I think the cost for getting a top five pick will be more expensive than many people think... Especially in a draft with this much high-end talent. Have to remember there will be more than one team interested in moving up in the draft... That will drive up the price. The flames have the benefit of having cap space and owners willing to spend to the cap. However, there are other teams that could do that too.
Imagine if buffalo decided they really want to have two picks in the top five in order to make that horrible season worth it? They could offer to take on the ward and semin contracts in exchange for the islander's first round pick plus some of their young prospects on defence. Would save Carolina money and they would get younger and cheaper talent that's more NHL-ready. Edmonton could make a similar offer with pittsburgh's pick plus some of their young players... Heck, they could offer yakupov straight up for that pick and that deal might get done.
These are just examples of course... These teams may have no appetite for moving these picks/players. But it shows that other teams could offer more than a 2nd round pick to eat salary... The flames would have to do the same. I may be way off on the cost of eating salary though cause we have yet to see a deal of this kind in the league.
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