tomato
Joined: Oct. 2018
Posts: 526
Likes: 305
I think Dubas will be able to do better at negotiating deals for Marner and Matthews. Marner at 9.5M and Matthews at around 11.34M-11.5M seems doable. I would be okay signing them to 6 or 7 year deals instead of the 8 max to get those cap hits if they are unwilling to sign for less than 12.5 and 11 for 8 years. Although i agree it would be nice to sign a veteran RD to a stop gap contract like you suggested if Matthews and Marner are unwilling to sign for a more reasonable prize i would put Liljegren into the lineup instead of signing a vet for a few million more. Again if Matthews and Marner are unwilling to take less than you suggested I would really put the squeeze on Johnsson(2M) and Kapanen(2.5) to sign 1-2 year bridge deals at a hyman and brown type number. Brown can be moved for a pick to save a million if need be. He is expendable as a 2M dollar 4th line RW with all our Marlie depth coming soon. This would buy them time to have Marleau come off the books.
I hope Dubas and the team can convince them to take reasonable deals by front loading them both and cramming as much signing bonus money upfront as possible before they take that away in the next CBA negotiations. That plus the possible endorsement deals for them both will hopefully quench there thirst. Fingers crossed.