[N26]

Let's add the rest of the Eastern Conference.

I find it hard to see trades with these teams though there are definitely players I am interested in.

Buffalo

FACTS:

Approximately 640 km from family home

Only 10 NHL players, just 4 forwards (2 of whom, Skinner and Okposo, have perceived bad contracts), signed for 2020-21. Only 5 players signed for 2021-22.

Makes up a cap hit of $48,291,667 and cap space of $33,208,333. So a lot of work to do for Kevan Adams

Significant UFAs - WSimmonds, VSobotka, JVesey, ZGirgensens, JLarson, MFrolik, MHunwick, JGilmour

Significant RFAs - LUllmark, BMontour, LPilut (signed in KHL), SReinhart, VOlofsson, TThompson, DKahun, CLazar, CMittelstadt

$5.0 million+ contracts - Eichel (10.0) JSkinner (9.0), Okposo (6.0) Ristolainen (5.4)


ISSUES/OPINION

How serious is Jack Eichel’s discontent? He actually doesn’t have much power to force a trade at that AAV in a flat cap.

Outside of Dahlin, this team could have a completely new roster by 2021-22 to the one that just finished this past season.

Do the owners interfere too much?

Prospect pool is disappointing for a team that has been drafting high for so long

One of the teams believed (unsubstantiated but strong rumours) to be on a $70 million budget this year

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Montreal

FACTS:

Approximately 750 km from family home

19 NHL players signed for 2020-21. Three of them are goalies as Lingren has a 1-way for 2020-21

With a cap hit of $68,547,976 so cap space of $12,952,024

A lot of draft picks (24) over the next 2 drafts.

Significant UFAs- DWeise, JEdmundson (signed today?), CFolin

Significant RFAs - MDomi, CHudon, VMete, XOuellet, JEvans, NJuulson

$5.0 million+ contracts - Price (10.), SWeber (7.875), JPetry (5.5) JDrouin (5.5)


ISSUES/OPINION

A lot of picks but a below average drafting record since 2011 with only 1 above-average pick who basically never played for them (Sergachyov). The jury is still out on some recent picks (Lotkaniemi, Poehling, Romanov etc) but the scouting department hasn’t impressed much in the last decade

GM on the hot seat

Great value contracts in Petry ($5.5) and Gallagher ($3.75)

Rabid fan base and media keep intense pressure on the team to succeed


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Detroit

FACTS:

Approximately 970 km from family home

Only 11 NHL players signed for 2020-21. Only 3 defensemen. Only 5 players signed for 2021-22.

Makes up a cap hit of $46,825,000 so cap space of $33,208,333.18.

Significant UFAs- JHoward, TDaley, JEricsson, KBrodziak, SGagner

Significant RFAs - AErne, TBertuzzi, AMantha, DTimashov, BPerlini, CEhn, MBowey, THirose

$5.0 million+ contracts - Larkin (6.1), FNeilsen (5.25), DeKeyser (5.0)


ISSUES/OPINION

Can be argued that only 9 of the 11 contracts they have can be considered overpays. Only Larkin and Biega having appropriate numbers

Decent prospect pool but several have been rushed (ie Cholowski, Hronek, Rasmussen) which is the opposite of how Detroit used to operate. Yzerman has stated this will change.

Lots of draft picks

Next year, with Helm, Filpula and Nemeth contracts gone, seems the time to go for it rather than this year.

Perhaps Yzerman can exploit his former team's cap issues. Or perhaps get available Detroit-area players like Torey Krug, Andy Greene, Ian Cole, Austin Czarnik or Tyler Motte.


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Ottawa

FACTS:

Approximately 750 km from family home

22 draft picks in the next 2 drafts

Only 10 NHL players signed for 2020-21. Only 3 players signed past 2021-22 (Zaitsev, Chabot and White)

Cap hit $41,904,167 so they are not even at the floor yet.

Cap space of $39,595,833

Significant UFAs- MPeca, RHainsey, MBorowiecki, CAnderson

Significant RFAs - CBrown, CTierney, RBalcers, CJaros, ADuclair, JHawryluk. FChlapik

ISSUES/OPINION

Several good prospects but questionable player development

No need for Johnny for a few years

Ownership issues. In terms of finances, character and meddling

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Florida

FACTS

Approximately 1860 km from Gaudreau family home

13 NHLers signed next year at a cap hit of $60,536,288

Significant UFAs - EDadanov, MHoffman, BBoyle, EHaula, MPysyk,

Significant RFAs - SMountembeault, HBorgström, MWeegar, LWallmark, DToninato, DHunt, ASaarela

$5.0 million+ contracts - Ekblad (7.5), KYandle (6.35) Huberdeau (5.9), Barkov (5.9), Bobrovsky (10.0) and Strålman (5.5)

Paying almost $4.0 million in cap for non-roster players

ISSUES/OPINION:

Have spent a lot of time as playoff tweeners. Frustration is growing.

New GM and rumours of a below-cap budget

Decent prospects at forward. Not much ar D.

Yandle and Bobrovsky contracts (and maybe Matheson) not looking good


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TAMPA BAY

FACTS:

Approximately 1660 km from Gaudreau family home

Capfriendly says they have $76,166,666 committed to 15 players in 2020-21. Cap space of $5,333,334

Significant UFAs - PMaroon. JRutta, LSchenn, KShattenkirk, ZBogosian

Significant RFAs - ECernak, MSergachev, ACirelli, MStephens, CVerhaeghe, MJoseph

No RHD who have played an NHL game are signed for next year

Decent number of picks (17) over the next 2 drafts for a contender but no 2020 1st

Big 6 (Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, McDonagh & Vasilevsky) all signed for at least 2 more seasons

ISSUES/OPINION:

Major cap issues but playoff run is making several guys (Gourde, Kilhorn, Johnson & Shattenkirk) look attractive despite their high-ish cap hits.

Not a deep prospect pool but some good names

Seem very motivated to keep Cirelli, Sergachyov and Cernak despite lack of cap space. Lots of picks, prospects and middle tier players should be available.