The Vlasic one is so brutal, I would hold off a little on it

The double buyout is the only way to go. Hasso has billions and if we want to fix DW mistakes without trading away more first rounders this is the only way. Clear as much cap space as you can they go shopping in a depressed FA market. Burns to Seattle would clear another 8m.

If Vlasic was making 2.5M he'd be in the press box already. He played 13 min last night his lowest in 9 yrs. His contract did not work out and he is untradeable since he controls where he goes. You cant keep hurting the rest of the team because a guy is making too much money. Same for Jones.

I hate Jones so much because he's not consistently bad enough for me to feel like a buyout is worth it (considering the cost) but he's also not good enough to justify paying that much for. So I might consider buying him out after this season if he continues to suck, but if he plays more like he did in that Avs game consistently, keep him around for a little later at least until the buyout isn't as bad.

As for both of the guys you have here, I like them but Driedger would be one I lean towards more considering we wouldn't have to pay anything for him. Allen at that cap hit is great too though.

Yeah but can you imagine 2025-26, the team could have a new GM coach owner who knows, and the team is paying a guy not on the team over 5 mil, and can't afford Ferarro, Bordeleau, etc because of a choice made that long ago.

I will say while writing this I thought, he costs 7 mil a year to basically be replacement level at best. How long after this would the penalty cost?

I am 100% on board with trading Dubnyk for Driedger before the expansion draft, then protecting Driedger.

At this rate, I doubt FLA would want to part ways with Driedger but if the plan is to let him go in a trade I suppose acquiring his signing rights in the offseason isn't a bad idea. I do want to see how he holds up over the course of the season though. He's looking good so far but it's still a relatively small sample size.

Interesting timing for a Jones buyout, if you're going to get a Allen-like goalie on the market and then draft a guy like Wallstedt you'd be set for 5 years at almost no extra cost then keeping Jones. The perfect storm for them would be that the next two years are covered by Allen at a 2.8M$ salary followed by Wallstedt (If all goes well a two year gap before going pro is possible for a guy of his talent) on his ELC at around 1M$ bringing you to Jones' last buyout year.
On the Montreal side of the trade I'm not sold doe, Allen would basically be a bait to protect everyone else from Seattle. Are guys like Evans, Chiarot or Lehkonen worth a 2nd? I don't think so but they're still players I'd like better on my team than a backup goaltender with his replacement likely already in the house, also the fact that it's a 2023 pick doesn't hold much value in this trade to convince Montreal to lose someone else over Allen.

Absolutely. We're a ways away from the end of the season, but he's fer sher got my interests piqued, even more so than acquiring Dobby (my option B). Unlike Dobby, Driedger is lockin it down on a defensively so-so team, while Dobby is doin badass Dobby stuff on a very defensive team.

Although, I do freakin love Dobby! He'd be excellent in the locker room, he's long-time friends with Nabby, he could mentor Melnichuk -- they have a verrrry similar play style -- and his salary is set... lots of upside.

Upside for Driedger... He's young, he's huge, he's maturing into a true 1A before our eyes, and we need a new elite franchise goalie ASAP.

If we can draft Wallstedt I'm 100% on board with that with two conditions: we missed on being able to get Matty Beniers, and we missed on picking up an elite goalie in the offseason.

Full disclosure: I was all onboard the Wallstedt train before accepting that Beniers was the better pick, and also because Patty Marleau will eventually retire and I feel it's important that his legacy live on through our play by play broadcaster being able to shout "It's a Natty Hatty from Matty!!" on occasion. He would, of course, tie it into a memory of the time Patty Marleau yadda yadda hat-trick, and all will be well in the new generation.

Adding to my first response: You're right, I'm sure FLA'd hate to part ways with Driedger at this time when he's coming into his form, but unless Bob waives his NMC they might not have a choice.

Let's say the expansion draft is done in a vacuum, and no teams make any moves or trades before the expansion, they just sit on their hands and the rosters are then what they are now. Realistically, who would you pick? I know that if I'm SEA I'm picking Driedger as my 1A, Dobby as my 1B, and Who Cares as my 3rd. I also know that if I'm SEA, and those two respective teams think they can bribe me to choose two other goalies, they're gonna learn exactly what a shakedown is, as they will have ZERO leverage to do anything but give me what I want without question. At least with a pre-expansion trade FLA and DAL still have some control, and aside from losing goalies they would rather keep, come out on top with picks and/or prospects.

Cap hit thru 31 season which is awful but at some point you have to cut your losses. He is cooked and taking ice time and development from younger players. Are you being fair to his teammates and especially any new goalie to keep running a Dman who Can't play at NHL level anymore just because you signed him to an awful contract. If DW gets fired I bet a new GM would have no problem pulling the trigger.