[Discussion] ditching Eriksson plus others

[Provost]

53 minutes ago, mll said:

 

Drance:  "Sources indicate that the Canucks really aren’t sure about whether they’ll spend to the upper limit of the salary cap just yet."

 

Drance's audio is posted in the Markstrom thread.

The context was that they will be trying to cut salary that isn’t helping them (Eriksson, Baertschi, etc), not that there is a realistic chance they won’t be close to a cap team.

 

Keeping in mind that if you take away the pushes $1.7 million in pushed ELC bonuses and trying to keep $4 million under the cap to pay for next year’s bonuses that our ELC guys will assuredly earn... that currently leaves us with about $11.5 in cap space to spend to be a cap team.  Add in some normal buffer for short term injury call ups and that is between $10-11 million to effectively be at the cap by the time the season is done.

 

Anything beyond that is being above a cap team like we have been for years while we worked using LTIR overages to manage the ceiling.

 

I think the marching orders are going to be to aggressively use futures to ditch the inefficient players.

Edited September 8, 2020 by Provost

[mll]

6 minutes ago, Provost said:

The context was that they will be trying to cut salary that isn’t helping them (Eriksson, Baertschi, etc), not that there is a realistic chance they won’t be close to a cap team.

 

Keeping in mind that if you take away the pushes $1.7 million in pushed ELC bonuses and trying to keep $4 million under the cap to pay for next year’s bonuses that our ELC guys will assuredly earn... that currently leaves us with about $11.5 in cap space to spend to be a cap team.  Add in some normal buffer for short term injury call ups and that is between $10-11 million to effectively be at the cap by the time the season is done.

 

Anything beyond that is being above a cap team like we have been for years while we worked using LTIR overages to manage the ceiling.

 

I think the marching orders are going to be to aggressively use futures to ditch the inefficient players.

Drance thinks that they will still be allowed to spend to the cap but there will be budgetary constraints.  He gives the example of Baertschi/Goldobin in the AHL on 1-way deals is where they'll try and cut.  That's why I doubt Eriksson would end up in Utica.  More likely an aggressive trade to move salary bad contracts out.

 

If they go in LTIR performance bonuses have to be covered in a recall.  A Juolevi recall for example is no longer 863K but 1.7M because of his performance bonus.  Dallas was not able to recall Gurianov last year after the TDL because of his bonus target.  Also if they are in LTIR they can't bank cap space, so they have to be under by the full cap hit including the performance bonus.  Idem for adding Podkolzin mid-season. 

 

[JM_]

46 minutes ago, mll said:

They will likely have to give up prime assets to move him.  There are also other teams looking to dump bad contracts so might need to beat their offers for that cap space.

 

Edmonton - Russell 1 x 4M but only 1.5M in salary

Nashville - Turris 4x 6M

NYR - Lundqvist

Carolina - Niederreiter 2x 5.25M

NYI - Boychuk and Ladd

 

Maybe they buy him out.  Saves money and blocks cap space that they won't be able to spend on.  

 

They could also see if there's a more manageable buyout contract that they can swap Eriksson's with - not all teams have the money to buyout contracts and could tolerate Eriksson over pressboxing a more expensive player.  Contracts that have flat salaries and don't have bonuses are far easier to buy out than Eriksson's.  

 

from a cap pov it makes more sense to "Utica" him this year (whatever that will look like, but it there has to be some kind of player movement option) and buy him out next year. 

 

I'm still holding out some slim hope of Detroit or Ottawa trying to be a 'cap floor' team. I know how unlikely that is. 

[mll]

 

1 minute ago, Robert Long said:

from a cap pov it makes more sense to "Utica" him this year (whatever that will look like, but it there has to be some kind of player movement option) and buy him out next year. 

 

I'm still holding out some slim hope of Detroit or Ottawa trying to be a 'cap floor' team. I know how unlikely that is. 

Benning is not looking to move draft picks to move out contracts.  He talks of RFAs they need to make decisions on.  He doesn't know the market yet.  

 

If Friedman is right about teams being so worried about arbitration, it could be much harder to use arbitration eligible RFAs to move contracts out.  

 

[Patel Bure]

45 minutes ago, Mackcanuck said:

Fair enough, so ask him to retire or ride the busses in Utica

Honestly,

 

I don’t think the Canucks will be able to move Eriksson in this off season barring a ridiculous sweetener such as Demko or Podkolzin being added in (which would be a horrendous move).    The Canucks’ best bet in my opinion is to move Sutter without retention by either using Virtanen or a 2021 1st as the sweetener (if they use the 2021 1st as a sweetener to move Sutter, then you can pretty much bet that Benning will have moved Jake for a 2020 1st......no way Benning goes two drafts in a row without a first),

 

After listening to Benning’s interview, I’m under the impression that Virtanen is as good as gone, while the Canucks will also try and keep both Markstrom and Demko.   

[J.I.A.H.N]

Sorry Provost, but you make it sound like the sky is falling..............

 

Eriksson for Schneider is a solid 1 for 1 trade where NJ gets $7 million in actual dollars paid relief, and I do not believe there would be any additional want from New Jersey.

Vancouver can then buy him out and have 4 years at $2,000,000, which is a $4,000,000 savings........

 

Sutter is pretty much a wash in terms of whether he would cost anything, but I am sure he can be moved for very little, which is a savings of another $4,000,000, but lets say you have to include a 3rd,....

 

Baertschi, could play on Horvat's line for year, or go back down to Utica for a $1,000,000 savings

 

IMO, players like Benn, and Roussel could almost certainly be moved with a $1,000,000 retained. which would free up another $3,000,000

 

Then if you do sign one of

 

Toffoli

Tanev 

or

Markstrom

It is a savings of $5,000,000

 

Not to mention Ferland being on LTIR, which is another $3,500,000

 

I honestly see, absolutely no reason to move a 1st....or or a prospect for that matter.

[Phil_314]

Sutter for any pick return (hope for 3rd or 4th) from a contender, or if a team like the Rangers wants him, could acquire someone like Lias Andersson (suspended for leaving team after requesting trade).  Buy low on a locker room problem who could mature and become of greater value, since he needs new scenery and could become motivated.  Let Gaudette take his lumps and work on his face-offs but keep him as #3 C.  (up to $4.375 off the books if traded for a pick and without retention)

Hopefully the price to dump Loui isn't TOO prohibitive (sign and trade with Jake, who some fans on other forums argue could go for as high as a 1st or 2nd by himself; acquire and dump the asset with Loui, say to Ottawa to keep Cheapo Melynk from spending too much).  (around $7.5- $8.5 off the books depending on Jake's price)

I honestly also hope they reconsider giving Sven a chance on the team (think that's not too crazy seeing how they included him in the Black Aces but he just left); if he makes the team again after a solid AHL season and even proves his top-6 upside again, I'd be down to move from Pearson who's going to be pending UFA if there's a strong bid for his services and Sven proves capable back on Bo's wing.

Ferland more likely than not can be a safe bet to be on the LTIR once again, if not retired altogether given how he has a record now of only short stints of health.  Walk from Domingue/ Fantenberg/ Leivo/ Toffoli as necessary.  ($3.5 gone for Ferland)

Miller - Pete - Brock
(Sven) - Bo - (Pearson?) - slight but necessary downgrade to save $ by losing Toffoli; both these wings have had chemistry with Bo
Roussel - Gaudette - Leivo - would not be opposed to acquiring a stronger two-way 3rd C and bump Gaud to wing, cost dependent
Motte - Beagle - Mac/ Lind - serviceable 4th line

Hughes - Tanev
Edler - Myers

Juolevi - _______  - could be someone for cheap e.g. DeMelo or Borowiecki if not Rafferty

(Markstrom*) 
Demko

Slight downgrade in certain spots but at least the core up top is strong still in most positions

[IBatch]

22 hours ago, Provost said:

I am now at the point where the situation merits moving a (lottery protected) 1st round pick to get rid of Eriksson.

 

The team is ahead of schedule competitively.  The league economics with a flat cap make having cap space a huge advantage at the same time as making it harder to shed cap.   It opens up a LOT of opportunities for signing our own guys and/or retooling our defence.  It also allows us to sign Hughes/Petterson long term instead of a bridge deal which could pay huge dividends down the road cap wise when we want to be contending.

 

I hope it doesn’t cost that much, but assume that it would.  Almost no teams available with cap space to absorb that kind of hit.  
 

If we could also move out Baertschi for a late pick or middling prospect, and trade one of Sutter of Beagle with less than 50% retained, we could suddenly be in a spot to not only tread water, but actually take advantage of other teams needing to shed cap.  It would take Benning getting the jump on the market and starting now.

 

Eriksson to Ottawa or Detroit and a lottery protected 1st for a later pick/prospect.  Maybe try to have it a bit bigger and get a guy like Tierney back as a 3C upgrade.
 

Baertschi to (the other) of Ottawa or Detroit and a prospect like Woo/Focht for a late pick.

 

Sutter to a team like NYR (they could use a stable 3rd line centre) with up to 50% retained for a 4th round pick.

 

If the Sutter move doesn’t happen, try to move Beagle (no cap retained) packaged with Virtanen for a mid round pick.

 

We open up almost $11 million and only take one real player off our roster.  That leaves us $25 million in cap to sign 7-8 players and/or be able to take on Erhoff type deals from teams that don’t have the cap space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m all for shedding cap but we aren’t in a position prospect wise to expect better play from guys like Lind and even Podz to come in and necessarily do a better job then guys Sutter and even LE.  
 

We are going to need our picks and don’t want to see this unless we absolutely have to (which won’t be until next off-season).   If we need space trade Pearson and play Bear.   I doubt he wouldn’t be a lateral move point wise - he’s already proven he can do that.   A lot of Pearson’s points were empty net ones.   And he disappeared playing Vegas. 
 

All of the vet placeholders will be gone in two years.  The first two rounds also showed they can still compete come playoff time too - doubt Lind, Rafferty/Rathbone etc will do any better...but this season we will find out.  Would like to trade Benn and sign Fanta - but if we can’t that’s ok as OJ will be in the lineup next year either permanently or at least as our 7th.   
 

We won’t re-sign Leivo and JV, only one so a bit of cap goes there, same with Fanta.    We don’t need TT either (that’s a luxury at this point), and really only have cap issues this year if we do.   Ferland is likely on the LTIR.   LE will likely end up at home or in Utica if they play.   
 

Given covid that’s another consideration.   Next season has decent odds of being a complete wash.   It’s not the worst thing for our team cap wise as it gets us one year closer to no longer having the same vet group just hope our young kids can develop still in that situation.

 

Our untouchables are Horvat, BB, EP, QHs, Demko and Markstrom.   That’s it.  A lot can be done with that.   Our defense is where the LE Luongo money needs to go and there really isn’t anyone that interesting up this year as far as UFAs go other then MAYBE Hamonic and Brodie.   Next year is a completely different story assuming most make it to market - starting with Hamilton in CAR (think he stays but wow could he ever cash in at this point l) then a step down but still definitely top four in Petry etc.   4/6 good RHDs could make it to market.  
 

With that in mind we need to stay the course - not commit to anyone long term other then Markstrom and hope that we still have enough in the pool to make an impact.  Podz is probably a slam dunk - after that Lind and Hoglander have decent odds, Rathbone could be Stetcher 2.0 and Rafferty at the minimum offers good depth.   OJ pushing Edler down would be huge for us. 
 

We absolutely need our remaining pucks to help boost the team later on, in all positions really but particularly on defense, goaltending and center.  
 

Edit:  Depending on what way MIN goes Brodin might also want to cash in.   Would be a huge upgrade for us on the L side like Myers was for the right.   The point is this year isn’t good for D’s, if it was I’d understand trying to shed extra cap but it isn’t.   Hoffman is the only winger UFA that would really boost our top six and isn’t too old yet ... TT is a middle six player IMO, third liner on a deep team. 

Edited September 9, 2020 by IBatch

[IBatch]

14 hours ago, Phil_314 said:

Sutter for any pick return (hope for 3rd or 4th) from a contender, or if a team like the Rangers wants him, could acquire someone like Lias Andersson (suspended for leaving team after requesting trade).  Buy low on a locker room problem who could mature and become of greater value, since he needs new scenery and could become motivated.  Let Gaudette take his lumps and work on his face-offs but keep him as #3 C.  (up to $4.375 off the books if traded for a pick and without retention)

Hopefully the price to dump Loui isn't TOO prohibitive (sign and trade with Jake, who some fans on other forums argue could go for as high as a 1st or 2nd by himself; acquire and dump the asset with Loui, say to Ottawa to keep Cheapo Melynk from spending too much).  (around $7.5- $8.5 off the books depending on Jake's price)

I honestly also hope they reconsider giving Sven a chance on the team (think that's not too crazy seeing how they included him in the Black Aces but he just left); if he makes the team again after a solid AHL season and even proves his top-6 upside again, I'd be down to move from Pearson who's going to be pending UFA if there's a strong bid for his services and Sven proves capable back on Bo's wing.

Ferland more likely than not can be a safe bet to be on the LTIR once again, if not retired altogether given how he has a record now of only short stints of health.  Walk from Domingue/ Fantenberg/ Leivo/ Toffoli as necessary.  ($3.5 gone for Ferland)

Miller - Pete - Brock
(Sven) - Bo - (Pearson?) - slight but necessary downgrade to save $ by losing Toffoli; both these wings have had chemistry with Bo
Roussel - Gaudette - Leivo - would not be opposed to acquiring a stronger two-way 3rd C and bump Gaud to wing, cost dependent
Motte - Beagle - Mac/ Lind - serviceable 4th line

Hughes - Tanev
Edler - Myers

Juolevi - _______  - could be someone for cheap e.g. DeMelo or Borowiecki if not Rafferty

(Markstrom*) 
Demko

Slight downgrade in certain spots but at least the core up top is strong still in most positions

Sell high buy low.   Pearson absolutely fits that category and doubt he’s part of our long term plans.   Personally think Motte showed enough skill to play in the middle six, even second line.   Between him, Bear and AG our left side is fine.  Big Mac slots in on the fourth line no biggy.   Saves almost 4 in cap space.  Let Leivo walk another 1.5.   This almost is enough to sign TT but instead I’d look at weaponizing  the extra space and look at taking a cash strapped team and offering to take an expiring expensive player off their hands... Ladd maybe if he’s got one year left - with enough retention on their part to make it work - but a Ladd type.   Then we will have extra money next off season for EP, QHs and Demko (assuming we can somehow keep both goalies).   It’s crafty but there are more then one ways to get some picks back and this is way better then trading BB for example.  Pearson is worth a second at this point and probably could get a second and a b level prospect for 5 million or so in cap relief.   To do this would also need to trade Benn as well, or maybe give Stetcher the Hutton treatment.

Edited September 9, 2020 by IBatch

[BPA]

Hmm.  Maybe Canucks need a step back in order to take 2 steps forward.   Like the posters above said.  Trade expiring contracts for picks.  And bring up the dead weight (Baer and LE) to play (as placeholders again).

 

 

[Lazurus]

As one of the business of hockey experts that was on the radio stated.

 

The Canucks had over 8 million in cap hit watching the game not counting Ferland.

He also pointed out cap recapture.

The Spooner buyout

And well over 4 million in bonuses.

 

There may be an internal cap as well this season and next.

 

Without selling out the future totally all that might available is to sit on these bad contracts until they expire because nobody wants them.

 

Trading away any of the youth is a mistake, would you rather have Jake making 3 mil at 28 or Toffoli or Pearson making 5.5 at 33Yrs old?

 

This is a red flag moment.

Everything is against the Canucks right now

Flat cap

Bonuses

Recapture

Buyout

Internal cap (possible)

8 NT/NMC/MNTC clause contracts 7 for players over 30 yrs old

11 players with expiring contracts

2 outstanding goalies, one wanting a retirement contract 6 mil/season minimum with a clause

Coaches contracts running out.

Reduced front office to help.

Smaller scouting department.

 

And about 4 weeks to settle it all.

Benning even said he got a phone call from another GM, like it was a surprise, they smell blood in the water.

 

The old axiom, other teams are in the same position is a crock, sure Tampa, a top team in the league and other top teams in the league.

So just because Edmonton or Buffalo, you know the teams this market hold up a disasters are close to problems the Canucks have, the comparison seems to slip by most that teams like that are superior.

 

The red flag

Another blow up and rebuild, just like Colorado except no teams will trade away 1rsts for Pearson, Sutter, Rousell, Beagle, Guadette, MacEwen, Ferland, Motte or Eriksson.

 

But be patient,

 

Another bad year or two, some common sense contracts and trades will see a solid foundation emerge.

Heck with careful thought the Seattle expansion could have the team reap big rewards.

[DownUndaCanuck]

Hughes, Demko and Pettersson are probably going to eat up 20M of our cap. That's about a quarter in 3 guys, not to forget Bo and Boeser's over 10M. Edler, Sutter and Pearson's caps will come off the books (around 13M) and who knows if the cap will really go up much. It's only going to get tighter and tighter.

 

I think if we have some real success next season and are in the top-2 of the Pacific, JB should consider throwing our 1st rounder away. You hate to go the way Pittsburgh has, but desperate times call for desperate measures and a 25th overall pick is worth shedding 6M of cap space to be able to not only sign all our kids but perhaps get a tertiary player/scorer/defender for a trade deadline Cup run.

 

If JB can get rid of that contract in any way, shape or form, he deserves a statue. All the GMs know it's garbage and aren't going to help us out unless we sweeten the deal.

 

I wonder if Gaudette or Virtanen would be sweet enough. It'd be risky, both these guys are on the cusp of potential breakout seasons, but maybe mid-way through the year if either are struggling I'd see if any team would bite of Gaud/Virt + Eriksson for a 6th round pick.

[ABNuck]

No reason to give up assets to get rid of Loui's salary...his hit comes off the books right when BB needs a payraise.

 

More importantly, Sutter and Pearson (8.125mil combined) come off the books when Petey and Q43 need their respective bridge contracts (sign them to 1 year bridges with big payraises the following year).

 

I would ride out all 5 players - including Roussel and Beagle - and keep the assets that we would have needed to toss in just to rid ourselves of the contracts. Take the 8.125 in 2021-22 then add the 12.000 when Loui, Rouse and Beags are gone in 2022-23 to lock in the core 3 to the longer term (that's a minimum total of almost 28 mil available to split between the 3...Hogs and Podz will still be on ELC that year). Plus Lu, Spooner and Baer's cash will also be off the books by then (that's another 6.35mil available).

 

We just gotta get through the next 18 months and the dark cap crunch cloud will be dissipated. I don't think that Benning's back is up against the wall like it was back when he signed Roussel and Beagle (we needed NHL players)...we now have great assets available in the system that can do the work for millions cheaper...so we shouldn't be needing to sign any bottom 6, overage players to multi-million, multi-year contracts.

 

PS/ HOGS and PODZ sounds like an awesome ice cream shop to open at Roger's...might get sued though.

[Nuck1991]

eriksson and virtanen to columbus for alex wennbergn and then we buy wennberg out with cap hit less than 500k for first 3 years and less than 900k for next 3.

Just cant see a small franchise like columbus spending to cap but erikssons really only got 8m in cash left to be paid out

[86Viking]

Eriksson for Turris is interesting to me, yes Turris has more years so either Nashille adds something good or they retain say 2m and we have Turris @ 4m. Turris could help our PP on the 2nd unit, if we make him into a winger it give Horvat a potential linemate also. It would be a risky move to add extra years in the contract tho.

 

Personally, waive LE at training camp, if there is  an AHL season he plays in Utica if not he can sit at home and maybe we can get Big country Reeves or Wellwood to zoom call him and tell them about their great diet he should try! He said he wants to play out his contract, let him do it in the minors riding a bus. Having him on the NHL roster is a waste of a roster spot!

 

Sutter, hopefully can be moved for a mid to late round pick with no retention, Sven late or conditional round pick no retention to say Ott or Det or NJ. Let Fantenberg go and try to move Benn otherwise let him battle for a 6/7 D spot, worst case waive him to Utica.

 

Trade Pearson, maybe get a 2nd from a team with multiple 2nd rounders?

 

If we sign Markstrom, ride both G next year and hopefully GM JB is smart enough not to give the 30 yr old ufa G a NMC coming up on another expansion draft.

 

Seriously consider letting Tanev walk, he blocks a ton of shots, but I noticed him making some mistakes and slowing down. Lots of injuries and for all the people saying Hughes needs Tanev...that is hogwash Hughes can play with anyone...heck slot him beside our other overpaid 6m man the Giraffe.

 

 

[Junkyard Dog]

On 9/8/2020 at 2:49 PM, mll said:

 

Benning is not looking to move draft picks to move out contracts.  He talks of RFAs they need to make decisions on.  He doesn't know the market yet.  

 

If Friedman is right about teams being so worried about arbitration, it could be much harder to use arbitration eligible RFAs to move contracts out.  

 

If teams are worried about RFA arbitration than that's opportunity for rebuilding teams with cap to take advantage.

 

Sounds like Virtanen, Stecher and hopefully not Motte might be moved to shed cap. I don't think we're losing Eriksson without giving up a good pick or prospect.

 

I think Virtanen could be used to move Sutter. IDK about Stecher. Maybe a cheap top 6 D might entice teams? He's played with Edler a bunch so maybe teams will look at that. Motte has a good amount of value for what he brings but I don't really want to see him gone. Then there's MacEwen who doesn't have as much value and Gaudette who doesn't have arbitration rights, which could actually entice teams.

 

 

Overall though we're gonna need a 3rd line C if we end up moving Sutter.

[mll]

3 hours ago, Nuck1991 said:

eriksson and virtanen to columbus for alex wennbergn and then we buy wennberg out with cap hit less than 500k for first 3 years and less than 900k for next 3.

Just cant see a small franchise like columbus spending to cap but erikssons really only got 8m in cash left to be paid out

Wennberg's buyout cost is the same as the money still owed to Eriksson.  Columbus might just as well buy him out themselves.  

 

Columbus was a model of hard work and resiliency with all their injuries.  Virtanen does not seem to fit that kind of team. 

 

Seth Jones is UFA in 2 years.  Columbus has to show him that they are serious about improving the roster and working towards legit contender status if they wish to retain him.  Adding a deadweight contract gives the wrong message. 

They also don't have that much cap space.  They want to improve their top-6 and have to extend Dubois and Gavrikov. 

 

Edited September 10, 2020 by mll

[mll]

20 minutes ago, Junkyard Dog said:

If teams are worried about RFA arbitration than that's opportunity for rebuilding teams with cap to take advantage.

 

Sounds like Virtanen, Stecher and hopefully not Motte might be moved to shed cap. I don't think we're losing Eriksson without giving up a good pick or prospect.

 

I think Virtanen could be used to move Sutter. IDK about Stecher. Maybe a cheap top 6 D might entice teams? He's played with Edler a bunch so maybe teams will look at that. Motte has a good amount of value for what he brings but I don't really want to see him gone. Then there's MacEwen who doesn't have as much value and Gaudette who doesn't have arbitration rights, which could actually entice teams.

 

 

Overall though we're gonna need a 3rd line C if we end up moving Sutter.

 

Sutter is a 4.375M cap hit.  Virtanen acccording to Drance could get 3M in arbitration.  He pegs Stecher as high as 3.5M in arbitration.

 

So Sutter + Virtanen could be upwards of 7M.  Teams might prefer to use that kind of cap space on a more impactful player.  Quite a few teams are caught at the cap and some owners are hurting in their regular business.  Whether for cap or internal cap reasons there could be some unexpected names on the market per LeBrun.

 

Will teams really want 2 bottom of the lineup players when they can maybe get a higher end player for that same cap hit.  Teams might not be able to move unwanted contracts and could be forced to part with much better players. 

 

This off-season could be very busy and unexpected.  Fwiw GM Fletcher seems to think that there will be more cap in for cap out type of deals (eg Lucic for Neal / Pearson for Gudbranson) because there's just not enough cap space around.

 

There are also quite a few teams looking to shed cap space and they could be more aggressive in their offer.  Some names here:

NYI - Ladd and Boychuk who both can't easily be bought out given their contract structure

Edmonton - Russell who is only owed 1.5M in salary

Carolina - Niederreiter who has been healthy scratched at times

NYR - Lundqvist but he has an NMC

Vegas - Fleury at 7M is not cheap.  They wish to retain Lehner and although they can fit both under their cap it might not be an ideal co-habitation

SJS - Jones.   They don't have that many years left with their core ageing and Wilson excludes a rebuild.

Nashville - Turris.   Turris is a 2M cap hit for 8 years in case of a buyout but not sure Nashville has the 16M that a buyout would cost. 

 

[Junkyard Dog]

1 minute ago, mll said:

 

Sutter is a 4.375M cap hit.  Virtanen acccording to Drance could get 3M in arbitration.  He pegs Stecher as high as 3.5M in arbitration.

 

So Sutter + Virtanen could be upwards of 7M.  Teams might prefer to use that kind of cap space on a more impactful player.  Quite a few teams are caught at the cap and some owners are hurting in their regular business.  Whether for cap or internal cap reasons there could be some unexpected names on the market per LeBrun.

 

Will teams really want 2 bottom of the lineup players when they can maybe get a higher end player for that same cap hit.  Teams might not be able to move unwanted contracts and could be forced to part with much better players. 

 

This off-season could be very busy and unexpected.  Fwiw GM Fletcher seems to think that there will be more cap in for cap out type of deals (eg Lucic for Neal / Pearson for Gudbranson) because there's just not enough cap space around.

 

There are also quite a few teams looking to shed cap space and they could be more aggressive in their offer.  Some names here:

NYI - Ladd and Boychuk who both can't easily be bought out given their contract structure

Edmonton - Russell who is only owed 1.5M in salary

Carolina - Niederreiter who has been healthy scratched at times

NYR - Lundqvist but he has an NMC

Vegas - Fleury at 7M is not cheap.  They wish to retain Lehner and although they can fit both under their cap it might not be an ideal co-habitation

SJS - Jones.   They don't have that many years left with their core ageing and Wilson excludes a rebuild.

Nashville - Turris.   Turris is a 2M cap hit for 8 years in case of a buyout but not sure Nashville has the 16M that a buyout would cost. 

 

Yeah I was gonna say cap for cap deals. Maybe we see teams who are willing to take an extra year on a contract get a bit for someone who's got 1 or 2 less years and get something for it.

 

I also wanted to mention that could see teams retaining some of the cap on the bigger deals that they're trying to get rid of, not much of a choice.

 

I also could see RFA's for RFA's. Try to trade in order fill in more of a position of need, hence why I mention a lot Zadorov being someone we could target.

 

We are probably gonna see some buyouts on people who will be upcoming UFA's next year. If we buyout Sutter he has a 2.04M cap hit for year 1 and a 1.16M cap hit in the 2nd year. Baertschi has a 1.76M cap hit for year 1 and a 800k cap hit the following year. Could be a way teams save cap. Depends though if owners are down. 

 

If we do that and ship out some RFA's and/or someone like Pearson, idk who'd be willing to take, it could shed enough cap. We'd have to rely on youngsters stepping up on cheap contracts though(Hog/Lind/OJ).

[mll]

9 minutes ago, Junkyard Dog said:

Yeah I was gonna say cap for cap deals. Maybe we see teams who are willing to take an extra year on a contract get a bit for someone who's got 1 or 2 less years and get something for it.

 

I also wanted to mention that could see teams retaining some of the cap on the bigger deals that they're trying to get rid of, not much of a choice.

 

I also could see RFA's for RFA's. Try to trade in order fill in more of a position of need, hence why I mention a lot Zadorov being someone we could target.

 

We are probably gonna see some buyouts on people who will be upcoming UFA's next year. If we buyout Sutter he has a 2.04M cap hit for year 1 and a 1.16M cap hit in the 2nd year. Baertschi has a 1.76M cap hit for year 1 and a 800k cap hit the following year. Could be a way teams save cap. Depends though if owners are down. 

 

If we do that and ship out some RFA's and/or someone like Pearson, idk who'd be willing to take, it could shed enough cap. We'd have to rely on youngsters stepping up on cheap contracts though(Hog/Lind/OJ).

 

Friedman wonders if there won't be more buyouts this year.  It saves money as the player is only owed 2/3rds (1/3rds if younger than 26), while also blocking cap space that GMs can't spend it on.  The buyout window opens on 25 September (or the start of the SC finals) and closes on the 8th (1 day before free agency).

 

The Canucks apparently think that they could find a taker for Sutter and even Eriksson per Farhan Lalji.  Benning just excluded using draft picks to dump contracts.  Maybe with salary retained.  GMs are probably going to get creative.  Could be a combination of retention and then enacting a buyout on the acquired player.  

 

It's set to be a busy 4 weeks.

 

25 Sept - or start of the finals    Buyout window opens up

6 Oct                                               Deadline for qualifying offers

6 & 7 Oct                                        NHL draft

8 Oct                                               Buyout window closes

9 Oct                                               Free agency starts

10 Oct                                             Deadline for qualified players to file for arbitration

20 Oct - 10 Nov                             Arbitration hearings