Bracing for THE worst

You're still over the cap by just shy of 500K with only a 22 man roster. Something further has to give.

I know this. If there was an easy solution, I would have tried it. I left it because the hope is for a Bickell trade or a Scuderi retirement to put us back under. Otherwise, as I said, something will need to be done.

Also, if the cap goes up slightly, lets say to 72.5, opposed to the additional 5% that would cap it around 74.5, we will have a little more wiggle room to fill out the last roster spot

Yeah its not going to be easy. It really all depends on the salary cap next year. Until Stan knows that, not much he can do.

Personally, if worst case scenario happens:
Cap stays at 71.4M. Then only maybe 73-74M next year.
Bickell and Rundblad can't be traded. Even if you include a prospect lets say.
Stan keeps Teravainen and Panarin next year so they will be resigned. Probably at 2M and 5M respectively (give or take)
Scuderi plays his last season and doesn't retire.
Hossa and any other NMC doesn't want to be traded.
Everything that doesn't help Chicago, happens essentially.

Simplest solution?
Shaw and Panik not resigned/traded and in turn replaced by cheaper options. Under 1M cap hit prospects in the system.
Kruger traded for best return possible that doesn't cost them cap space. under 1M cap hit prospects and draft picks.

Now i know...............Yes their PK and bottom 6 forward depth suffer, yes the Hawks probably don't steam roll the competition like they're used to but......They keep Toews, Kane, Hossa , Anisimov, Panarin, Teravainen, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Crawford, Van Riemsdyk and prospects obviously, long term. That team coupled with some luck from youngsters picking up the slack left after Kruger, Shaw, Panik, etc are gone, do an admirable job and this team can still win a cup in my mind. They just need their prospects or at least some of them to step up immediately. That's not an implausible scenario. (Motte, Pokka, Hartman, Kempny, Lundberg, etc, etc)

To me the solution, albeit not an easy one, is soooooo simple. Obviously though, this is if it is an absolute worst case scenario going into next year. If they get a little lucky by trading Bickell/Rundblad this year and then they can get Teuvo and Panarin signed for cheaper than market value deals asap, than they could afford to keep an extra player like Kruger, Shaw or Panik.

The Bonuses are counted twice in this scenario. CapFriendly recently updated the 2016/17 bonuses at the very top to include the 2015/16 overages. You have some more cap room to work with. Stan will get a trade done for Bickell. Especially with the rumors that the cap will go down.