Returns have blown up

Canes do not even consider this. Assets are going the wrong way. You're going to need to pay to dump that anchor of a contract. No one is going to pay for the dishonor of taking it on before it even starts.

Returns on CHEEP Young term

I’m a Devils fan so I don’t watch Kotkaniemi as much as you do obviously, but Ik that he’s not worth an 8 year deal. With Kotkaniemi at 4.82m and Miller at 8m starting next year, you’d really only be adding 3.18m to the cap for a much better player. Maybe the prospect isn’t Morrow; it may be more of a B level prospect but if you could get Miller for Kotkaniemi, B level prospect, and a 1st, I don’t think that’s a horrible deal. You’d have Aho and Miller as your top 2C’s rather than Aho and Kotkaniemi

Kotkaniemi could very well be a buyout candidate before he hits 25 y/o

CAR could opt to get Miller and get competitive in the short term even if his contract will sting later

I like this the idea of a swap Miller-KK even if Miller contract will eventually be an anchor

Kotkaniemi has been worth every penny of an 8 year deal. He's 23 and is AT WORST a Jordan Staal replacement 3C for 1.28 cheaper. At best, with the way he's playing lately? He could be a genuine 2C. He's got 20 points in his last 28.