Galchenyuk, Alex
Paul, Nicholas
Brown, Logan
Watson, Austin
Gudbranson, Erik
Reilly, Mike
Zaitsev, Nikita
Anisimov, Artem
Tierney, Chris
So many comments running through my head.
Tierney, Chris - Such a good contract for what he brings. The only thing he doesn't do is score a lot. He's no Adam Oates, but that's the style of player he is. He's a really solid middles6 centre.
Paul, Nicholas - replaceable, but at $1.35MM, he's a steal.
Watson, Austin - replaceable, but he does a necessary job you don't want the kids doing. This isn't fantasy hockey.
Brown, Logan - Sell low, regret later.
Anisimov, Artem - The guy is getting paid $1.5MM this season, and can still play 3C, but will likely play 4C, for $1.5MM, getting borderline 3C numbers, for $1.5MM.
Galchenyuk, Alex - $1.05MM, even if he sits in the box, this is a good deal.
Reilly, Mike - 3rd pair guy making 3rd pair money, and if he wasn't here, a similar guy making a similar salary would be.
Gudbranson, Erik - longer response required...
Zaitsev, Nikita - longer response required...
Someone has to play RD, and I'll be the first to say these guys are placeholders, but the biggest issue with these guys is neither is a top pair D.
Right now, the team's biggest need is a top pair RD. They have their right shot wingers set now, and they have their centre prospects to improve there, but RD has these two guys, Joshua Brown, and JBD & Thomson, and neither prospect should be on the top pair. Zaitsev is a perfectly fine #4 D, and Gudbranson is fine on the 3rd pair. If the team traded for a guy who could play first pair minutes, legitimately, like Dumba, that would change the entire D depth. Min wants a centre back, and Dorion could easily send Tierney, or Logan Brown, and add in Thomson or JBD, and a pick, and get a D partner for Chabot. Suddenly the RD looks good, and they can trade off Zaitsev when JBD is ready. Gudbranson is likely a 1-2 year placeholder. Their salaries aren't ideal, but they aren't prohibitive either.
They all have their use, so you can get rid of some, but they would be replaced by the same type of players.