Edited Oct. 22, 2018 at 1:28 a.m.
Quoting: shaf_daddy
Ignore the stupid hate. Willy won't get that, but Marner may get close to that. Kapanen will too. They like to hate a lot. Don't pay attention to them. & the Yotes wouldn't have to give up a lot to fit Matthews into their "budget" because the owner would no doubt sign off on a hometown superstar coming home. Ignore the stupid hate you get.
And how exactly do you figure that Marner is going to get near 10, that Nylander gets 8, that Kappy will get that much for that little term, that Leivo will get nearly double his worth on a multi year deal, that Johnsson goes for anything near that considering his play, and that Borgman gets two years? Be very specific. All comparables put them much lower.
For OP, comparable players put the most likely contracts at:
Matthews: 8@11.
Marner: 7@7.5 (8@8 is also acceptable).
Nylander: 6@6.5 (3@4.75 is a likely bridge).
Kapanen: 3@3
I can live with that Sparks contract, but I do think it will be closer to 800k.
T.Moore will just take his QA.
Leivo, if re-signed will take his QA.
Johnsson: 2@1.5
Borgman will take his QA.
Lindholm: ~2@1.5
Guys who you seem to think drop dead:
Ozhiganov: ~2@1.5
Goat: signed @ 0.675
Engvall: QA
Rosen: QA
Marincin: 1@0.925
Sandin will not be on this team next year. After Schenn, we don't rush D prospects.
Hyman(2.25)-Tavares(11)-Marner(7.5)
Marleau(6.25)-Matthews(11)-Kapanen(3)
Nylander(4.75)-Kadri(4.5)-Brown(2.1)
Johnsson(1.5)-Lindholm(1.5)Grundstrom(.925)
Leivo(0.971,250)-Goat(.675)
Rielly(5)-Dermott(.863,333)
Ozhiganov(1.5)-Zaitzev(4.5)
Borg/Rosen/Marincin (.925) - Liljegren(.863,333)
Borg/Rosen/Marincin (.925)
Andersen(5)
Sparks(.800)
Total cap hit: 78,297,160
Total cap space (cap at 82.5): 4,202,084
If you look closely, you will see that they can pay Gardiner his full value over a longer term and still fit him in. He will get up to 36 mil in UFA, give him 8@4.5(36) to stay.
On the cap, BoG and NHLPA say 82.5 is minimum cap.