That Devils trade is pretty good, but cap space is going to be tight next season if they're keeping Hall.

Yeah I picked them because they're close to the floor. CBJ/OTT would work as well. I feel like people are overrating how hard it is to get rid of Backes' contract, the real money is pretty low. Sweeney just loves his prospects.

Fans don't respect a players NTC enough. In Backes case....he had a 8 team "trade me to list". So if I'm Backes and want to stay in Boston you put have on trade list teams that definitely couldn't afford him.
Tampa, Leafs. Sharks, Jets, Vegas, Pittburgh.....that six. To think that Sweeney can magically trade Backes....even if the the sweetners are more than fair......is foolish.

To think he accept a trade to Ottawa. C'mon man, why do think players have NTCs?

Samething for Montreal. Berge said he build around the draft nand don't want to give prospect or 1st picks. But he need to know that isn't all of his prospect will play in the NHL. Why not taking a chance and trade one or two prospect for a guy already in the league. example they have in front
Kotkaniemi, Suzuki, Poehling, Ylonen, Ikonen, Caufield, Evans, Teasdale, Olofsson
and in D : Brook, Juulsen, Mete, Struble, Norlinder, Romanov Fleury.
They will not all be in the team one day. Why not taking a chance and make a trade. Same for Boston. They aren't in rebuild.

The other option is the AHL, Jersey is close and has an up and coming team, seems like a pretty easy choice

So by sending Backes to the AHL the Bruins save 1.1 in cap space,,,,then they have to replace Backes for even a 800,000. Total saving 300,000 so that ain't going to happen. But if isn't an easy choice if Backes doesn't want to leave a contending team like Boston or just doesn't want move his family. Again the lack of respect for NTCs.... trading them isn't really practical in virtually all cases.

The issue is they already have 14 forwards and they'd rather keep Lindholm or Ritchie so it is a 1.1M savings which Bruins beat writers are reporting they're planning to do. I understand an NTC but it's not a NMC and he'd rather play in the NHL than ride the buses.

Even if they moved Backes they likely would not have dipped into the UFA market. Next years cap crunch will be worse than this year. Adding more cap hit with term would just have made it even worse.

Buyout window is done. So that will mean he won’t waive for a place like Ottawa. Best case scenario is Columbus with B’s taking and unwanted player and some cap hit back (Nash) or he he retires. Not likely though. Looks like he will be with B’s another year and then bought out.

Their cap figure is a little low because they still need to sign their RFA's – they should end up with at least $10m for this season, but will need ~$24m to extend Hall, Hischier, Bratt & Blackwood next offseason.

Yeah I mean I guess it depends on if you think Coyle is coming back. Without Backes you could maybe squeeze in both him and Krug but I kinda think he'll get Hayes money and walk.