The modern NHL game requires that successful teams have the ability to roll out four quality lines and at least two competent defensive pairs. In most cases, it is the battle in the bottom six that determines the outcome of postseason series because the respective top sixes often cancel each other out. In the case of the New York Rangers, the front office is embarking on a massive roster overhaul that will take multiple draft classes to replace.
The organizations that have sustainable periods of success in the NHL feature the right balance of cheap home grown talent and more expensive acquisitions.