>mentions competent management
>shows St Louis trading parayko

None of those trades go through and you waste a ton on UFAs, most that wont be available.

Dontvthink any of those signings will happend. St Louis doesnt want to downgrade Parayako - that would cost Draisaitl. Russel wont wave, and holyboverpayment for Cristoval Nieves. Wjat i think is wise management is to ride out next year, anx then buy out Lucic, or trade him, edmonton have to eat a bit more of his contract to grow nice, thier young prospects needs shelter and competition. Clear cap by throw out Rattie, Brodziak, Manning in a trade with high draftpick, keep all young prospects. Sign Reider cheap, 1$.If notbpossible - say goodbye. If Gagner produces with Draisaitl - keep him. If not - goodbye , clear capspace. Get a third line C by trade or sign for max 2$. Then the year after - trade Or buy out Lucic. Trade one of the RDs Bear Benning, Bouchard, Larsson. See if Yamamoto anf Puljujärvi is tradechipf or keepers. Let Benson, Osfin, Lagesson etc grow into the team. The only good way really. If Draisaitl and McJesus can be lift of the burden by one more takented player - is jusy enough for the middle year to playoff I think.

You have to pay Ottawa more then that to take on Lucics contract.

THIS. I absolutely cannot imagine Lucic being willing to waive his NMC to move from one team with terrible management to go to another team with terrible management - and I cannot imagine any team with decent or good management being willing to take on that contract in the face of the Seattle expansion draft. The only way that I can see for Edmonton to escape that contract is to wait it out a season or two and then buy him out, ideally in 2020. They wouldn't actually save all that much money every year, but given proper development of prospects or smart trading for younger, inexpensive players to take his place, I think it would be a huge win - especially considering they wouldn't have to protect him in the draft.