Joined: Sep. 2020
Posts: 6,246
Likes: 2,524
You need the following cap space
Sergachev 7M but he might give a 1 year break at 4.5M
Cirelli 6M but he might give a 1 year break at 4M
Cernak 4M but he might give a 1 year break at 2M
All 3 will not take these salary breaks knowing that the following year there isn’t more money for them to receive. Bridge deals are meant to be a 1-2 year discount knowing that cap space will open for a nice payday and for the player to improve and show he’s worth that $. All 3 earned the big payday and won a Stanley cup doing so. Now 1 of these guys might take the pay cut to stay but not all 3. Those trades aren’t great value given the circumstances. TJ was available for free just a week or 2 ago, teams want retentions or a payday to help. Not a “slight” better. TJ with 1M retained and a 1st is likely what gets him moved. So 4M + 2.8M in cap space locks in Serga for a handful of years. Now you need to move another 7-10M to lock the others in. Only Stamkos could do this for you while losing 1 player, the captain?!....Killorn and gourde?? Reality sinks in that either big moves need to be made or the other option is offer sheets and trading these RFAs away(not all 3).