i feel like debrincat gets slightly more than this. the guy can flat out score.

Agreed. Especially if he takes another step forward this season. Could get closer to 9 mil

you think the hawks screw it up and you get panarin 2.0 again?

No chance

what happens if the cap only goes up 2m again or goes up even less to only 83m next year? would they just move smith/saad?

They'd move whoever it takes. Anyone out of smith, shaw, saad, maata, murphy, de haan. I'd assume one defenseman gets moved to make room for one of the rookies then they'd move saad which wouldn't be too hard cus it'd be the last year of his deal.

"but marleau had one year left and it cost the leafs a first rounder" i hear you. just curious about how it goes. that seabrook contract.... wooooooof.

They could buyout Smith and save a bit under the cap, it also should be easy enough to move Connor Murphy when Boqvist/Mitchell are ready.

Lol saad>>>>marleau
That seabrook contract is unmovable. Only a few ways it gets moved.
1. The hawks give up something crazy for Seattle to take him in the expansion draft (also have to get seabrook to agree to go there)
2. The hawks try to do what Edmonton magically did with Lucic. But I don't see that happening.
3. The hawks are stuck with that contract until there's one year left then try to move him then. If they haven't bought him out by then

100% especially with skinner just being paid 9

Yep, dump Smith and bring in a guy on his ELC. Gives you another $2.25-$2.5 million to work with.