Quoting: BeautifulIdiot
"This is just to show it’s possible obviously there will be more moves than this but retaining Horvat and kuzmenko is not that hard. Requires one dump"
I respectfully disagree, I think that it will take more, I think that if horvat gets 40 goals, and takes the most draws in the league and wins almost 60% he is going to command at least 8x8, and Kuzmenko will probably be a 60 point guy and usually 60 point guys get about 6x6. thats 14M for the 2 guys and then you have to sign Bear, Hog, Dermott, and still upgrade the blueline. I think we need to start to monitize wingers starting this deadline. it sucks to say but I think that if we can get cost certainty this spring on the two bug UFA's then we keep them, but if not, trade them and dont look back
Anders lee scored 40 goals in 2018-2019, 7th in the league and more than captain John Tavares. Then Tavares walked for Toronto and lee was named captain. Then he signed for 8.59% of the cap. Very comprable to Horvat in terms of leadership, goal scoring, and age.
For kuzmenko, Hyman came of back to back 60 point pace seasons signed 5.5 x 7. Burakovsky had a 61 point season and Seattle signed him 5.5 x 5. Ryan Strome scored at or close to a 60 point pace 3 years in a row and signed 5x5. Mason marchment scored 47 points in 54 games and got 4.5 x 4. Heck, Mikheyev scored a 32 goal, 50 point pace last year while being a very good defensive player and he got 4.75x4.
5.5 x 4 for a player with little track record and 60ish points is right in line with comps. If he breaks 70 maybe we see 6
Imo you’re over estimating what the cost will be. Reminds of when people said petey could break 11 million in a long term deal, or that miller will sign the zibenajad deal, or Boeser won’t sign for less than his qualifying rate.