I'd be concerned next year with no big expiring contracts and Domi, Juulseen and Mete needing contracts. Sure you want Simmons and Gardiner?

Joel Armia : 57 games : 13 goals 10 assists for 23 pts +0. Finish mentor, good on pk. BETTER NHL PLAYER FOR STRIP AND KEEPING THE PUCK WHILE BEEN ON PK. lol. 26 years old. RW
Andrew Shaw : 63 games : 19 goals 28 assists for 47 pts +17. Leader in the locker room. 27 years old. RW
Wayne Simmonds : 79 games : 17 goals 13 assists for 30 pts +4. Played with good teams. 30 years old. Need to be overpaid (UFA). *Brings size. RW
I rather keep shaw and Armia at RW and keep the $$ for a backup goalie, a LHD (maybe) AND for our young core that will get paid in 1-2 years.

The way Vegas is managing the cap, there is no looking forward. All in and manage later. Tatar and Byron can be move in two years.

Yeah I agree, have to be careful for sure. I don't think Juulsen will be a big issue, a bridge should work there, and maybe a bridge for Mete too. We're probably looking at around 8m for Domi though if he (hopefully) repeats what he did last season. For that reason we probably can't fit both those UFAs, definitely don't want to end up in a situation like the Leafs are in this summer lol.

I guess I would prioritize Gardiner because it's a bigger need, but I really think Simmonds could be a nice fit and bargain too. He was still on pace for 20 goals before his disastrous stint in Nashville, and we need the size and added depth at RW. Suzuki might be ready to slot in but I think I'd prefer that he continued to develop at center in the AHL for one season before making the jump to the show.

I just wonder if Simmons is the next Weise. When the legs go, all the size and don't matter. As a Gardiner observer for years, I wonder he can ever be better than he is. Some team is going to pay what you did, just don't know if I want it to be my team.

Fair points but why not have all three? At least just for the next season then reassess, maybe make a trade or two. Love Shaw but he had a career year offensively and still has a real injury concern, I'm not sure we can expect a 20 goal season. Armia is decent but his offensive upside is still very questionable, he's never hit 15 goals or 30 pts. Simmonds to me is basically a lock to get his 20 goals and add some much needed physicality to the group. I wouldn't go nuts and pay him 5m x 5 yrs. But 3 yrs in the range of 4-4.5 could be a nice addition.

Agree with you Simmond COULD be a good fit for MTL. The problem is you need to overpaid these kind of UFA. The rumors says that 10-12 teams have called is agent. IF Simmonds wants to play in MTL for the good reasons and accept a 3 x 3 than yes ! IMO Simmonds was underpaid is hole career and he will want to make money.
Edit : Simmonds score 17 goals, only 2 more and he would be in the Kevin Hayes range

For Gardiner do you think it could be a good fit with Weber? His skating ability would seem to make him an ideal candidate. I can't say I've watched him super closely, and he's definitely had some atrocious turnovers under pressure in the playoffs, but wasn't he also carrying Zaitzev for most of the season? I just look at his skating and his numbers, plays big minutes, plus player, good point production, can play PP. Just seems like a good fit.

I would have to go back and watch some more Simmonds from last season, from what I've read it's injuries that derailed it. But I also think this could be the Eric Staal effect where everyone writes him off after a trade deadline move that doesn't work out. The guy was still comfortably on pace for his usual 20+ goal season before the trade and injury. I guess if he really has a lost a step and is a liability defensively than it will be buyer beware, but I would need to watch more tape to really judge that. Maybe some Philly fans would have a better idea?

True a bit like Pacioretty he has been very underpaid his whole career. If it's anything more than 3 yrs or 5m AAV than I pass for sure and wish that team that signs him good luck lol. I really think it'll be about 3 yrs x 4-4.5m though, I don't think any team will risk going higher than that.

You could argue that Zaitsev was carrying Gardiner, defensively. Zaitsev actually improved his play when Gardiner was injured and took more puck handling responsibilities. Gardiner wasn't trusted to play the PK, hence the heavy minutes Hainsey, Zaitsev, Reilly and later Muzzin. You're right Gardiner will probably be best with Weber. Maybe Gardiner doesn't get worse in the next contract, I just don't expect him to be better.