Habs don't need or want these 2 extra contract spots and 2 low 3rd probably don't do the trick, they have ton of picks so for retention you'll pay with quality not quantity

With all that money spent on Lekhonen, Burakovsky and Nikushkin how does Colorado give Mackinnon the 12M per year he will want next season?

He said hed take a pay cut to have the team be a contender and even if he didnt, the Johnson money is more than enough to cover it and the Compher money is enough to cover the Byram extension. After that, you can use the Allen saving + trading Girard for a goalie or depth