Nearly hitting the cap ceiling while Jones, Farabee, Couturier, Gaudreau, all needing significant raises the following season, with Manson and Giroux also needing new contracts as well. I get there would be at least some money that would be freed up in the process, but this seems like a bad idea waiting to happen

It is definitely risky but in a flat cap, I think it could be done. We could move Sanheim after the year since York will likely be ready. Get a cheaper goalie. Hopefully Giroux takes a hometown discount to stay. JG will likely get slightly less than what he makes now. It's Coots and Jones that will get raises but honestly I don't see either going over $7.5 with the flat cap.

Jones will likely use Pietrangelo as a comparable and fall just under that, I'd guess closer to 8.25. Coots is going to make considerably more than 7.5, I'd be stunned if he took anything less than 9 even with a flat Cap, the dude is one of the best players on the planet. Theres also Farabee who, if he repeats this past seasons performance or builds on it next season, will earn at least a 4 million dollar raise.

Basically I think there's 0 possibility they could retain all of Couturier, Gaudreau and Jones if they went this route, and considering how many futures they lose in this scenario that's an extremley risky move

Coots will not make 9. Nobody is handing out $9 mil with a flat cap who will be pushing 30. If he won't budge off $9, let him walk. Jones maybe in the $8 range but can't use Petro as Petro signed when everyone thought the cap was going much higher. I still think $7.5 is reasonable especially with Provy at $6.75