Expansion draft isn't until after the 2021 season so cap relief wouldn't come in time to rectify the Pietrangelo situation. To keep Petro, the first move would be trading Allen and finding a sub-$1.5m backup. Then the next (more challenging) move would be to find a home for Bozak that works with his 10-team no-trade list. Then our GM who has no history of dead money would have to buy out Steen to save another $2m or so against the cap (assuming Steen won't waive his NTC). From there, depending on the exact cap hit that Petro signs for, someone like Gunnarsson, Bortuzzo, Sanford, Blais, or Barbashev might have to be moved. It's a lot of moving parts and the reward is a potentially bad contract for the back 9 of Petro's career... will be interesting to see what happens.

Detroit would take both Steen + Allen + lottery protected 2021 first for a mid round pick like a 4th just to remove Buffalo from the equation. Allen could backup Bernier and Steen could be bought out if that’s his condition on waiving.

Allen has actual value, and he'd obviously be Detroit's starter over Bernier.

I think the Sabres would give those terms also while offering Hutton with 50% retained for 1.375 cap hit

Can’t imagine there’s any chance at all that Steen waives his NTC to go from one of the best teams to one of the worst

I was just combining the two trades above and increasing the value to a 4th instead of 2x 6th rounders. I think Steen would waive to Detroit under the condition he is immediately bought out. He definitely has value and I think he could be a good tandem with Bernier doing a 50/50 split and just ride the hot hand.


I’m sure Eichel is in love with the idea of having a ~6M bottom six player instead of a 2C when he is trying to win. Hutton isn’t that valuable.

I would like to know what other teams would offer 9.5m for Pietrangelo....especially a "desirable" team to Pietrangelo. Imagine the Kings and Sharks have regrets with the 11 and 11.5m deals to Doughty and Karlsson. It's a flat cap league and so many teams without cap space. Carlson of Washington took 8m last summer. Pietrangelo would happy with 8m now from a good team.

What is Steen's motivation to waive his NTC? No reason for him to fall on the cap sword for the Blues.

U don’t think your Leafs would if they could figure out the Cap?
I do

Even though it is a flat cap,
he’s gotta be the #1 UFA this season... right?
I’m thinking he’ll get paid unless HE chooses to take less to play in a more desirable spot

Making that trade does not prevent them from acquiring another 2C in fact it gives them an additional trade piece 2021 1st to go and try to acquire it

Oh man I keep making these posts assuming the Seattle pick because in my head it was before this next year. Thank you for correcting me so I don't waste my time anymore and thank you for actually reading the description too. I wonder if the Blues could front load the contract or shift enough to signing bonuses to make Pietro happy with 9. Gonna be tough

yeah it's between him and Taylor Hall and Hall had that one season and keeps disappointing and finding himself on teams with 1OA pick. I'm thinking he gets paid too so teh only way he does stay is if he wants to be a Blue which is why I'm putting him around 9.5 or 10 (I went 9.5 in this case) and not falling for these predictions that he'll take the very 8X8 he turned down earlier this year or the Blues would have signed him to that while everyone was sitting around in quarantine with nothing but time on their hands a month or 2 ago