And although we've already had the debate on whether Backstrom signs that kind of a term over cap hit deal, I think the salary is allowed to change by 1M a year? So he can end up earning 1M a year in years that essentially become player option years, and in which he might not have any trade protection, but start out making the 8M next year that he's certainly worth, while still leaving the team enough cap space to extend Vrana and Ovechkin the next summer.

So the annual salaries at 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, with an NMC in the first five years, and then after that he can check in with the team about whether they still have cap space, and decide on his own whether to retire or risk being traded. If he retires after five, he's made $30M. The team has kept its best center ever in the lineup at a super-low cap hit, and had room to make other moves.

I thought about asking for a 5th from Detroit, but didn't want to get into too much of an argument about it. If each team gets prospects at positions where it needs depth, then hopefully both can call it a win.

I am fairly certain that you can pay whatever you want across any years but the cap hit is the same regardless and there is the term limit. That prevents teams from giving guys those ridiculous long deals where the last years are 1 million. However, if you look at Tavares's contract, I am pretty sure the later years are super cheap since most of the money is given in bonus money. Doesn't help the cap situation. I'd wager that Backstrom would rather go for shorter term, like 4 years at a premium and re-evaluate after that. If he's still operating at a high pace, he'll sign another high cap deal but again shorter term.

Cool. So they could give him 10, 10, 9, 9, 2, 2, 1, 1? That should be enough to outbid short-term UFA offers from teams that likely want to test out whether he fits in the first years, but still keep his cap hit to 5M. In the last years, I think it would be super-cheap to buy out if he stops playing well, but the cap hit also wouldn't be enough to hurt the team, if the cap goes up to 90 or so, and a 5M cap hit starts to look like a 4M cap hit today. He can finish out his career at 3C, if he wants, keep chipping away at the record books, and make more and more of a case to be included in the Hall of Fame.

Sign and trades don't happen.

No way in hell do they sign Bowey. Wasn't he waived or sent down in Detroit? Can't even crack that lineup, he ain't making this one, especially not for that overpay.

Yep. Just cleared waivers this week. I'm being optimistic with re-signing him, but I do think trading a young, long-shot prospect like Geisser for an AHL RHD who already knows the Caps' system and knows the guys would be a good short-term move.

He can learn to kill penalties and clear a crease in Hershey, and hopefully if he looks a little more well-rounded in call-ups, that gives the Caps one less worry next fall.

BUT TAVARES WILL WALK FOR NOTHING!

Svech is on waivers today. Wonder if the Caps try to put in a claim. Guessing Carolina gets him either way, but if not, he might be a good skilled wing to help Kuznetsov get going a little better.