This assumes you let Pac walk for nothing so you can then re-sign OEL. Let alone, then signing Byron, Scherbak, Lehkonen, and Hudon.

Tavares should get 10 or 11 million not 14

There is many options to shed money here:
1. BUF are interested at Schlemko, just have to find the right pick for him and no need to retain salary;
2. Many teams would be interested at Benn like NJD or NYI and again no need to retain salary;
3. Andrew Shaw would help the bottom 6 of VGK but you need to give some picks and take one of their overflow of defensemen. They have Brad Hunt who is short but very good offensively and can play both sides. You might have to retain 15 to 20% of Shaw's salarie to close that deal but great for both teams;
4. Alzner is a tough one with his NTC 7 teams no trade list. I would try a team who tries to get rid of a bad contract like Lucic or Ladd with NYI who will possibly lose two LHD (De Haan and Hickey) through UFA on July 1st. Alzner list would have 23 teams he can be traded to, so who knows. NYI would have to retain salary to match 4.6M$ for Alzner. Get rid of Alzner and gain a bottom 6 winger with Ladd. I think it would be better then keeping Alzner.

I agree he should get 10 or 11M$, but I assure you he is going to sign for at least 12 and possibly14M$. But from what I know of him, he is going for a lot more then money, so he will chose where he wants to go and probably ask for 12M$.
Over 4 years ago, I was making lineups on the previous site like this one and every one was saying Subban was gonna sign for 6M$ and 7M$ would be outrageous. I was the only one saying he was gonna sign for 9M$.

If MB trades the 1st rounder for just about anything, I might actually start cheering for another team until this imbecile is removed from management.

It buys some time for MB to do something with Alzner, Schlemko, and Shaw. If he can work out something with those 3, it allows for some contracts to get done. Those 3 represent 10.6M$. Even if he witholds 1M$ of each contract, he still frees up 6.6M$ for contracts.