Quoting: NoVaSpartan
ACGM for more clarity
Now some of this will obviously shift but I believe you aren't quite properly factoring in what the NHL expects to happen with the Salary Cap. Should it go up around 4 Mil like expected in 2024, combined with Beaucage and Olausson pushing for roster spots, it seems quite doable that Colorado could pick up a couple bottom 6 guys for cheap (I'm thinking along the lines of the Dowd contract signed by Washington last year), and not have to sacrifice anybody. It would be certainly not as easy/flexible for Colorado to operate with only 2 scratches for the year, but it seems more than doable if they have faith in MacDonald being able to play offense or defense (or replace MacDonald with a different cheap deal). As long as the cap does go up like expected, with 4 mil jumps in 24 and 25 (which I currently can't see a reason why it wouldn't), they should be able to fit Georgiev and Rantanen's new deals in, assuming Rantanen gets around a 1-2 million raise.
You dont factor in what isnt confirmed.
If its not on this site then it isnt confirmed.
While i get what you're saying i also know they always say its going up and half the time its true but only a portion of what was predicted.
Your post gets you by on the bare minimum but doesnt account for depth if injuries happen with a 22 man roster.
While more Girard opens up room you've now got 5m to sign his replacement and a decent Center assuming Johnson returns on a 1m.
If he doesnt then its 5m for 2 Defensman and a Center that can help you win a cup
Again doable but you'd be getting buy on the bare minimum and if injuries occur after the TDL would be left reliant solely on AHL, Junior Call Ups and Oversea's Loans.
Again all doable if you're not in Win now mode after winning the Stanley Cup but losing your 2nd line Center ,Winger and Starting Goalie .
While you found replacements you didnt replace the 50 goals Kadri and Burakovsky combined for nor did you replace the void Kuemper left that COL had been missing with Varlamov.
While yes you can skate almost a full 23 man NHL Team you arent putting forth a contender even with Girard gone.
Right now COL would have to use Girard to fleece a team like LAK who has infinite RD and in need of a LD like Girard.
Girard deal would have to be a 3 way deal to make the cap work but doable
I could see COL/LAK and MTL doing a 3 way deal
COL could get Durzi a top RD prospect who's primarily a PP player with a lot of his production coming there and with Doughty down stepped into top minutes in the final stretch into the playoffs.
LAK could get Girard the missing piece they covet.
MTL could take on Roy or Walker to fill their RD needs while clearing most of the cap they need. Lizzotte or Lemieux would likely need to go to COL
It also create's more room for Clarke and Spence with Durzi and Walker gone.
LAK are a stronger team after this as are the COL
MTL its questionable but we got a RD who's injury prone to fill a void during a rebuild if we get Walker.
If we get Roy then we got our Petry replacment on 2nd pair and 2nd PP unit.
That would solve all the problems for COL for a few years atleast until Durzi needs paid.
Even then if he works out half as well as i think he will as a PP dominant player on the PP dominant team then COL will have 4/4 top D able to play big minutes in various roles