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Originally Posted by ComixZone
I hope the Flames sign Hall. I'd happily see 7 years and 8M AAV. With a lot of the actual cash being paid out in years 1-5. Even toss in a NMC to get him to sign here.
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I suspect that's what its going to take as well. At that point it is going to be whether Hall views this team as competitive or not. If you remove Gaudreau, I think he can still be convinced so long as the return is not for futures. If it's a trade for futures you are removing a key component to the competitiveness of the team, so he may balk at it. If you weaken the center ranks in any shape or fashion I think you scare off any of the top free agents. Moving Monahan means you are working with 3rd tier centers and that won't be overly appealing to a UFA who wants to win.
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and I'd also love to see them snag Pietraneglo and Markstrom. This off-season has two top tier free agents and then a whole bunch of middle tier rubbish.
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Yeah, that isn't happening, so it isn't even worth discussing. You know, this thing called the salary cap an all.
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Stay out of the middle tier. Hall, Pietraneglo, Markstrom - or bow out of free agency all together.
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I disagree with this. In fact, I'm almost more inclined to sniff around the middle tier guys first and see where expectations are for all these players. There are some good guys there, some that outscored Hall handily last season, and could be had at a discount to the dollars Hall would be demanding. If the middle guys get squeezed because of the cap, you're likely better off getting in on a player like Toffoli at $5x6 than Hall at $8x7. Means you can afford another player or account for the sink hole that is Lucic's cap hit. With the static cap, money puck comes into play more than ever, and you have to squeeze every cent possible.