I think 3.5 is a tolerable cap hit for Stone at #5, because we're not paying a premium for the players in our top four. That's the factor some are missing. Hamilton, Brodie and Hamonic are very good value contracts which allows for a bit more cap space to be allocated to the bottom pairing.
If, however, Stone is looking to get paid the UFA premium and wants more than that, I agree, look elsewhere.
But for what he is, at 3.5 or so, he'd be a very good bottom pairing d-man and we know he can step up into the top 4 if there's an injury and be serviceable there for some time. I like the Kulaks and such, but not playing in the top 4 next season if there's an injury.
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