulson) after having a good playoffs was the way. Then getting a top-3 picked center was the way. Now, they're telling themselves UPL is ready and that in 2 years... this approach is dethroning Tampa. That's the scary part.
They didn't do obvious cost-cutting (buy out Okposo). We didn't need it for the cap, but if they truly were pinching pennies, then that would've worked. Or traded a 2nd for someone else to buy out Okposo's contract. They're not doing those kinds of moves.