The only problem I see is Bailey wearing the A and Lou being all about the team, etc. You trade an Alternate Captain, doing him dirty like this; it undercuts the message. But someone's gotta go, so we'll see...

I could see Barzal & Wahlstrom adding up to $12.5M, but I think the split winds up more like $9.5M/$3M unless Wally EXPLODES for 35-40 goals this year(if only!)

I could see Varly resigning cheap, but Mayfield's gotta cash in. I know relatively he makes a ton of money and blah blah blah but I'd honestly be mad at him if he took *another* team friendly deal like this. Go cash in my dude! You've earned it after playing out that 5x$1.45M extension!!

If Tarasenko is still producing at a point per game rate with St. Louis, I would think about a UFA deal but I don't necessarily love 3 years for an age-32 winger with a big recent injury history. I also have no idea where his market goes - do teams go crazy if they cap goes up and push his AAV to something like $8-9M? I don't hate him at 3x$6.5M but I want no part of him at 3x$9M, even with a jump in the cap.

I think for Mayfield the messaging is he will get 4x4 (16M) as a UFA. But after that he is 35, so maybe he gets another 1 or 2 years at 1M per season for a total of 18M left in potential career earnings.

The Isles will offer him 8 years for $2.5M per year to keep the cap hit low but that guarantees him $20M in career earnings, and the contract is front loaded so if you buy him out after 5 years the cost is minimal against the cap.

8x$2.5M? After 5x$1.45M??? The NHLPA is gonna take him aside and ask if this is a hostage situation, lol

He exposed Bailey in the expansion draft

The cap hit is irrelevant as Mayfield would be getting the most guaranteed money he could in this proposal.

If they give mayfield an 8 year deal at anything over league minimum, every season ticket holder should cancel their tickets. Because it would be clear the isles intention is not winning hockey games

Mayfield at 3 mill x 5 would immediately go down as one of the worst contracts (among defenseman) in the league

A 8 year deal, where almost all the money is paid in the first 5 years and league minimum in years 6-8 for buyout purposes. Mayfield gets the most money he would in this situation, the Isles lock him in at a low cap hit, and the buyout would be


It is pretty simple, Mayfield will get the Gunbrandson contact which is 4x4 next offseason.

By offering him a 8 year deal at 2.5 you can structure the deal so Mayfield gets 3.5M in real money each year for years 1-5, then 833K in years 6-8. If after 5 years you buy him out his cap hit would be minimal at 416K for 6 years after that.

The isles have arguably the best RD duo in the league (Dobson and Pulock). There is no reason to waste cap space on a 31 year old Scott mayfield. Teams that go far in the playoffs do not commit a ton of money and term to bottom of the lineup players - and that’s exactly what mayfield will be at the start of his next contract (age 31 season). Defenseman with his skillset usually see a steep decline starting in their age 30 season.

This is just a weaker version of the Canes, who have proven they are more pretenders than contenders. Bunch of solid players but no dynamic game-changers.

Think it's also wishful thinking anyone takes Bailey without retention.