Quoting: exo2769
As of today...10.25.18...I don't know what to give Schmaltz. I mean is he a center or winger??? No one (not even Q or Bowman) can answer that today. His stats are actually somewhat close to Saad.. so 6 yr - $6M... if we want to, but Bowman clearly didn't want to do that for Saad, hence traded him away. However, it'll be 4 years from that trade after this year and kids get paid more. I tend to think Schmaltz is going to get a prove it bridge deal. probably a 2 or 3 year $4M - $4.75M. The Hawks should like this because their cap issues will dwindle during this time frame and Schmaltz isn't giving away his best contract opportunity. In Fact, he should gain more on his next deal while he figures out who he is.
When Saad signed his 6 x 6 deal in Columbus, the cap was about $71.4 million, representing 8.5% of the cap. If Schmaltz were to sign a 6 x 6 deal today today, assuming a modest increase in cap space for next year, it would represent 7.5% of the cap, so
technically it would take up less space.
That being said, I think Schmlatz is having a bit of an identity crisis in figuring out his role. Many people assumed him to be the logical 2C behind Toews but, as you've mentioned, he seems to fit better on the wing. With that in mind, do you commit to him long term as a winger? Would it be more prudent to move him for Center depth and take that $6 million and apply it to a big free agency signing? Panarin, Stone, Duchene?
So, yes I agree a bridge deal is probably the smart move here.