Without Formenton

Does that walk Pinto to UFA or does it slide another year like Dach because of his injury last year. Also I have to assume one of JBD or Thomson will be a top 4D by next year

Of course he remains RFA at the end of that contract. If I'm wrong, then you work on a 3 years deal
But will they be ready top play top 4 ? Would you do Chabot-JBD Sanderson-Zub ? I dont like JBD playing against top lines and Sanderson-JBD is a too young pairing IMO

Next year should be fine to put JBD with Chabot. I think he’s shown he’s an nhl player so far in preseason and last year, just needs to be given the opportunity. He’s a steady defensive Dman, who can make a good first pass, can block shots and read plays well. Not overly physical or will ever produce much offence tho . Like a steady partner for a guy like Chabot

I'm not paying that to get rid of 1 year of Zaitsev

I opt to pay his 2.0 bonus in the summer so he'd be a 2.5 dump but actually can play 3rd pairing minutes. He would be a small dump

And anyway, Brannstrom will put numbers this season so that would look silly in a year