Joined: Jan. 2019
Posts: 3,777
Likes: 974
Can they? Yeah, it would be tight.
Should they? IMO negative.
Team depth was huge in the playoffs. Even compromising on $7M, that looks really top heavy. Like putting all the eggs in one basket. McFarland is going with a goalie tandem and trying to get Manson back to beef up the D. I'd prefer they go with Newhook and sign a 3rd liner to back him up. There are a TON of free agent options, and if thoae don't work out, they can still rent a C at the deadline. 18 is ready to breakout if he can just get consistent, top six ice time. Committing several years to Naz just doesn't seem ideal to me.