Quoting: JackSC87
First of all, I'd like to note that Zub getting 4.5 and Zaitsev being bought out only works if Debrincat doesn't re-sign, or if Pinto gets much less then what I signed him for.
Why? As of now, cap is supposed to be $86,500,000. You probably just didn't see Bettman's comments
Pinto might get less than 4.5 AAV on a 2 years bridge (why would it be 3 years?), even if he has good stats (see Kyrou and Thomas bridges, for example)
Quoting: JackSC87
It's probably best to just outright dump off Zaitsev instead of accruing more dead cap, since like you said they have a lot of it on the books right now. And yes, they will gain space from the Murray retention, and Ryan + Del Zotto expiring, but only by about 3 million. So they will nonetheless have issues having a solidified d core along with two solid goalies.
Zaitsev buyout is very interesting because it doesn't cost much in terms of $$$ and everyone knows Ottawa is a money conscious franchise
$833,334 in cost each year
$2,833,334 in cap hit the first year then $833,334
If they can make it work cap wise for the first year, then this move is a no brainer
Regarding the D-core, I don't see the problem...
Chabot has several more years at 8.0
Sanderson has 2 years of ELC left then will probably need a bridge
They will probably extend Zub for 5 years around 4.5 AAV
Brannstrom has 4 years of being "cost controlled", won't be a problem unless he explodes and starts piling up more points
Then you have plenty of solid prospects like JBD, Kleven, Thomson, Hamara and Nordberg (plus a few more to keep track of)
You will see the talk regarding Ottawa's defense later this year, once Sanderson and Brannstrom are a bit more known. It's getting really solid as well.