Don't worry about Duchene space.
Its been confirmed that he will be a pred on 31 thoughts podcast

Nothing is confirmed until he puts pen to paper, which he can't do for a week

Okay then, it has been confirmed that he will put pen to paper with the Preds on the 1st. That is CJ and Freidman reporting

Of course, done deal.

Let's call it "UFA space" then. Could pay anyone up to 10.5M and survive comfortably. Doing this made me realize the Habs could probably even fit up to 12.5 if they play hardball with Lehkonen and Armia.

Everyone is overpaid that you signed and you can't afford it...

Armia is worth $1 650 000, maybe even less

Lehkonen is worth maybe $1 500 000

Montreal will never sign Benn if they can't give him $700 000... they don't want him taking up a million dollars of space

Duchene is worth less than $7 000 000, I would give him $4 500 000

Nothing is confirmed yet, he has the right to change his mind, which an overpay might do. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just being picky on your wording

Read the description... Obviously everyone is overpaid because the point of this exercise was to find out if you can overpay everyone and afford it.

They can.

You are crazy if u think Duchenes gonna take 4.5 to even 9 million

He might change his mind, it is a possibility. But they specifically said 100% chance of it happening, so I'd call that confirmed.

Even on intrinsic value Duchene is worth more than that. Market value puts him well over 9. 4.5aav is 3C money lol, get real man

Duchene is not a Kucherov-level player, is he? He isn't even a Stamkos level player and you want to give him 10 mil

Comparables don't work that way. Stamkos signed in 2016. Kucherov was an RFA who took a team discount.

Same logic: Kevin Hayes just signed for $7M+. Is Duchene not a Hayes level player?

Look at what Hawaiian pig said. I’ll bet 100000000 dollars he’s getting at least 9.5, if not 10.5

Habs GM should focus on getting a 1LD

Reporters can be wrong, even Elliotte and CJ