That and they want to move Ryan with Karlsson, which Tampa can’t afford

Or.. we don't overpay Gourde and we trade Callahan instead of paying him 2.6M from the buyout.
Or maybe the salary cap rises by more than 1 million.

You could get more for TJ, don't you think?

Well obviously they can't when you give such a huge contract to Gourde. Who do you think the Lightning would rather have, Gourde or Karlsson?

If you aren't going to pay Gourde that then he walks. If he has another year like last year, he will get that as a UFA.

Trading Callahan is an option but it's not like teams would be lining up to do so and they would have to be teams on his list.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if revenues decrease this year and the cap stays fairly stagnant. Vegas having an unreal year helped revenue immensely and if Vegas tails off a bit, are the fans loyal enough to keep purchasing their gear?

You are going to lose Gourde. IMO that is already determined but I signed him to show what he will likely get.

That's why they'd need a 3rd team to take on Callahan and Ryan's contracts. Lowers Ottawa's asking price.

Nobody is taking on those 2 contracts without a significant haul coming with them.

the best option tampa has is

trade johnson for a good cheap prospect (or a similar player at a better contract)
sign gorde to a 2 year deal at 4 mill
trade callahan
try to reverse miller for namestnikov (saves a little over a million)
pray karlsson accepts the same deal kuch got

to do all this, hope a team will take callahan if johnsonis included. or you'll be out another prospect

TJ + and Buffalo would take those

No way Stevy Y gives Yani that big of a deal. One good season doesn't lead you to that big of a pay raise in my opinion.

God I wish MTL would use some of that cap space to mediate some of these trades.

In this scenario he would put up near the numbers this season as he did last season. If he does that, someone on the open market would pay him this easily.

MB isn't smart enough to figure it out. You would probably end up losing your first round pick and take on a cap dump.

Well i mean he did do it for the Mason trade but i have a feeling the owner doesnt want MB to soend too much cap like that. Its unfortunate.