The New York Rangers are in complete denial. Chris Drury’s letter to Rangers fans explicitly stated that ‘this is not a rebuild’. That’s the reason I decided to show their timeline as I did, anchored from their original letter to fans in 2018.

The Sabres are riding a young group in their charge to the top of the Atlantic Division this season. Sure, there are a few vets sprinkled in, but the balance of the core is still approaching or just reaching their prime.

The Utah Mammoth are a team on the rise and they find themselves in a playoff race this season. Their young Dudes are a big part of it too, with Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther playing key roles. The contention cohort looks strong and capable of supporting a contending roster.