What to do

Team: 2019-20 Vegas Golden Knights

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 12, 2019

Published: Jun. 12, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Probably the most interesting cap situation in the league right now is Vegas.

So basically after Clarkson is put on LTIR we are left with:
1) 5.1 million in cap space
2) no "extra players" (4 lines, 6 d, no spares)
3) 2018-2019 Players currently unsigned such as: Carpenter (68 GP), Pirri (32 GP), Bellemare (82 GP), Engelland (81 GP), Karlsson (89 GP), Nosek (17 GP), Subban (21 GP).

Assumptions...
1) They're going to want to bring back all of those guys.
2) Pirri will likely leave, will not have room for at least one other guy on that list above, possibly two. Assuming Bellemare walks since he can likely get 2+ somewhere else (guys get overpaid in Free Agency all the time).
3) They get a decent deal with Karlsson.

So essentially Vegas needs to clear up somewhere around 5 million in cap space this off-season through trades, buyouts, etc.
You could make the argument it is slightly less if they don't sign some of the guys I did, but they need to sign other guys if they don't. Likely same cost.

Clearing Cap
1) Everyone seems to think Miller is the guy to go, seems to make sense but I'm going to try something different.
2) Going to try move players who are overpaid for their roles. This includes: Reaves (2.8 for a 4th line guys is bad), Holden (should be able to find a cheaper equivalent option for the third pair (like Engelland).

Explanations.
1) Karlsson at 6.75 over 8 years seems like a fair deal both ways to me. He is their top Center, 26 years old, right before Free Agency, the 8 year term makes it a bit cheaper. Would be closer to 7.5 maybe even 8 if the years were less, IMO. -1.6 in cap space after Karlsson signing.
2) Need a backup goalie, keeping Subban seems obvious, -2.75 after this signing.
3) Depth signings of RFA's Lindberg and Nosek. and UFA's Engelland and Carpenter - 6.6 in cap space after these two signings. But with 5 scratches. so 2 players need to be sent to minors. -5.1 in cap space after doing this.
4) After Holden and Reaves trades, -0.1 in cap space, one scratch.
5) Need to make one more trade, trade a guy who makes roughly 3-4 million for a cheaper replacement, maybe even two players who combined make less money. In this case Haula seems to make sense.

1.0 in cap space after moves, two scratches. Likely one more trade for some depth necessary.

In summary, Vegas' cap situation not nearly as bad as people (including myself) seem to generally think on here.

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