Devils don’t have the caps space to make this work

This is for 23-24.

Whoops 😬

Mac, who has never scored more than 99 points and hasn't won any major awards, cannot possibly think he's worth more than McDavid. Hell, Tkachuk and Gaudreau, two guys that actually have scored 100 points, just signed for under $10M per. Mac does play a premium position so maybe that's worth another million in AAV but if they're having to trade off big pieces just to keep him around, he's got to know that greatly diminishes their chances to win more Cups.

Dater was most likely talking out his ass when he "reported" that Mac wants to be the highest-paid player in the league but we are over a month out from the Cup final and not too far away from camp. If that means he and the Avs are far apart on a deal, then they just need to trade him and get back some younger, big pieces they can use to make more Cup runs with the rest of the core. I realize that's blasphemy to some but he can't be allowed to hold the team and their ability to ice a Cup-worthy squad for ransom. All that said, I don't believe Dater is correct; I do think they will reach a deal that works for both sides prior to camp.

I agree in the sense that he won’t be asking for 13, I will say he’s definitely more valuable than gaudreau or tkachuk. He’s been dynamite in the playoffs and very good in regular season. On top of thatched brought a level of seriousness in the locker room m. I’d definitely pay him the 13, but I think he lands at 12.

I wouldn't pay him $13M; even $12M is a stretch. Draisaitl performed well in the playoffs while hurt and he "only" makes $8.5M; when he signed that deal, the cap was only $7.5M less than it is now. You can prorate that to add the 10% cap increase and get to almost $9.5M. Add in the Cup win and his tenure and you get to maybe $1M more. He really shouldn't me making much more than that. If he wants $12+, trade him for really good young players and picks.

I think drai only had a 70 something arson to his name then, my guess now he’d be an easy 11-12

Yeah, maybe but he's also scored more than 100 points (3 times, in fact) and has a Hart, Pearson and Ross to his name already. Mac, as good as he is, has none of that. The Avs simply cannot afford to have Mac sucking up that much cap; $2-3M is a good third-liner and, bottom line, he doesn't deserve to be the highest paid player in the league. If Drai is worth $11-12M, then Mac is worth $10.5, tops.