Unfortunately, Habs decline very fast.
The defense is now full in the lineup.

I think you're overpaying for Rakell, and there's no reason to go after him and hoffman. Might as well just sign hoffman in this scenario and keep all your assests. The Domi trade is fine in my opinion, but i don't think he will come that cheap and if he knows he will be 3rd line center he probily won't sign at all. Plus i don't think it is in our best interest to move Zads and Graves, i think you keep one or the other, just for the sake of having d that having more depth at d.

Doubt that get's you Domi, And secondly he's not signing that cheaply Domi should easily get 5 x $5.5m or 5 x $6m rather easily. Doubt the Leafs have any interest in Zadorov they need RD help not LD help and i doubt Jost will get you a 2nd unless it's a late 2nd Don't see Hoffman taking a 3 year deal probably something in the neighborhood of 5 x $6m at the very least.

I agree on the overpayment for Rakell, although he is on a cheap contract. I dont see Bowers or Kaut cracking our line up anytime soon since we are so deep. I liked O'Conners play in the playoffs thats why i put him on that fourth line rather then Kaut or Bowers. As for Domi playing on the third line, that third line would be a 2A/B Line still playing 16 minutes a night, with our fourth line playing PK and 8 mins.

With how Domi played last year and Covid I dont see him getting 5.5+. That 3 year deal brings him to UFA where he can sign a long term deal when the cap begins to rise again. If covid did not happen I would agree that he gets 5.5ish. Montreal may consider the deal as they can flip Graves as his asset value is at a high due to his stats being bolstered by Makar.

I think you see Kaut in the lineup this year, he has to lose the first year of his ELC either way so even if he's not in the opening night lineup he is the first call up once an injury happens. I think he would have taken Donskois spot this post season if it wouldn't have burned a year of ELC. Also with the contracts you're bringing in (Hoffman, Rakell, Domi) and rasies in the next season (Makar, Timmins, Grubes, Landy) you're going to need to have solid prospects to bring up to fill out the roster with ELC's. I understand giving something to get something and rakell is a solid player, but i think it's overkill to bring him and hoffman in.

Wow! I'm an Anaheim guy and that's too much for Rickard. We'd be overjoyed with Bowers, Kaut and the 2020 first and we'd still have a sense we put one over on you. Move some of that stuff into the Domi trade.