i like the team

i think landeskog and jost make more with danault, and makar making just a hair less.

I like the team a lot as well.

I'm not sure if it's entirely realistic though.

1. Danault may prefer going somewhere where he'll be the default 2C. Perhaps he doesn't care that much though as long as he's paid well though.

2. Moving Donskoi without taking any salary/retention back might be tricky.

3. This is a 20 man roster and up against the cap ceiling. Compher would need to be traded out as well to create room for a 13F and 7D. Unless of course the taxi squad remains next season, in which case they might be able to squeeze by with 20/21 guys on the roster.

Looking at the 2021/22 roster really brings Johnson's contract into stark contrast. If Sakic can find a way to move that contract to free up $6m that would be incredible for the roster next year.

considering there wont be a taxi squad next year, those healthy scratches will count against the cap.

Gonna need to tighten things up a bit more finding 1.6mish in more cap space

Yeah I'm aware of that, as I mentioned above (point 3).

Looks like if we want to sign Danault then 2 of Graves/Compher/Donskoi need to go, if not all 3 of them.

Alternatively if we can find a way out of Johnson's $6m caphit that might be an area to make cuts in.

Speaking of which, Sakic ruthlessly dispatched Cole for the sake of some capspace when he was clearly overpaid for his role on the roster, and if Johnson's role in the D group diminishes Sakic may start considering ways to move him on.

I mean, if we keep Graves somehow (maybe entice Seattle to take someone else), then our D group would still look pretty formidable even without Johnson - assuming of course that Byram and Timmins play at a good enough level.

Toews --- Makar
Girard --- Graves
Byram --- Timmins
Gilbert

Looking at that D group it's kind hard to justify an outlay of $6m on Johnson.

dont think its difficult based on the roster. Timmins might get a cheaper deal, he would have to be playing a lot to get to a 2m deal. I can see them doing a 1 year 1.2m-1.5m deal. Just try to do any for a UFA including Danault no more than 5.2m. save pennies wherever you can

IMO if avs are willing to do 5m on a UFA, just try to keep Saad who will be a lot cheaper. I really think the 3C thing is a big over blown in Avs fandom right now. Dont need to go hog wild on spending money on it

I do like the move

Good point re: Timmins. He might simply be happy enough to get a $1m-1.5m 1 way contract, as that would set him up a bit and safeguard himself financially against his concussions. He may not even warrant more of a raise than that if he's mostly a 7D this season behind Byram.

Good point about Saad as well, that might work.

Landeskog --- Mackinnon ---- Rantanen
Burakovsky ----- Kadri ---------- Saad
Nichuskin ------ Newhook ----- Compher/Donskoi
Bowers ------------ Jost ----------- Kaut

Awful cheap for Landeskog

Too much money for a #3C and I reckon Landy & Jost get a shade more, and Timmins a shade less.

Danault is one of the few elite defensive C's in the league, and it would likely take an offer like $5.5m - $6.0m x 6 years to entice him to sign. He would be extremely valuable on this team as a matchup C and would be well worth that contract. It might be high for a typical 3C, but Danault is more than a typical 3C. When Kadri hits UFA Danault would take over 2C while insulating Newhook a bit in his rookie year.

As for Landeskog, yes he can probably get more money. I'd expect something around $8m AAV, but I'm hoping it starts with a 7.

Jost is what he is at this stage: a 4th liner with very good defense and solid PK'ing. I doubt he'll get a huge raise as long as the flat cap is in place.

Timmins, yeah you're probably right. He probably won't be integral in the lineup enough this season (unless there are injuries) to warrant a big pay rise. With his concussion history he might just be happy enough to get a solid 1 way deal for a couple of years.

I'm thinking 7.5-8 Landy (hoping 7.5), 1.5ish Jost & Timmins, similar kind of money.

I see your logic on Danault, don't get me wrong, but I still think it's high for a #3C. If we're considering he really can step up to be solid #2C for a time then maybe not so bad.