This need to come with an extension or otherwise it makes no sense for Colombus

I agree, Columbus has like 35 million in cap space next season. Most of their RFAs won't be due for big raises so they should be able to figure something out.

They have $23.5M in space and a whole bunch of RFAs due and potentially for big money...

I didn't see Werenski's cap hit buried down in LTIR when I looked. Who do you picture getting big raises? Other then Kent Johnson I don't think there will be anyone else getting a really big contract.

Marchenko

Depends on what we call big. If $2M+ is big then I think KJ, Marchenko, Sillinger, Texier, and Chinakhov could all get that much or more. If we're talking $4M+ then KJ and Marchenko could definitely land deals that big if the team decides to go long term with them.

He only has half a season of NHL experience. He did score a lot in small sample size and limited minutes. I figured he'd get a bridge deal in the 3-4M range unless he has one hell of a season.

He played 59 games and most of those were on the top line and top PP. If he goes out and scores 30+ this year he could easily be in line for something like a 5x6 or bigger contract.

Texier and Chinikhov would have to have huge breakout seasons to get 2M+. Sillinger isn't on the team in my trade proposal so his raise wouldn't matter.

Chinkahov was on pace for 35 points last year and Texier was on pace for 45 before he went back to europe to be with his family. It wouldn't take a whole lot of progress from there for them to both be $3M+ players. These guys are all reaching the age where significant steps forward in production are expected. When you look at comparable guys in the 30-50 point range, $2.5-4.5M is the zone guys at this age and production level fall into.