Quoting: CoopsTroops
The math with having Cirelli as 2C does not work long-term if the cap is flat for 2-3 years or longer. Ideally we could make a bridge deal work for 2-3 years, which is easily possible with moving some people like you mentioned, and then get dollars for pennies by trading him. However, I am not exactly sure what kind of promises go into making some of these team friendly bridge deals.
If the cap is back to $2million+ growth a year after the 21-22 season, then perhaps things look a little better.
The cap should see growth potentially by the Summer of '22, so if the 3 rfas are bridged for a combination of 2 or 3 years, the math should work out. Between the expansion draft and the new T.V. deal, cap growth should occur by then or at the latest, the summer of '23. Tampa also will shed 5 million+ at the exp draft, as more than likely one of Palat, Gourde or McD is going to Seattle, depending on how Tampa wants to set up their protection list.
There are some unknown variables that make it challenging to factor everything in, but down the line can see Tampa's top 9 having Stamkos, Point, Kuch, Cirelli, Goodrow, Coleman, one of Palat or Gourde, Barre-Boulet and one other player, most likely a low cost vet or perhaps a younger player like Volkov, Stephens etc. If McD gets taken by Seattle, Tampa can still run a defense core going ahead with Hedman, Serg, Cernak and Foote as the top 4, with lower cost depth like Rutta, Schenn etc for depth. The roster will have some turnover regardless, but Point-Cirelli is the future top 6 C depth of this team. Stamkos seems to prefer the wing now, but obviously having him as a C option is also a nice luxury to have.
After 2, maybe 3 more years, Tampa will need to have had several draft picks developed and be ready to fill some of the losses on offense and maybe defense, but this was an eventuality regardless of what may happen now. In 3 years though, Tampa could choose to keep a couple extra depth pieces who will be 33/34, or keep the key rfas who will be 25/26.
I hope they can keep Killorn, Gourde and Palat for another run, and maybe two of them for 2 more, but many TBL fans were more than ready to move on from Killorn and Palat after the 2019 year, but they both rebounded very well this past year. I guess we'll see what Brisebois can do, since he also seems to want to keep Killorn as well as the 3 rfas. If he can somehow pull that off, he will be some kind of magician.