for hughes i think its more likely he signs for 7-8 years for 8-9m, which honestly i'd prefer over a 7x2 since i think hughes will establish himself as someone worth way more than 8 or 9m in the next few seasons.

Haha I like that the cap is kinda screwed in the next offseason as I count 8 players (including Mercer and Holtz) who are coming of their ELC's. Granted the cap limit may have increased from 81.5 by 2024-25 but even if there was 10 million in cap space for that offseason it would make cap compliance a tight fit with all the necessary signings. I guess at this point Fitz starts trading out a winger or two for picks, prospects / new ELCs'.

Zacha - Nico - Bratt
Sharangovich - Hughes - Holtz
Foote - Mercer - Gritsyuk
Wood - McLeod - Pytlik

(Kuokkanen, Salminen, Clarke, Boqvist, Stillman)

Smith - Severson
Bahl - Hamilton
Lukhamadullin

(Edwards, McCarthy, Vilen, Okhotyuk)

Blackwood
Schmid

(Daws)

This could be a good problem to have. Tampa seems to be coming out ok. 👍👍