the title is quite misleading lmao

that Laine is trade is bad for us.

There are pros and cons. Clearly this is not realistic in any capacity, BUT the talent in the top-6 and the grit in the bottom-6 are awesome. Cernak makes giving up Pesce easier to swallow.

Adding Laine isnt worth getting worse on defense and at center.

From an Oiler perspective, if Puljujarvi signs and Athanasiou doesn't, I might counter the offer with:

Kassian, Chiasson, Khaira for Dzingle and Neiderreiter ($1,250,000 retained). Carolina still sheds over $1,000,000 in AAV and they get the guy they want (Kassian) plus a couple additional big bodied forwards who are beasts on special teams. Edmonton takes on more salary than it can really afford, but it moves out two right wings, which makes room for Puljujarvi and allows Neal to play his favored position, and both Neiderreiter and Dzingle become the next players to tryout for the role of McDavid's left wing.

Alternatively:

Kassian + Chiasson + Khaira for Neiderreiter (retain $1,000,000) + Mrazek is a trade I might consider.

How do you sign Svechnikov and Dougie next year? Especially with Laine up to.

Dougie's $5.75M + Semin's $2.33M = $8M for Hamilton
Svech's $.925k + McGinn's $2.1 + Martinook's $2M + 1/2 of Skjei's $5.25M = $7.65 for Svechnikov's bridge deal
Laine's $6.75M + $1.25 from Skjei = $8M for Laine

That leaves $3.5M for McGinn and Martinook replacements. We get 2 good runs at the cup, then the real dilemma comes the following season. Needing to sign Necas and a goalie. But this all fantasy..

That doesn't work though. Next season you have a roster size of 13 with ~$25.5m in cap space to spend on 10 players. If you spend $8m + $8m + ~$7.5m on those 3, you are already at $23.5m spent. So you would only have around $2m to add 7 players... And also, the Hamilton and Laine deals would be pay cuts and you'd better hope Svech takes a bridge deal.

This is a 1-year team -- but man, this is a very good 1-year team that could win a cup (though that Mikheyev deal gets matched easily).

Check the Year 2 post. It works. Flat cap and ability to compete for multiple cups may make it able to sign these players at the proposed AAV's who knows. It is all just for fun.