so how do you plan to extend Romanov, Suzuki, Evans, next offseason with only 9m in cap space and 13 guys signed.

Montreal really shouldn't be splashing the cash around this offseason, with a flat cap for 3-5 years, they will be in a world of hurt when their RFAs all start extending.

Detroit accept, player useful.

Would hope so. KK has proven his worth, but still needs to do much more adjustments to become the player he needs to be while MTL now have Suzuki that surpassed him. At that rate, you can't keep 5-6M$/yr guys hoping they'll win the cup. You need a proven top liner. Given that Detroit has only one centerman, KK would fit in, they may lose a top draft pick, but picks are picks.. Some pan out, some take time to develop, some never do. Might has well go for one who has shown his potential, and needs adjustments which they can do in Detroit.

This is a trade down of around 35-45 picks. Detroit will be a better team already next season and will be out of the rebuild by 22-23.

This is a good deal for us.

Next off season is next off season. Salary Cap may stay as-is, may go up a bit, also you can move players next years if need be to provide cap space. What's your plan? Sign KK, Lek, and Danault, then be even worse off once Suzuki, Romanov, and others need to be resigned? You need offense. It clearly showed in these playoffs. The defensive liners can work, but the offense is at a stand-still. Bergevin has one year left to get a cup, and he came close enough this year. Molson wants a Cup also. Wainting 4 more years isn't an option with the fanbase in MTL. Moving on such a player has Landdy is a one time deal. You get the player you won't get unless you pick high. Getting Detroit's first rounder next year should provide a top 10 which would help in the long term.

9M$ to spare next year gives you some cash to sign Suzuki, Evans can be replaced if Poehling pans out, and he won't command 4M$/yr next year either. You can (hopefully) sign Suzuki to 5M$ per yr for 3 yrs, and move up some AHLers to fill gaps in the line up. If the cap stays put, then move out some players like any other teams will do. Maybe the NHL will provide a clause to fix the issues that lots of teams will be facing by most having almost no cap space to sign players.

The "putting some players on waiver" to aleviate the cap space as they did with Byron could also be a possiblity.

You say you want more goals then you sign Danault for more money than 20 goal scorer Joel Erickson Ek.

It’s staying flat for 3-5 years that’s all but confirmed now

If Montreal spends to the cap on long term contracts this offseason they make them beyond vulnerable for OS next offseason for their rfas, and since they have been aggressive on OS in the past, they will be getting a taste of their medicine if they aren’t careful with her cap

Rangers decline. Lekonen's a good player but no need for wingers with Kravtsov, Laf, Kakko, Panarin, Buch, Kreider all already here.

I signed him because the signs out there are that they will. Nothing more. He showed that he was the go to guy for face offs, and to go against the opponent big lines .

This trade doesn’t help us.