I would guess that Ottawa matches but I have no idea where they're at with their internal cap. With the contracts they've given out lately It makes me think they would match

Ottawa Match easily and thank you in helping the negotiation. Offer on the table for 6-7-8y x 8M

Waaaaay too much for Brady

Might be a little steep but Ottawa matches.

Then, being the nice guy Dorion is, returns the favour and signs Thomas to a 2 x 3.5M offer sheet. Compensation is a 2nd round pick.

This walks him to UFA sooner though, allowing him to go to STL to start UFA anyway right? This is the big advantage STL has with him no one else should offer sheet to match.

If y’all were to offer sheet anyone at that AAV then expect someone to OS Thomas to put you over the cap. Somewhere in the $4 mil range is not out of the question

If done in the right order - trade Tarasenko's entire 7.5m, re-acquire the STL 2nd rd pick from NYR somehow, sign Thomas to a bridge deal, issue the OS - I guess it's possible but that is a lot of steps.

I'd do 4 yrs. That way if OTT matches the damage was still done to get him to UFA. And I'd do 8.2 mil to keep the comp to a 1,2,3.

Detroit declines.

sure... in 7 or 8 years from now

Well, my point was if they attempted this OS, it gets him to OS in five. No one else has the advantage of being safe that he doesn't leave after those five years.