We really need to keep the cap space where it is or even higher to prevent performance bonus carryovers to 2019-2020 where we need all the cap space we can get.

I like the thinking, especially after seeing NK55 job AM34 without fear of reprisal, but Gauss makes a good point.

I'd love Manson, but in a corresponding move JG51 would need to be flipped out as well due to Overages; McQuaid is decent depth, but NYR would need to retain, and get a lesser prospect than DT

On the other hand, the team needs to go for it this year before some of the big contracts kick in. They will still have more than $3.5M in cap space to pay the bonuses as they will gain cap space as the season progresses. Need to add some grit and size to the lineup to make a deep playoff run and that’s what these trades do without adding a lot of salary in th future as Simmonds and McQuaid are In the last year of their contracts. Trading Zaitsev for Manson is a big upgrade on defense and they will have trouble keeping Johnsson anyway give their cap situation.

Agreed. But it would be nice to somehow get Simmonds. Although i don't know what Philly would want and would guess it'd be be more

It would be nice to add a Manson or Simmonds. Someone did a Z package for Mansin awhile ago andvothers pointed out how tight Anaheims cap is next year. I dunno

Maybe someone like Maroon? Although he seems to really like being in St Louis close to his family. He had a really touching interview about that after scoring against Edmonton the ither night. Cant help but to like the guy after seeing that.

those are some really lopsided trades

If I am remembering the CBA right first you have to use the cap towards the LTIR - Horton's 5.3 million then you can use it for the bonuses which could be as much as 5.4 mil. So with the 3.5M cap that leaves no room for paying the bonuses after the LTIR so 100% of the bonuses will be a carryover

Putting aside the bonuses issue, assuming you need to re-sign Matthews ($11M), Marner ($7.5M) and Kapanen ($3M), and those are conservative estimates, that means you will need $19M more than what they are getting now just for those three players alone. Where are you going to get that? Simmonds, McQuaid, Gardiner and Hainsey coming off the books plus the $3M cap raise plus the reduction in Nylander's hit is a total of about $20M. What are you going to use to fill the four missing roster spots, not to mention the possibility of raises to Ozhiganov, Lindholm, Sparks and potentially others?

Here’s my 2019-2020 team https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/edit/888084

Figured I would reply here. If you are looking to address team toughness I would swap Simmonds with ferland. Zaitsev is our toughest Dman as far as hitting goes so keep him as well. Ozhiganov all you have to do is YouTube his khl play to see some devistating hits. He doesn’t throw a lot of big hits in the nhl yet but he is vicious in the corners and you have moved him off the roster.