With the Toffoli signing, the Habs must now shed some salary to comply with the cap next season - all the while preparing for the 2021 offseason considering notably Gallagher and Allen’s recent extensions and soon-to-be RFA (Kotkaniemi) and UFAs (Danault, Tatar and Armia, ie)
Here are some ideas for cap relief; only 1 or 2 of these would
be required for functional cap flexibility next season, especially considering that the expansion draft next offseason likely sheds around 3M if Edmunston/Chiarot or Allen is selected by Seattle.
1. A) Trade Weal and save 1.4M (Only possible with incentives)
Unlikely without coming along with pick incentive since he earns twice as much as he’s worth in the COVID market. This being said, the Habs have too much 3-4-5th round picks next year, so one or two could be use to move Weal without taking on a contract back.
1. B) Bury Weal in the AHL and save 300K (Marginal effect) :
Considering he must replaced by another 13th forward in the NHL (700K) this move barely saves 300K against the cap, a marginal effect at best.
2. Trade Kulak (Possible) and save 1,85M :
Kulak’s relative value has probably never been higher and he remains somewhat cost efficient in the current market, he would thus not be a cap dump per se and could actually fetch a modest return (3rd round pick, especially with a late pick coming along with Kulak?). Considering Romanov’s addition, the Habs can however go along with 2 of Mete/Ouellet/Juulsen as an even more affordable 6/7D option, making Kulak expandable.
3. Trade Byron and save 3.4M (Highly unlikey even w/ incentives)
In today’s market, one cannot hope to see Byron’s contract traded unless it would be for a similar « bad contract » (no cap impact) or if it is attached to significant incentives. For taking on Byron, I’d be willing to go as far 4 picks in 2021 (2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th round picks) in the 2021. If the price is higher, I’d cut my losses and look instead to trade Kulak, Weal, Armia or Lekhonen (in that order), since they could actually fetch an interesting return, a better asset management result, even if they are all more cost efficient than Byron.
4. Trade one of Lekhonen/Armia and save 2.4M/2.6M (Possible, but is is worth it?)
With the Habs new acquisitions, one of Lekhonen/Armia will to be relegated to 4th line and PK duties. Even then, their respective cap hits remain manageable, especially considering either would be the first forward to move in the top-9 after injuries occur. I would trade one of them as a last resort; Armia would seem like the obvious candidate since the Habs are now stacked at RW and have Caufield coming along as well. Also, better to trade one if them and protect the other, especially with Allen/Edmunston now being prime candidates for Seattle.
Trade Byron and save 3.4M (Highly unlikey even w/ incentives)
In today’s market, one cannot hope to see Byron’s contract traded unless it would be for a similar « bad contract » (no cap impact) or if it is attached to significant incentives. For taking on Byron, I’d be willing to go as far a 4 picks (2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th round). If the price is higher, I’d bite the bullet and keep Byron as an overpaid but nevertheless valiant veteran.
Trade Armia and save 2.6M (Possible, but is is worth it?)
With the Habs new acquisitions, one of Lekhonen/Armia will to be relegated to 4th line and PK duties. Even then, their respective cap hits remain manageable, especially considering either would be the first forward to move in the top-9 after injuries occur. I would trade one of them as a last resort; Armia would seem like the obvious candidate since the Habs are now stacked at RW and have Caufield coming along as well. He could mentor Lundell in Flotida instead of Kotkaniemi in Montreal for instance?
3.
MTL
Choix de 7e ronde en 2021 (NYR)
Détails additionnels:
Trade Weal and save 1.4M (Only possible with incentives)
Unlikely without coming along with pick incentive since Weal earns twice as much as he’s worth in the COVID market. This being said, the Habs have too much mid-round picks next year, so one or two could be use to move Weal without taking on a contract back.
Kulak’s value has probably never been higher and he remains somewhat cost efficient in the current market, he would thus not be a cap dump per se and could actually fetch a modest return (3rd round pick, especially with a later pick coming along with Kulak?). Considering Romanov’s addition, the Habs can however go along with 2 of Mete/Ouellet/Juulsen as an even more affordable 6/7D option, making Kulak expandable. Here, I’m swinging for the fence with a 2nd round pick vs 3rd and 5th picks along with Kulak. The reasoning being the same as the Weal trade idea, namely using the Habs’ numerous mid-round picks to grease the wheels!
I concur that Byron is a valiant and serviceable veteran - he doesn’t wear a « A » on his jersey for nothing after all. He unfortunately priced himself out of a competitive/contender team roster in a flat cap era. This being said, he’ll likely stay in Montreal and be a fixture on the fourth line and PK, providing valuable experience to the young up and coming forwards like Evans and Poehling.
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