[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I'm going to go slightly different/more extreme - Based on $28m free space

Lucic traded to Seattle - 5.25 <---Highly unlikely, no team is going to take Looch without something really good going back. He's only got one year left before his contract and cap is removed. Then, he'll retire after that or he can still be with the Flames for cheap.
Backlund traded - 5.35 <--- Not a chance with Sutter there. He's fine as a second/3 line center
Hanifin traded - 4.95 <--- Iffy - but Tre seems to like Hanifin.

Total Cap : 43.5M

Gaudreau - 8 x $10.5 (Probably low but if he likes the team maybe sacrifices a bit and gets the 8th year)
Tkachuk - 8 x $9.5 <--- He's RFA - so, let's see what Tre can do.
Mangiapane - 5 x $6 <--- No way Mangi is getting that as an RFA.
Kylington 6 x $4.5 (I imagine after 1 good year he wants some security and cash in pocket
Ruzicka $1

Remaining 13.5

Sign the third pairing for 6 million combined

Remaining 7.5

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Dube - Monahan - Toffoli
Mangiapane- TBD - Coleman
TBD - Ruzicka - TBD
TBD

Kylington - Tanev
Gubby - Zaddy
TBD - Andersson

Markstrom
Vladar

Now there is where it get dicey - You have 7.5 million but need a 3rd line checking center, and another D

If you promote one of the young D from within for 1 million, you have 6.5. Fill out 4th line with two 1 million guys and you are left 4.5

So with the assets you get from Hanifin and Backlund you get a cheaper, younger, and maybe better 2nd/3rd line center (You could also use these assets to attach to Monahan and move if needed and go after 2 new centers - but that may be harder)

You can probably also upgrade on Dube depending on what he shows with the assets.

Loosing Hanifin would hurt, but if you feel one of our young D are ready to make the team, this may be the best position of strength to deal from

Point is - Lots of creative ways to keep Mangi, MT, and JG. IF they want to be here

See above...