Here’s the thing.
I think Strome would want in the $5M range, he is on a close to 70 pt pace. 3 years he may take in $4.5M range, but also can easily say “I’ll sign elsewhere” and be offered 4-5 years for a little more $. It probably comes with a 2nd round draft comp or something? TDA seems pretty close, but also seeing Trouba get $8M so idk what TDA is thinking. Can’t keep buying out contracts just to become cap compliant. Can bury Smith in AHL and it’s like a $400 grand difference or something, then he’s off the books completely. If some reason Hank retires it’s $3M cap hit not $5.5M cap hit plus 2 years from now dead cap hit. Lastly, even IF this all worked out, for injury purposes, you need a lot over $333K for emergency call ups and all.

The past few years have been rough for Strome -- I think that he might be inclined to take less money to stay and play with Panarin. If that goes well, he can cash in bigger than he could this year.

This lineup is very close- assuming that's the deal Krieder signs by tomorrow. But what I would change is rather than buying out Hank and Smith...buy out Smith and Staal. The net effect of Smith/Hank is 2.1M cap savings 2020, after you account for Georgi @ 2.5M. The net effect of Smith/Staal is around 2.75M cap savings (includes cost of adding a Dman around 925K)...in both cases, though the roster requires another cheap dman and forward...In essence, buying out Smith/Staal achieves more immediate cap savings AND gets Staal off the roster...don't think anyone questions Hanks value as back up AND you get assets back for Georgi.