1.8 will be more than enough for barby

Barbashev was good in the playoffs but no way he gets that contract this year. 1.5 is more than fair for him right now.

I don't see edmonton trading for tatar, especially with a 1st condition. They haven't done anything to bring them out of playoffs, they're practically in a rebuild.
I could see teams lining up to get Gallagher though

that's why he's still a hold out ?

i know him personally from his time here staying with my cousins Mcleod family while he played in Moncton
Ivan is not the type to take team friendly deals , he's got his cup and he'll want his paycheck now

Ivan will leave of that i have no doubt
getting to play with Phil again would make him happy
(Phil was like one of four guys who took the time to talk to Ivan who arrived with Really Poor English so they bonded right away )

but ill be happy to see who was right when he signs his next deal
but like Gusev situation i think STL is ready to move on

He hasnt even earned what sundqvist got

i do just because what Holland said he's looking for in a Winger to play with Mcdavid under 5m cap
that leaves like a half dozen options in the NHL you know Hollands looking at including Tatar and Gallagher .

Hollands trying to change the non stop losing history of EDM since Daryll Katz took over Ownership in EDM .
in order to do that he needs a Veteran Star to help keep young Ego's in Check . (the same reason CAR brought in Williams , TOR brought in Marleau and BUF brought in Skinner . )

if Holland wasnt looking for a top 6 winger under 5m cap which he named as his top priority in his first Public Address and GM .
he didnt say 5m and under specifically just kept saying Team Friendly Contract which in today's market is 5m and under .

depends on who you ask really

to STL , maybe not

to a half a dozen other NHL teams , he has .
i mean Gusev has done nothing but be the 3rd best forward on his line and got a huge payout by comparison .

Barbashev on the other had earned is minutes and his Cup which teams will covet .
everyone said a concussed Shaw who was a career bottom 5 guys in CHI was worth 3.9m
this recent Shaw trade proved he was as CHI gladly took him on that cap just recently

Shaw was obviously worth more then Barbs but my point was no matter what fans think they'll make less because they play bottom 6 but in todays NHL there are 3rd line players making 5m + in some cases.


IF STL coulda got him or Maroon for under 2m , one of them would be signed
the fact that neither is tells me STL is soon to move on given they show no signs of dumping cap as they have bigger fish to fry next year during free agency and even less money .

Keep Gallagher - Leadership for the crop of new young players.

please read the description , the very first thing it clarify's is Gallagher's the priority in 2021 UFA class

the entire point of this is to move him out on the best terms so when he goes UFA we can re-sign him.
keeping him here during the prime years of his career is a cruel cruel thing to do to a player you claim to like
we traded Plekanec's to our Rival for a playoff run because he deserved it and as a result he re-signed .

we did the same thing to Boullion in years past and Brisbois bringing them both back to retire here
Leaders of this Caliber are Owed a Playoff run.

Gallagher would return as we're doing everything in our power to avoid Subban'ing him into a deal
Gallagher gets to go likely win a Cup on another team while MTL's youth figure it out wth Byron , Tatar ,Thompson and Domi as leaders .
by the time Gallagher comes back Byron and Domi will be the leaders remaining giving Gallagher a chance to walk into MTL possibly
with a ring or at bare minimum recent playoff experience to help drive the youth core .

the return we'd get helps us depth wise at building a dynasty