Ghost is redundant when you have Wolanin who is cheaper and plays the same role. It also depends on if Ottawa re-signs Boro as the 3rd pair LHD.

I do like the Stepan move, though.

I think a lot of teams would take a 6.5M cap dump with a prospect. It'll be interesting to see how valuable dumping cap becomes and how much it will cost for teams with a tight cap

Youre right about Wolanin playing the same role

A 1 year deal like Stepan will cost a 2nd or a B level prospect that is almost NHL serviceable (1-2 years away). Something like Eriksson in Van-city might be a tad more expensive to move.

People will try and compare the TOR-Marleau move but that wouldn't be fair as Marleau was immediately bought out because he wasn't needed in Carolina (and Carolina had both cap space and money to burn). Melnyk wouldn't want to just buy someone out because he doesn't have the money to spend on a move like that. Stepan will be used as a buffer 2C (1A-1B option with Tierney). His contract also isn't 6.5 million in actual money (5 million in cash = 3 million in bonus, 2 million paid over the season) which is attractive to Melnyk. Dorion might actually have to add a 3rd for ARI to pay the bonus money owed...

ARI has to pay to dump that cap, especially considering the fact the cap isnt going up in the next couple years.

Maccelli is a plus prospect...30 pts in Fin mens league as a 19 yo...

Hell youre right. I was going off memory of the ARI prospects and I knew he was late round 2019 draft. He had a bumper year last year, Finish rookie of the year.