Team: 2020-21 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: May 20, 2020

Published: May 24, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

For the Habs to improve on offense & defense they'll have to give up their crown jewel in net. And yes, for the Habs to re-sign pillar players long-term (Gallagher, Danualt, Suzuki), their only option is departing with Price and his $10.5 million annual cap hit so as to make the necessary cap space. Sakic is in need of a goaltender with a high pedigree, Price would waive his no-trade clause for a Cup contender in the Western Conference. MTL can ride Francouz and Demchenko as BRIDGE goaltenders until Primeau is ready to go for the 2022. (Sprinkle in Lindgren as required).

*Hey Price haters, Carey Price is regarded by players and GMs as the best goaltender in the world right now* Avs have too much cap space, they'll gladly take a majority share of his remaining contract. This trade should make COL a cup contender for the next 3 yrs.

Both NYI and CBJ have cap troubles for next season ..... caused by a flat salary cap ($81.5 mill). Not enough money avail for Lou and Jarmo to entertain signing they 1st line centremen to lengthy contracts (Barzal and Dubois, respectively). MB should consider an offer sheet should the trade fail. 5 yr / 52.5 mill ($10.5 mill/yr) should do the trick.

Projected cap space - (81.5 mill salary cap spikes to 84 mill for 2021/22)

Word out of Montreal is Ilya Kovalchuk is a lock to return (likely 1 yr/3 mill deal with performance bonuses). Feeling is Tatar & Kovalchuk are not affordable to re-sign for 2021/22 season (unless Drouin is traded in 2021/22). All other UFA's/RFA's at start of 2021/22 (Gallagher, Danault, Petry, Armia, Lehkonen, Weal, Poehling, Fleury etc.) can be re-signed at fair market value (total cap hit for top 23 players just over $82 mill for 2021/22 season).

2021/22 Contract Offers (UFA's/RFA's):
Gallagher 6 yr / 43.5 mill (7.25 mill/yr.)
Danualt 6 yr / 36 mill (6 mill/yr.)
Petry 4 yr / 22 mill (5.5 mill/yr.)
Armia 4 yr / 16 mill (4 mill/yr.)
Lehkonen 3 yr / 10.5 mill (3.5 mill/yr.)
Weal 2 yr / 4 mill (2 mill/yr.)
Poehling 2 yr / 1.7 mill (850k/yr.)
Fleury 2 yr / 1.7 mill (850k/yr.)
Caufield 3 yr / 2.775 mill (925k/yr entry-level deal.)

Team Cap Hit for 2021/22 - $82.15 million

Team Roster 2021/22:
Drouin - Barzal - Gallagher
Domi - Danualt - Suzuki
Lehkonen - Evans - Armia
Weal - Thompson - Byron
(Poehling) (Caufield)

Girard - Weber
Chiarot - Petry
Kulak - Mete
(Romanov) (Fleury)

Francouz - Primeau

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