[Enoch Root]

I posted this in the playoff thread, but it should probably go here...

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

They will have a tough time icing a team that is equal to this year's. Here is their cap situation (including only one of Desharnais or Niemelainen):

8 forwards..... $43,525,000
6 defensemen $22,875,833
2 goalies......... $7,600,000
dead space...... $2,766,667

Total:............ $76,767,500
Space:............ $6,732,500

They need to sign one d-man (Bouchard) and 5 or 6 forwards. Kostin and McLeod are RFAs, so you assume they are signing them.

Even if you assume league minimum for the 5 forwards (I can't see Kostin signing for that), that leaves $2.9M for Bouchard. No way in hell he signs for that. If you assume something like $4M for Bouchard (still conservative), that leaves them able to sign 3 guys at league minimum, and still be 3 bodies short.

So no Janmark, no Ryan, no Bjugstad - all replaced with league minimum guys. And they STILL need to find about $3M, so they'll need to move Yamamoto (and replace with league minimum).

Next year (24/25) is exactly the same. Then Draisaitl becomes UFA. Yes, this was their window.