seems high for Galchenyuk. Forsberg had two straight seasons over 60 points. I'd say something around Kucherov or maybe a little more. so $4.8-$5.5M at 5 years

Galchenyuk: between $5.25M for 4 years and $6M for 6 years;
Markov: max $4M for 1 year (Habs must sign a first line LHD next season);
Radulov: 3 years between $6M and $6.5M, 4 years between $5.75M and $6M, 5 years between $5.25M and $5.75M ( I hope resigning him for $5.75M for 4 years);
Beaulieu: I would offer him another bridge contract, 2 years between $2.5M and $2.75M, maybe 3 years for $2.85M each year. If he starts to improve again I even would give him
the $3.25M for 4 years

I would go 6 mil for 8 with Chucky, Radulov should be signed long term IMO and I think it would be more like 5 mil 6 years which I would do. Beaulieu is a hard one, 3.85 for 6 years is a lot for a guy who so far has only been good on the 3rd pairing. I would like to see beaulieu playing higher on the depth chart but he has been bad with weber and petry so I would probably go with 2 mil for 2 years. Markov only gets 5 mil if we have the space which we should. I think if we go out and sign a FA C (Jumbo Joe) markov gets what ever is left over most likely 3.5 mil and if he doesn't like it we have to let him walk which I do not think he would.

Thing is Kucherov had no arbitration rights so he pretty much ahd to take what he could get. This is Galchenyuk's 3rd contract so he has arbitration rights. Anything under 5M isn't realistic, too many comparables to compare to.

I think you guys are estimating for a Radulov discount....... look at comparables and then adjust accordingly. if Radu signs for less than 5M, its for 8 years guaranteed. If its for 3 years of term, its minimum 7-7.5M. somehere in between is what last years UFA's got.

Take these guys as examples of a similar contract for Radulov:

Loui Eriksson 30 RW, LW Vancouver Canucks July 1, 2016 Standard 6 $36,000,000 $6,000,000
Andrew Ladd 30 LW New York Islanders July 1, 2016 Standard 7 $38,500,000 $5,500,000
Milan Lucic 28 LW Edmonton Oilers July 1, 2016 Standard 7 $42,000,000 $6,000,000
Kyle Okposo 28 RW Buffalo Sabres July 1, 2016 Standard 7 $42,000,000 $6,000,000
David Backes 32 C/RW Boston Bruins July 1, 2016 Standard 5 $30,000,000 $6,000,000
Alexander Steen 32 LW, C St. Louis Blues Sep 23, 2016 Standard 4 $23,000,000 $5,750,000

Marco, where are you pulling all of these trade details from? Very informative.

Ahem....

https://www.capfriendly.com/signings

Cool site! Never seen it before, I'll have to check it out haha

Marco, but most of these guys are overpaid. The problem is, the GM´s like to overpay at free agency. If we pay Radulov $7.25M for 3 years, what do we want to pay Pac 2019? $8.5M for 4 years?
This is the same problem as the Habs had with the Petry and Subban contracts. Both are overpayments and if the Habs would have signed Subban between $7.5M and $7.75M for 8 years, the
following contracts of the other top defenders wouldn´t rise that far (e.g. Buf, Burns).

Of course their over payments. I don't get the question? Radulov is a UFA meaning a bidding war will only raise his price. He's easily one of MTL's best players this year and has put up decent numbers.

I'm not saying he deserves this money, I'm saying based on facts, this is what he will be worth and teams will pay him for that. If we don't like it we don't have to resign him. Problem is we already can't score goals. Imagine without Radu?

Yes, he ist a UFA after this season. But if the Habs will pay Radulov this $7M for 3 or 4 years, they couldn´t resign Price or Pac, because they will get much higher payed contracts than Radulov.
I wouldn´t like to lose Radulov, but if the Habs are forced to pay $7M per year, I would say no.

Fair enough. I'm not disagreeing with you. The question was what would you do. You answered it. Although to be honest I would do 7x3 for Radu. Habs will have to not sign Markov and then let Plekanec go. Emelin as well. I'm ok with that. Price will get a 2-3M increase. Pacioretty is a question mark but even if he commands 7-8M, by that time Habs will have a bunch of other contracts off the books as well as a higher cap ceiling to deal with so Im not worried.

Signing Radu for high cap but short term is the best move IMO. Giving him an extra 1.25M per year so that we only have to sign him for 3 years is totally worth it.

Marco, even if the Habs don´t resign Markov and let Plekanec and Emelin go, they have to pay the guys who will replace them. If the Habs want to content, they have
to sign a top 6 center, a second line left winger and a top 2 left hand defender. This will cost them at least $12M and with the rising of Galchenyuks contract, they will
have nearly no money after resigning Radulov for $7M.

The other (cheaper) way to go is offer players like Galchenyuk and Beaulieu contracts that takes them right into UFA.
Emelin I think is 3 years....lets say 2.75m per year Maybe it light a fire under him, and into year 3 maybe he signs an extension maybe not, but he have 3 years to further evaluate him.
Galchenyuk. Is he 3 year or 4 years from being a UFA? 5m per year parties want to that change. Although look at what happened to Kadri a 6 year contract.....it seems to relax him and he's a better player this year.
Habs management might think Gally has more to give...How to make him a better player or is he what he is right now?
Markov, I like 1 year at 5m. And really I have no idea of Radulov could get. But in a "flat cap" era, who else is going to offer more than 6m? 6m X 5 years might be fair.

- Radulov = $6.5M/4-5 years
- Galchenyuk = $6M/8 years
- Beaulieu = $2.5M/2 years > Ideally trade him

Galchenyuk- $6M/7 years
Beaulieu- I'd take a chance $3-4M/4 years
Radulov- $6-7M/4-5 years

Dont forget Radulov loves playing in Montreal. He'd probably just go back to Russia if the habs don't sign