Team: 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 26, 2020

Published: Mar. 27, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Islanders may have major cap troubles going into the off-season with priority on resigning Barzal, Toews and Pulock (approx 12.5 mil cap space avail). Pulock unlikely to receive a bridge deal; with Toews very much likely too.

A market exists for Alzner considering that approx. 6 teams are aiming for the cap floor next year (Devils for sure a prime candidate). Habs need a 1st line Centre, a Top-4 D-man and a veteran back-up goalie. No disrespect to Domi, but he's no 1st line Centre, however, his trade value is high. The UFA Centremen market is bone dry this off-season. Tons of cap space available (81.5 mill salary cap spikes to 86 mill for 2021/22), MB on an offer sheet blitz this year (similar to Aho and B. Point efforts last year). Barzal & Dubois on his radar as offer sheet candidates with intent to overpay. A 7 yr / 84 mill offer sheet should do the trick for Barzal (Dubois as Plan B).

Word out of Montreal is Ilya Kovalchuk is a lock to return (likely 3 mil/yr deal with performance bonuses). This unfortunately will leave Armia as a candidate for trade (cap crunch), taking into consideration that Armia and Tatar are not affordable to re-sign for 2021/22 season. All other UFA's/RFA's at start of 2021/22 (Gallagher, Danault, Brodin, Petry, Lehkonen, Weal, KK, Poehling, etc.) can be resigned at fair market value (total cap hit just over $85 mill for 2021/22). This simulation does not address Habs need for veteran back-up goalie. Fingers-crossed Primeau works out (no more than 20 starts for next season).

This ACGM simulation is a demonstration that the Habs have plenty of cap space to entertain acquiring Barzal or Dubois through offer sheet. Very doubtful NYI can/would match ..... enjoy the compensation picks NYI fans.

2021/22 Contract Offers (UFA's/RFA's):
Gallagher 7 yr / 47.25 mill (6.75 mill/yr.)
Danualt 7 yr / 40.25 mill (5.75 mill/yr.)
Petry 5 yr / 27.5 mill (5.5 mill/yr.)
Brodin 5 yr / 27.5 mill (5.5 mill/yr.)
Lehkonen 3 yr / 9 mill (3 mill/yr.)
Weal 3 yr / 6 mill (2 mill/yr.)
Kotkaniemi 2 yr / 2.5 mill (1.25 mill/yr.)
Poehling 2 yr / 1.7 mill (850k/yr.)
Caufield 3 yr / 2.775 mill (925k/yr entry-level deal.)

Team Cap Hit for 2021/22 - $85.2 million

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