You know what would be a fair trade?

Zaitsev and Brown for Ceci.

The title sounds erotic.

I'd rather just buy him out. The 2.8mil or whatever is extremely manageable for two years.

Habs pass
No cap space

We're not going to be a team that needs cap space in the next few years so no point paying 4 picks to create space that we don't need

Its going to be very tight when Stutzle, Pinto, Zub, and JBD are all up for big raises next year.

I don't think JBD raise will be substantial. Stutzle might be expensive but Pinto might be more like Batherson's contract. Not every contract is going to end up like Tkachuk's. If every contract would be like Brady, we'd be screwed lol

I knew that this Zub (short) extension would be (another) mistake, it will definitely end up costing more if we can even keep him

Anyway, here's the AAVs coming OFF and the RFAs to sign for each season. Added the 3 UFAs worth re-signing

2022-23 total : 9.75
Tierney : 3.5
Sanford : 2.0
Paul : 1.35
Holden : 1.7
Brown : 1.2

RFAs : Norris, Formenton, Mete. UFA : Paul?

2023-24 total : 9.6
Watson : 1.5
Del Zotto : 2.0
Zub : 2.5
Brown : 3.6

RFAs : Stutzle, Pinto, Gustavsson. UFA : Brown? Zub?

2024-25 total : 10.75
Zaitsev : 4.5
Murray : 6.25


White's 4.75 is off after that. There's also Bobby Ryan and Dion Phaneuf buyouts that will expire in the next few years. And the NHL salary cap will resume to rise again in the next few years too. Could be as soon as next season depending on HRR. To be honest, we don't want it to rise too much because it puts Ottawa's market at a disadvantage vs other markets.

I just did an ACGM to take a closer look at this. Maybe we should continue the discusion over there?

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2868974

I'll check it out!