Future Team 1

Sokolov + 2nd to dump 1 year of Zaitsev? I personally would be upset

The $4.5M is 100% needed to get Stutzle, DeBrincat, and Pinto re-signed long-term. It would suck, but if Zaitsev is still on the roster it's a move that would need to be done.

Z needs to go, I'd like him gone this year, but at this point in time, 1 year left, odds are the signing bonus would have been paid and it's only 2.5M actual salary, which shouldn't cost that much to dump.

It's the cap hit that's the problem.... even at 1yr teams would know with Ottawa needing to re-sign those 3 players, that Ottawa would be right up against the cap without Zaitsev.... If Zaitsev is still here, re-signing them is almost virtually impossible if all three have the type of seasons the team is hoping they have.

Yeah but it's doable as long as we are ready to spend to the cap

DeBrincat already makes 6.4, he might get a 2.0 raise. If he's asking for 10.0+, then it was a bad trade, trade him for whatever you can

Stutzle could be bridged but if we can have him at the same amount long term as the other guys (around 8.0), do it

Pinto won't be costly, unless he breaks out in a major way. Go bridge with him

Talbot and Hamonic's contract expire, they will have to be replaced by much cheaper guys. A part of that will be used for Zub's raise (which should be around 2.0)