Jones has not given any indication that he anything more than an average Dman. Now I admit there GMs project on future production but still. No guarantee, that Lupul and Robidas provide cap relief of 8.25m.
Michalek cannot be bought out, or moved or traded without his consent.

Michalek doesn't have a NMC.

Seth Jones is average?!?? What weed you smoking I'd love to try some. 21 and future top 2 dmen.

First, Michalek does have a total NMC. Period. I've explained why on previous posts.

Nick. Yes, currently Seth Jones is average. He may be a future top 2 Dman but right now he hasn't indicated he is going to be. As a GM I wouldn't want to give picks and 6.5m a year to a "maybe"

He is already a top pairing Dman the ways he skates and moves the puck. Defensively he is solid but as with all young defensman he will make mistakes. Plays a bit like Alex Pietrangelo. But he definitely isn't "average".

If Jones was average, why would anyone give up Ryan Johansen for him??? He was a 2nd pairing guy in Nash because of guys named Weber and Josi. He's top pairing on at least 20 teams (probably more) right now. Plus, he shoots right and can be paired with Rielly for years.

Palhal, can you provide a link to where it says a player cannot be bought out if they have a NMC? I think you might be mixing up the lingo a bit here with this one.

http://www.generalfanager.com/buyouts

Regarding Jones, You can't possibly say he will be a number #1 dman soon. Nobody can read the future. With that said, if you watch him play, see who he got to learn from in Nashville, his size, his ability, strength..........Ask any scout if they are not at least 95% this guy will be a top end defencemen eventually and i'd be shocked if there is one. The reason to pay him now is to take a chance that if he explodes in coming years, you'll have got him at a discount a la Karlsson in Ottawa. Its a risk of course but the people who know him best and have scouted him a lot more than anyone of us, are willing to make that bet more times than not. I do think 6.5m might be a little high but if its for 7 years, your getting the player during the prime years of his career at a cost that will look like peanuts in 3-4 years time.

Speaking of Reilly, I think he could of got more money for a little less term but decided to get it done asap as to not be a distraction. Good on his part. But I also think Jones has a higher ceiling than Rielly. Rielly is your offensive dman but Jones is more of a 2 way dman and he's a RH shot which is as i've mentioned countless times, a premium in the NHL right now.