Sokolov + 2nd to dump 1 year of Zaitsev? I personally would be upset

The $4.5M is 100% needed to get Stutzle, DeBrincat, and Pinto re-signed long-term. It would suck, but if Zaitsev is still on the roster it's a move that would need to be done.

Z needs to go, I'd like him gone this year, but at this point in time, 1 year left, odds are the signing bonus would have been paid and it's only 2.5M actual salary, which shouldn't cost that much to dump.

It's the cap hit that's the problem.... even at 1yr teams would know with Ottawa needing to re-sign those 3 players, that Ottawa would be right up against the cap without Zaitsev.... If Zaitsev is still here, re-signing them is almost virtually impossible if all three have the type of seasons the team is hoping they have.

Yeah but it's doable as long as we are ready to spend to the cap

DeBrincat already makes 6.4, he might get a 2.0 raise. If he's asking for 10.0+, then it was a bad trade, trade him for whatever you can

Stutzle could be bridged but if we can have him at the same amount long term as the other guys (around 8.0), do it

Pinto won't be costly, unless he breaks out in a major way. Go bridge with him

Talbot and Hamonic's contract expire, they will have to be replaced by much cheaper guys. A part of that will be used for Zub's raise (which should be around 2.0)

Even with Zaitsev off the books it will be difficult to get both DeBrincat and Stutzle signed. They can but they will have to go cheap throughout the rest of the roster. Pinto likely gets a 3-4 year deal much the way Joseph did but likely in the same ballpark money-wise. Which means you've now really only saved $1.5M from getting Zaitsev off the books. Talbot comes off but you still need to replace him after the season. Stutzle and DeBrincat are key pieces, I suspect our 3rd and 4th lines will feel the pinch for a couple of seasons until the cap goes up substantially.

I think it will be fine as long as they don't go much over 8.0

Chabot, Tkachuk, Norris at 8.0... there's hope these guys are signed in the same ballpark

But yeah there will be very little margin for mistakes. Keep in mind a lot of the dead cap money will come off the books as well, and the NHL cap will continue to rise.

Yes but you have to make it through next season and likely the one after that. Having cap space for 3 seasons later doesn't help you next season and if you can't signs players and be compliant for the next season 3 seasons down the road doesn't help. Ottawa has $30M with 10 players signed. So if Stutzle and DeBrincat come in at $17M that gives you 13M to fill out the rest of your team. $69.5M for 12 players. Leaving you rough $14-15M to fill 10 spots. That also doesn't include Pinto's new contract after this season, who knows how much Formentopn and Brannstrom sign for this seasons and possibly next. There just isn't enough room to fit everyone. DeBrincat's QO starts at $9M, so you almost have to sign him long-term or else you're really not getting Stutzle signed long-term.