You sure you want:to give him that much? Especially with some big contracts coming up soon

I figure he'd sign for $9.5x5, but Isles would be less likely to match at 10.5. As for big contracts, the only one is probably Zibanejad and we could afford to let him walk with Barzal as 1C. Laff is probably the only one of our ELC kids that'll earn a big contract post-ELC. Bunch of money falls off the books between buyouts/Hank, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Might need to bridge a kid or two, but our FO tends to do that anyway.

If your comfortable go ahead. I think kakko will be a good one. Barzal is good but I think you guys need a more defensive centre to balance out the team

If you give Barzal that much (and he isn't matched) then you're committed to losing Zibby when his contract is up. You're not gonna be able to re-sign Lafreniere, Kakko, Kravtsov, Fox, Miller, and Shesterkin over the next 2 or 3 years with 10.5 on Barzal, 8 on Trouba, and 11.7 on Panarin (yes I know Hank, Smith, and Staal come off the books, but those are gonna be some expensive deals). They are worth that much, you just lose Zibby almost definitely, and probably one or two other guys (almost definitely Kreider at some point, and because of Barzal, potentially Kravtsov if he lives up to his potential, either him or Buchnevich). There isn't a huge issue with this but it's something to be aware of (and also be aware you're pissing off NYI and losing them as a trading partner, not that they do a lot of business anyway lol).

With that out of the way, Ottawa isn't giving you value to take your cap dump lol, they can sign any random dman in free agency to fill a hole and they can afford to overpay him to do it (meaning they're not gonna have a problem filling any holes they might have) so if you wanna dump Smith, you're paying Ottawa to take him. And I don't think ADA is really a fit in Dallas, they're pretty solid on defense. Someone will give you that value though. Maybe even Ottawa lol, I'd consider ADA+full Smith contract for the NYI 1st.

Also if you want Merrill that's fine but is he really the top pair dman you want to rebuild your back end if he can't even make Vegas's top 6?

Strome isn’t worth Buffalo’s 2nd rounder this year, never mind next year’s too. He’s a 30 pt player whose numbers were inflated playing with Panarin. He’s not a #2 center, Dylan is the only Strome I’d pay the 2020 2nd rounder for.

Easy to offer sheet when you get gifted 1st and 2nds in back to back years