Edited Jul. 6, 2020 at 10:32 a.m.
Somehow we really do need to shed Maatta. I'm not 100% sure that he has the same value he did before the 3 year cap decision. If we can get a 4th...I think we need to. If we can't...we still need to buy him out. It's $3.5M that we need. I also agree with burying vs buying out Zach Smith. That extra cap in 2021 can go to Strome or Kubalik. His vet presence will help the kids develop in Rockford.
The draft will come before the goalie situation gets solved. If we draft Askarov...then I'm more for a shorter term cheaper Crow option. We we draft Lundell...then I'm ok with the Strome trade for Brodin. If we draft Quinn....well then I don't really have an answer for you.
BUT as for who plays in net??? There are a lot of goalie options out there. Lehner/Crow/Markstrom/Holtby, heck I'm not even sure what's going to happen with PIT's goalie situation. Matt Murray's arbitration would scare the heck out of me if I were a PIT fan. I think there's a small chance that he (or Jarry) also becomes a UFA too. We'll see. What I'm getting at though is...how many teams out there A.) NEED a goalie and B.) can actually pay these guys??? Not many at all. DET and BUF can...ok fine. OTT can, but I'm not sure they will...NOR would these vets really want to go to a rebuild. That's about it. So as much as Lehner's "had enough of taking discounts his whole life" the cap isn't going up. That's bad news for big contracts. I'd prefer to sign Crow for the lower cap hit and then try to persuade one of the other vets that it's just the wrong year for a big contract. Next year is far better for these guys...Hank, Pekka, CAR, TOR, BOS, SEA etc... a lot more teams will be looking for goalies. Convince one of these guys that a tandem is the best option AND there's no better place to tandem than with Crow. It's designed so Crow doesn't play a ton of games. ALSO, this give the Hawks optionality too. If they stink again...trade at the TDL. If a freak injury happens...which they do happen...TDL. More picks.
I'd prefer to keep Koekkoek. I really do think he can be a diamond in the rough. YES, he's had some major injury problems early in his career, but that hasn't been an issue the past few years. There was a reason he was drafted #10 OA. I'd really like to keep him longer and see what happens. I'm not a big Seeler fan. Would also prefer to play Carlsson over Seeler.
I think this is too much $ for Drake. I'd actually like to give Kurashev a shot.
The strategy above also helps for Seattle. Depending on DeHaan's recovery...that's likely who they would take. I guess it could be Carlsson or Koekkoek, but I don't think so...so Seattle would theoretically be helping the hawks cap situation shortly too.