I'd rather this team keep Trocheck over Nino. Trocheck shouldn't cost too much more than what you're giving Nino here (maybe $5.75m), and he's the better player while giving CAR another option at center as well when there are injuries.

And if you go for a different player entirely, I like Copp or Perron for this team too -- assuming they hit the market.

My ideal doesn't include bringing back Niederreiter, baring a great playoffs performance. I think he is a great player during the season, but he just doesn't do enough during the playoffs to bring him back at 5 million dollars aav in my opinion

Just throwing this out there because it seems to fit. KK doesn't seem like the type to take less money, he is guaranteed 6.1 Mil QO since he has not already extended like everyone thought he was going to on Jan 1st for 3-4.5 Mil, I wonder if he is willing to take less than his QO or if he elects to go to FA.

22.5 million is not less than 6.1

He took that money to make sure MTL wouldn't match, not because he's a greedy kid. 4.5 is a fair contract for him.

Troch will get a lot of money in free agency. Signing a soon to be 29 year to a long term contract doesn't always work out. Im more confident in Nino signing for less term than troch.

With Staal off the books, or taking a significant pay cut, next season it doesn't make me as worried. What term do you think Trocheck is looking for? Do you think he would take less to stay in CAR? Although re-signing for Aho, Teravainen, Pesce, Jarvis, and Skjei in two years could be tough...

I'm thinking troch will fetch a 6x6 easily. Happens every year in free agency.

I wonder if a mostly stagnant cap changes that at all.

Hopefully the Okposo/Eriksson/Ladd/Lucic off-season is still fresh in GM's minds...

Tro could be our Hyman like deal candidate. He is 3rd in TOI / game from the forwards, plays in all situations, and plays a lot against good competition. He’ll be hard to replace. Kotkaniemi should steal minutes from Staal next year.

But it 6x6 is all tro will get an 8 year 5.25 million deal may get it done. Nino typically has better analytics than production but Tro will be the harder to replace.

that would be a brutal contract...

6.1 is more than 4.5, even on a 1 year deal he would set himself up for another 6.1 mil QO. He took the money because it was 6.1 Mil not really to leave Montreal. He wasn't happy with being scratched but he also was not looking to leave. It was just a circumstance of being offered 6.1 Mil as opposed to the 2.5 Montreal was offering at the time. Both KK and Dundon said that it was the Canes who approached KK's agent not KK who went out looking for an OS. He had nothing to do with the amount or the OS at all, he just signed on for 6.1 Mil and Montreal chose not to match it.

With $2.8M in extra space, I’d upgrade the 3rd pair or would rather give Trocheck a deal over Niederreiter. otherwise not too bad.

I think DeAngelo gets a little more than $4.5am, but less than Slavins $5.3M. Bear, if he sticks around, probably does not get more than $3M. I think the Kotkaniemi contract is spot on. Necas probably gets a little more than $6M per if he signs for max term. I see him getting a bridge.

i agree. I rationalize it two ways:
1. Our window is now and until Aho is under contract again, that is all we can say. We have 3 more playoff windows. Could we have more yes, but this team has a harsh negotiating tactic that doesnt sit well with most players unless RBA calls on your behalf.
2. That contract will have a surplus value, barring injuries, for 3-4 more years, and be at value for another year after. In 4-5 years, the cap should start rising again, so it wouldnt matter too much. Also, if we front load the deal im sure we can find a team to take on the last 2-3 years if need be. If Aho is still around that is.

He's not going to sign another one year deal. He seems very happy in Carolina, who have already done him a favour. He's going to sign medium to long term. I'd say he goes medium term (3-5 years) and try and cash in with a bigger deal later in his career when hes entered his prime.

I actually hope your right, I like KK and want to see him succeed, I was just saying that since he hasn't signed yet could he be looking for more term or money than Carolina wants to commit.