We are not trading picks to move assets even if it makes the team better for a year. The concern is next year.

Fair enough. so you think we sign nobody?

I disagree. I believe that we have no choice but to trade picks and/or prospects to unload contracts, however Sutter isn't the one we want to dump. The contracts going the othe way have to be Eriksson, Beagle or Roussel. These all span two years and give us added breathing room in 20-21 and 21-22 (which is the important year).

The above situation does a few things, 1 - it overpays JV, 2 - it underpays Gaudette (but they even themselves out), and more importantly 3 - assumes Ferland is on the LTIR, which he and his agent has both said he will be playing.

I could see a Slater Koekkoek signing or maybe Grabner - guys at league min for 1 year. Otherwise, no big signings.




Benning has made it clear that the concern is next year, not this year. The team will get worse before it gets better. We need to conserve our assets until next year when it counts, and move the bad contracts then. It costs less to move them in that season and it means more for the overall success of the roster.

Virtanen is overpaid in this build. Based on the Mangiapane signing this morning, he should get 2.6Mx2.
Gaudette is in a black hole RFA situation with no leverage, his contract likely is lower than we expect / an underpay.

Agreed on both JV and Gaudette. I think JV is $2.6 - $2.8, Gaudette is $1.4 - $1.6.

Benning will move any of those three at the first chance he gets. I can't see us sending out a 1st rounder, but 2nds through 7ths are on the table if he can unload them. As are Woo, Lind, DiPietro, and Lockwood.

the only contract moved will be Eriksson...beagle/roussel stays

Eriksson is way to hard to move. Sutter/Bae will go. Beagle isn't going anywhere.

great if Ferland plays we wont be signing any expensive forwards

Likely.

Ferland is a heck of a forward when he's healthy. I think the worst part is that he won't start the year on the LTIR, but he may finish on it...and stay on it.

Bae/Sutter. Eriksson would cost a lot to get rid of because he has two years left.

True statement, but we don't need help in 20-21. We aren't winning the Cup this year, so don't blow your wad looking to ice a pretend contender. We need relief in 21-22. Give the young guns one year to mature, taste a little success, eat a little failure, then come out swinging HARD in 22-23.