Having had 12 hours to process this, I still don't like it.
I'd rather give Neal another year to turn it around and rebuild his value. If he still sucks, buy him out. The penalty is down to six years from eight at the end of next year.
We can't buy out Lucic. I suppose we could before the expansion and have his dead money on our cap for a year. Or by that time, hopefully he has a solid enough relationship with the Flames that he agrees to waive knowing he's not going to be selected.
I would be happy with a 30 point 3rd line player with Physical presence. It isn't ideal for $5.4M, but it's better than Neal and better than Brouwer.
Ferland + Hathaway for roughly the same money stings. But it's not like Lucic has horrible sins in his past a la Bertuzzi, so I will root for him to succeed.
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