I don’t hate your team here. Minnesota fans will tell you that it’s still not enough for Fiala, and it might not be. The only problem I foresee is that you have very little caps space for call ups in case of injury or any kind of trade deadline additions should the team actually be good.

I like it, but I think only of Middleton/Cole should be signed. Sabres do have some decent 3rd pair defender on the roster to fill the spot.

You should not use all the cap this year, there will be some extension to do next summer and even more in 2 years (but Malkin and Kuemper deals fits the timeline).
Apslund, Samuelsson, Thompson, Cozens extensions should be around 18-20 mil, and that's the cap space must be left. Okposo and Girgensons free up 8,8 but they also might required new deals.

I agree that using all the cap isn't ideal. One move out of signing Malkin or making a Fiala trade would solve that. I think they should do one of the splashes though. Regarding Middleton and Cole, I think Middleton is a legit add to the roster, especially if we're nervous about Johnson leaving. Spending our second round pick on a Middleton offer sheet and getting 65th overall as compensation for Johnson seems like a free offersheet to me. Cole is a short term hole filler since he plays both sides. Until draft picks from this year, I expect 1 RHD in our first 4 picks. Nemec/Jiricek possibly at 9, or Luneau/Havelid at 28/41.

Jacob M can't be offersheeted and Minnesota isn't letting him go. I know you want him, but it's not realistic

You understand middleton is a special kind of restricted free agent with no right ? Minnesota didn't trade Kaapo kahkonen to let him go and he will not leave Minnesota

That doesn't stop him from getting offersheeted. And last I checked they have like no cap space.

Minnesota has enough money to sign him. Jacob m is like kaprizov last time in that he has no right and other teams can't offer him. He's nit Making more than 2 to 3 mil either and Minnesota will keep him

CapFriendly has him being arbitration eligible and offer sheet eligible. I think you're wrong on all of this.

It was reported when Minnesota traded for him that if he plays 14 or 19 games, he wouldn't. Plus he’s not leaving Minnesota

You spoke to him to know this? Lol

Elliott Friedman reported this

Any chance you have a link? Never saw anything resembling that.

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