yeah i dont see any of this happening. they're not in for as long of a rebuild, or better yet for as grueling of a rebuild, as the arizona coyotes. If they cant wait for staal's contract to expire in 2 years because they dont want to pay that AAV, theres no way they take on a big contract for even longer. I agree their young guys are at least 2-3 years from actually starting to help this team compete but you have to surround and combine those young guys with good free agents and a continual/constant influx of prospects at some point (not necessarily this offseason). However, you can't sign good free agents if you plan on taking on 3 years of backes and/or 4 years of kesler's high AAV contract - this does not solve anything. It does the exact opposite of what they want. I understand that the idea is to collect more draft picks and maybe, (and it's a hard maybe, they take on contract like clarkson or callahan for just 1 season). However, I don't think it'll happen because the team trading them to the rangers will have to part with a pick/prospect to force the rangers to take on the contract and it's more likely that the team suffers through just 1 more season of callahan or clarkson's contract (or maybe buys them out) then to give up valuable assets. For example., why would tampa trade callahan + picks/prospect when they can hold callahan for just 1 more season and instead try to trade JT miller or tyler johnson and actually receive picks/prospects and get the long term salary relief they are looking for while then bringing a rookie up to take the void left.

Clarkson and Horton aren't bad contracts. They can be put on LTIR.

While I can fully see your argument I also think that to bring in a guy like Backes or Dubi would have the same effect on young players as signing free agents. No they might not be as good but in terms of being able to mentor young guys I think they would provide experience and would be good teachers. Not to mention they are high character guys. (Ik that can't be said for everyone on my list). I do see your point about the one year deals

With further checking technically Clarkson and Horton can both effect the knight and leafs, but really only the leafs. During the offseason, a team can only go over 10% above the salary cap and LTIR contract do count towards that. It would be far easier to extend all of their young studs without Horton's contract. But yes, dont know how much value that has to leafs, if any at all

I agree that having good vets and character guys are important in developing young players, but so is playing time and experience (in combination with vet presence) and I do not believe Backes or other vets with 2+ years of high AAV is the right call. they can get other high-end vets that cost less and provide the same vet presence needed while not tying up their cap in a way that makes other more important moves impossible.