According to Capfriendly, the Flames have $28.453 million in cap space next year. Assuming the 1 million increase is accurate, that leaves $29.453 million for next season.
Major contracts to sign;
Tkachuk
Gaudreau
Mangiapane
Kylington
That would give the Flames 17 players on their roster, needing 3 D and 3 F.
Start at $9 million per for Tkachuk and Gaudreau, or $18 million total. Kylington probably takes a smaller bridge deal, let's say $3.5 million. Mangiapane comes in at $6 million. That's $27.5 million, leaving $2.453 million in cap space. Not enough at all.
I imagine they look to move Monahan's final year of his contract, which would bring the available cap space to $8.828 million, which is more than enough for the last 6 roster players, or to increase the amounts given to the 4 key players above.
Ideally, Milan Lucic is offered a $2 million per year brand ambassador contract with Boston Pizza which convinces him to retire, then the team has more then enough space to also bring in some bigger UFA.
TL/DR - Trading Monahan gives the Flames plenty of cap space next year to re-sign Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Kylington, Mangiapane and complete the roster. Finding a way to move on from Lucic's contract through trade or retirement allows the above plus additional upgrades.
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