Tanguay-********-Cammalleri
Glencross-Barkov-Hudler
Baertschi-Stajan-Stempniak
Horak-Backlund-Jackman
Reinhart
Say you overpay Mike Ribeiro for 5 years @$32M. That's your #1 centre during the 3-4 "rebuilding years", until at least one of the younger guys (say, Jankowski if he pans out or Barkov/Mackinnon/Whoever else is drafted this year and next) are ready to kick ass as top 6 centres. You may also have some space to get a good middle six player in terms of possession play - say, Cochrane boy Mason Raymond, who looks to be too expensive to keep for a cash-strapped Canucks squad, or Michael Ryder, or Pascal Dupuis. Take one of those guys on a 1-2 year deal with the full expectation that you'll sell them as a rental at the applicable trade deadling for a prospect.
How is Backlund on the 4th line and overpaying for Ribero a good move?
I'd rather a less talented Backlund as a 1-2 center than seeing Ribero in a Flames uni anytime.
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