This whole 'Cap Floor' issue isn't as big as people are making it out to be.
The Salary Cap is going to be around $71 million, and the Salary Floor closer to $52 million.
We have about $43 million currently on the books for next year, so Burke has to find $9 million worth of salary from our RFAs, UFAs and non-Flame UFAs.
RFAs: Colborne, Bouma, Byron, Galiardi, Billins & Cundari
Flame UFAs: Cammalleri, Butler, MacDonald & Westgarth
Absolutely need to sign a capable back-up so that Ortio can continue to get big-game minutes in the AHL.
Need top 6 RW with a bit of size.
I would raid the Jets for Setoguchi and Al Montoya.
Devin Setoguchi could be top 6 on this team and wouldn't be as likely to float with Hartley badgering him to work harder. 4 years at $3 million would be more than enough to land him.
Montoya is a great backup & still has the potential to be a starter. 1a/1b arrangements work well with Ramo, who might not be ready to take on a Kipper-sized workload yet. 4 years at $2.5 million should do for Al.
It would still leave us short of the cap if all our UFAs walk. Butler could re-sign for $2.5 million AAV and Colborne, Bouma & Byron could each be re-upped for $1 million (average) & I think we'd make the floor with one more minor signing. Worst case scenario is we keep $2 million man S.O.B. in the pressbox all year.
For the stated reasons I don't think it'd be wise to chuck loads of insane money at Jagr and Heatley, just for the sake of making the Cap Floor. I hope any signings are completed for hockey reasons alone.
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