Quoting: OldHabsFan61
It’s a free buyout until 2025 and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Drury look at it that way. However, it’s 6 seasons of cap hits after that. It’s a decent contract to buyout but giving away that Dallas first to move the whole contractor the long haul isn’t a lot to pay. It’s a late 1st, trey usually aren’t anything special. Would you give away Ryan Poehling to move that whole contract? That’s the kind of player you usually get in that range.
I mean late firsts absolutely can be NHL players. K'andre Miller is a late first, Chytil is a late first.
This is also one of the best drafts in NHL history. Not giving up a late first in this draft.
Also its 6 years of cap hits of like 1.5 million, as the cap continues to climb, that will be absolutely nothing. If you lock the kids up, you have to time it so you lock miller and chytil now,
Then you bridge laf so that he gets paid as panarin's deal comes off, he gets that money if he's earned it.
Then you lock kakko up with the money coming free with the cap bump in 24.
You have miller locked up now,
You bridge Schneider so that he gets troubas money when that expires.
You now have a top 9 and a top 4 locked for years, and only need to bring in 4th liners and 3LD on the cheap. And as the cap rises you get to acquire more talent.
You also have developing kids who will come in and earn spots and give the team even more flexibility.