I think you’re probably right on rathbone. But I’d be shocked if taffoli signed that deal. N.j or someone else will pay him 5x5.5mil but Stetcher might take less maybe even 2mil

Yeah I'm not sure he takes it too, just so hard to predict with the cap situation right now. Like he could take a one year deal somewhere he's a bit more familiar with (maybe even back in LA) or go big contract hunting.

Good point on Rathbone, I hadn't considered that.

I would also be surprised if Toffoli signed that, but I get your point about a completely uncertain market. Maybe he would stay here, put up good numbers and then sign a big contract in a more normal market. With that said, I'd rather spend the cap space on a defenseman (Tanev/DeMelo).

I think Virtanen get's closer to 3M and Leivo gets the same contract (1.5M) since his year was cut short due to injury. Essentially a show me deal. I also wouldn't pay Stetcher more than his QO.

I've never liked the idea of buying out a contract; the dead cap space seems like a waste. If you want to get rid of a contract, bite the bullet and trade it instead of messing around halfway with a buy out. Sutter should be marketable as a rental C who can win faceoffs and play defensive minutes. I don't expect anything nice in return, but maybe we retain 1M or so and get a mid/late round pick back. Better to retain for 1 year than have dead cap space for 2 years. I'd also rather just absorb Baertschi if he can't be moved instead of having dead cap space this year and next year.

You also need to account for 1.7M in dead cap due to performance bonuses for Hughes and Pettersson.

I also hadn’t thought about Rathbone’s situation either, but i’m guessing there are going to be plenty of of other drafted players across the league in the same situation. Be curious to see how that works out.

As for the rest of your ACGM... this is definitely the opposite of what the Canucks should do. There’s no need to trade or buyout any of the guys that only have one year left on their contracts; the real cap challenge is next season with the extensions to Petey and Hughes. By buying out Sutter and Baertschi you’re actually adding cap burden next season when it would be gone if they just ride out those contracts this year. And Toffoli won’t be back either, VAN can only afford one big extension and I think Markstrom will be the priority. If they can manage to pay a team to take Eriksson then they’ll be able to replace Tanev as well.

Oh trust me I fully understand this, but if they want to extend their "playoff window" with this core, these are types of moves they'll have to make. The whole point of this ACGM is to present a way the team can do this whilst staying cap compliant without trades. I don't expect any teams to be looking to take on contract this year and if they do it will be at a steeper than usual premium due to the circumstances. It is impossible to predict what cap dump trades will look like in this new flat cap environment so I wanted to look at a different more uncomfortable avenue to take.

I created a part two to this ACGM for the 2021-22 season here (https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/1786682) to look at how they could sign Pettersson and Hughes and stay cap compliant.

I did see your other 2021/22 team as well, and it is impressive but it will be veeerry tight if they go about it that way. Even with the buyouts I don’t see the team being that much better, and I really don’t think Toffoli takes a one year deal, especially for that low of an amount. There might be another FA willing to take a one year deal, but they probably won’t be Toffoli’s caliber.

I really hope they explore absolutely every option with Eriksson before they consider buyouts. I’ve made other ACGM’s where the team pulls a dick move and tells Loui he’ll be parked in Utica for the two full seasons unless he wants to agree to a contract termination. He’d be walking away from 5M that way, but could likely find an NHL depth role with a contender somewhere on a cheap deal. Failing that I think they try to use Demko and a pick as the bait for a team to take Loui as well, maybe DET or OTT. If Markstrom is locked up I think that’s the next best use of assets. I’d rather lose Demko that way than for nothing to Seattle.