Look, I know what Nick Kypreos apparently reported, but I don't think that Bill Zito needs to take the insane step of retaining 4x$5M just to move on from Sergei Bobrovksy (not to mention a certain NMC that is going to really limit what you're getting back from him if you *do* swallow that poison pill.) Florida's cap situation isn't ideal but all they really need to do is weather the buyout storm in 2022-23 - they've got more than $6.5M in dead money from the Keith Yandle and Scott Darling buyouts clogging everything up but in 2023-24 the Darling buyout is gone and Yandle's drops to $1.2M - just in time to pay Jonathan Huberdeau & Spencer Knight!
TRADE:
Only one you really *need* to make. Finding a home for Patric Hornqvist's $5.3M is basically mandatory. If you do that, you have the room to operate this summer. Seattle swaps sends out a 6th and gets back a mildly productive veteran (11-17-28 in 65 GP this year). If you think Florida adds another pick or something, I'm sure they can - but Seattle has been on record as wanting to add veterans this summer and Hornqvist fits the bill.
SIGNINGS
This is the part that hurts - Florida doesn't have a ton of room to keep key guys from this year's team. TDL additions Claude Giroux, Ben Chiarot, and Robert Hagg are out the door. Mason Marchment has played himself into a new tax bracket and finds a new home. I could see Maxim Manin/Joe Thornton/Noel Acciari coming back if they want to take $900K or less, though.
I chose different guys tho - bringing in younger players with some NHL experience like Adam Brooks & Nick Merkley on cheap deals to be 13/14th forwards after bringing in cheap vets Jimmy Vesey & Vinnie Hinostroza to fill out the 4th line. All 4 of those guys can be played by probably a half-dozen different UFAs this summer; what's important is keeping the price points in that ballpark.
I think RD3 is a place this team shouldn't cheap out on, though, and if Lyubshkin is good with 3x$1.75M I think he's a great option. If he passes then I'm sure Justin Braun could be had for a similar price point for a year or two.
The toughest part on this team is that your bottom 6 is really iffy. Lomberg had 18 points in 55 games as a 26 year old, so maybe he's not the answer - but the price is right. Denisenko is also in his last year of his ELC and I think you need a few of those guys in the lineup this year so pair him with Lundell and see if they can make some magic happen.
This team takes a slight step back, I think, but I still think the core is strong enough to be a contender. And summer 2023 will get a little easier - you'll have about $23M available in cap space, plenty room to give $9M to Jonathan Huberdeau, re-sign Mackenzie Weegar if you're so inclined, give Spencer Knight a raise, and replace Radko Gudas on the right side. It's all about gritting your teeth this year and getting through to the other side.
Probably going to need to send a second or third with hornqvist
Quoting: vikhodush
I read the explanation but hornqvist is absolutely a cap dump
Yup, add a pick or prospect to get this done.
"On record for wanting to add veterans?" Not sure what you heard or read, but of the 24 players that finished the year, 18 were 26 or older. And Seattle sent plenty of veterans out, Giordano, Jarnkrok, Blackwell. and others. You mis-read Seattle's intention to "be active in free agency" I think. The draft is priority 1. Young talent is what this team needs more of. Cap space and draft capital will not be used to acquire the Hornqvist's of the league . . . certainly not without some big-time incentive!
"On record for wanting to add veterans?" Not sure what you heard or read, but of the 24 players that finished the year, 18 were 26 or older. And Seattle sent plenty of veterans out, Giordano, Jarnkrok, Blackwell. and others. You mis-read Seattle's intention to "be active in free agency" I think. The draft is priority 1. Young talent is what this team needs more of. Cap space and draft capital will not be used to acquire the Hornqvist's of the league . . . certainly not without some big-time incentive!
I remember reading about Francis being open to acquiring veterans from Ryan Clark on the Athletic but it was one of those side-blurbs on the site, not a full feature length article - could've been more to it I missed.
If I'm Bill Zito, though, I'm more than happy throwing in a 3rd rounder to get that cap off my books instead of retaining $5M for 4 friggin years on Bobrovsky.