900k for Brassard seems a bit low. He's likely to come in similar to the Kronwall 1 x $2.5M which you would still have room for.

Also, I think the Flames decline using an expansion draft protection slot on Lucic and that god awful contract. As bad as Neal was last year at least he has no NMC/NTC and his contract is not buyout proof (unlike Lucic's).

"The clause can travel with the player even if he consents to being traded or is claimed on waivers
This requires that the acquiring team sign an addendum to the contract ensuring that the clause does in fact travel with the player (written by the player's agent)
If the acquiring team refuses to sign the addendum, and the player waives his clause anyway, at that point the clause may be nullified" from capfriendly's NMC faq

So it's possible that if Lucic waives for a trade the NMC could be gone and he would not need to be protected.

I don't see brassard getting that anymore, i think he's going to be playing for a job at camp on a PTO.

I think he would slot in as your third line center as well. You are asking a lot of him to come out after mcdavid and make a difference

Perhaps, but it's still buyout proof and I think Neal has a better chance of bouncing back than Lucic. The Flames have no interest in being part of any deal that brings in Lucic as there's already two LW's ahead of him even if he returns to being a 20-20 guy. With Neal returning to form he's their second best RW option so the swap makes no sense.