Not unless you're fine with burning another year off the core because that team would finish no better than this team.

It Bowman has cap space he's going to use it. So you can bet Bowman will be using that cap space to make some significant upgrades..

And Bowman is going to have to deal one of Duclair, Hinostroza or Hayden ....... It would be Duclair if I were Bowman.

The Hawks lack of NHL experience this season has shown - especially on defense so changes are going to need to be made, some kids are going to have to go back to Rockford or traded to make room for vets...... This teams core only has 3-4 years left before their window is entirely closed, so you don't want to waste that time developing fringe bottom 6 forwards for #5-6 defenseman.....

The only reason why we played these kids this season was because Bowman had no choice, the kids were all Bowman could afford.

Also, the cap will be 80 at the very least. I expect 82 is more likely..

I was just constructing a team bases on the worst case scenario. Minimal cap increase and going with the guys under contract and re-signing the RFAs. Fingers crossed that the situation looks much better next season.

The salary cap is going up to at the very least to 80 million...IMO, it will be more like 84.

That's all based on the success of Vegas hence the revenue they're bringing in...... Obviously the salary cap is based on and formulated by gross league revenue and Vegas has had an outstanding year... Their capacity rate for home games is 103% which is among the league best.. Without question Vegas has been thee most successful expansion team in league history from both a financial perspective and hockey perspective..

My point is, with the success of Vegas and a growing economy the cap is going to go up significantly..