Rathbone's gonna be a stud I'd rather eat one more year of Eriksson's contract and try to trade him next year

I too am not moving Rathbone. D prospect pool is only beginning to fill up nicely. The kid is developing great.

Then you don't get to sign one of Toffoli, Markstrom or Tanev.

Welcome to CapFriendly!

This is an excellent first effort. I wish mine had been as good.

I think the best way to keep Stecher is to try to imagine some team that might want a fourth-line RW/C for one year (Sutter, with 20% retained). I've tried New Jersey and Nashville, but the two devotees of each team weren't happy. However, since you own his rights, you might try thinking of a way to trade Stecher -- does my team for Jacob Larsson appeal?

Can sign at least 1 of them but 3 unlikely. Lots of cap gymnastics needed for whatever choices JB makes. That’s way of it in the cap world & the covid reality.

This works for next year... but you're going to have to dump Beagle/Roussel in 2021 to make way for hughes/petterson's 16-20 million.

I think Benning will work something out vis-à-vis Eriksson . . . he has to, because as @EnvironmentalTwister points out, he's going to have a similar problem next year and Beagle's/Roussel's NTC's are going to be a stumbling block.

I think Anaheim is a very possible destination for Eriksson on lines along the Backes deal. Jacob Larsson for Eriksson, Woo and Vancouver's 2021 first? Anaheim might add a prospect, too.

If I had to guess, Baertschi gets sent to the AHL/Europe, they deal Sutter this summer (say a 2nd + Sutter for a 6th)

Then next summer you deal Loui + a 2nd/Woo for a 5th/whatever, and hope Edler/Pearson's money off the books + one of Beagle/Roussell is gone too to cover the raises of EP/QH if you want to keep 2 of Markstrom/Toffoli/Tanev long term. You probably have to deal both Beagle/Roussell if you intent to keep all 3.

Too expensive imo. High cost to erase a mistake. GMJB is in a pickle & probably looking at other options to wiggle out some cap space. Might see a surprise or 2 happen dependent on how these playins/PO’s go.

I tried Sutter with 20% retention ($875,000) and a fourth for a sixth to Nashville, which needs fourth-line depth, but the two Nashville fans active on CapFriendly didn't appreciate it. New Jersey could also take him, because they're short fourth-liners AND righties. And we're only talking one year!!

They're going to have to be creative!

Sutter with only 1 year left can attract some suitors. Yes NJD tops my list & the Sabres & the Sens. Maybe others too. Retain 25-50% should be doable to minimize cost of losing a prospect or pick or ride it out. He’s got value to a degree & still useful.

But it's an equally high cost to lose one of your free agents. However, I'll admit that my desire for your first is pretty greedy.

I saw one of your Vancouver colleagues suggest that Benning might sign Markstrom to a one-year deal so that he doesn't have to be protected in the expansion draft. What are your thoughts on that? I'll include @brocklesnar and @EnvironmentalTwister in that question, too.

Marky wants to stay & he deserves a substantial raise.

That said Swedes tend to be fair & loyal & want to win more than get top dollar as a rule. So with a handshake so as GMJB can buy some time it’s plausible. So say a 1/5m then onto 4/5.5m might be my guess.

I have no idea why Markstrom would take that unless he loves the city or gets paid 7+ million

He does love it in Vancouver & appreciates the patience the Canucks gave him. He took the opportunity & both won.

I think that he and his agent may believe that there will be more money available in 2021 than this off-season. I can see him taking $5 million or a little more for one year and then getting $6 million or more for a longer term either on the open market or from Vancouver.

Thanks @OldNYIfan

For Stecher we could try something like Hutton, let him walk to UFA and try to sign with a reasonable cap. It is risky, but not many options available anyway. But I have the feeling Canucks will let Stecher go, they are very keen on keeping Tanev.

I agree we could try something like 1yr-5M for Markström and see what will happen for Seattle expansion.. Tanev could also be a 1yr or 2yr contract, without expansion protection.

Finally, I know it is a bit controversial here in Vancouver, but I think Toffoli could be a very key piece for Vancouver in the next few years, would make our top 6 deadly.. I would even trade Virtanen if needed, I know he is great sometimes but too much inconsistency for a top 6 role..

Anyway, thanks for the insights guys!