with no pay cuts

You are a bit high, if I may direct your attention to this handy cap guide:
https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/877874

Not in that guide, Sparks is not getting that much, think like 800k
Kappy getting 2.5 is his absolute max, he likely gets no more than 2.

Three guys short of a roster but there is certainly room to maneuver from what you have shown. No need for ekholm and you seem a bit high on marner, kappy and nylander. Seems like you didn’t even resign johnsson though. There has been a lot of thought put into our cap by some of the best in the business. We will fit what we need under the cap.

So let me get this straight: Nashville trades their best cost controlled top 4 Dman and gets some B/C prospects, a 3RW, a late 1st, and another pick..... Nashville is trying to compete for the cup now and nothing in that package helps that. Beyond that even if we weren't competing for the cup, we could get a better package then that