Joined: May 2015
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1 Joseph sent to Bel. Agreed.
2 Greig to Bel also - Call up cheaper player on league min contract like Imama to save as much cap as possible. (Greig can be first call up for injury though/ when someone is traded)
3 Sign Pinto to a cheap 1 year deal. Give him more next year when cap goes up. He has so little leverage here. Dorion wants to give him a higher contract but literally can't. He's holding out as long as possible but will sign eventually to whatever Dorion can really offer but as short term as possible. With the cap going up next year, he'll easily make up the cash on next years contract anyway. He's holding out only in the off chance a trade happens that opens up cap space for Dorion to offer more money to him but come Oct 11, he's signing whatever he can. Missing time over 750K-1M right now would be a massive L for his camp.
4 Accrue cap space as much as possible while attempting to move Joseph without the pressure of the start of the season cap ceiling.
5 Run 11-7 until injuries inevitably happen to a higher price guy and then you can restructure the lineup a little at that point. Hopefully by that time Joseph is moved though.
Its super tight but its been done before. They'll need a little luck to get it all done but its totally doable. There is always a chance someone gets hurt in camp/preseason and then can be moved to LTIR to start the year. I know we all want the quick resolution to the issue but in reality there are a lot of options here. I guarantee Pinto will be on the opening night roster or very shortly after AND the team will be compliant to start the year.