Trading what I can I add some vets who can play and be traded at the deadline to playoff teams for picks on prospects. That includes; Hagelan, Beagle, Lehtonen, and Halak. In doing so I help teams struggling with the Cap and pick up some picks and prospects: Faksa, Kuhnhackl, Johns, Dal Colle.
I have cap room, so I sign Jagr for whatever he likes, which should sell seats, and he should still be able to put up 40 pts a season. I have cap space to chase more vets who have yet to sign, but also don't needed to, as I think this team can push some games to make the fans happy, but also finish with a lotto pick. I'd consider dumping more salaries now (Neals $5m) in favor of signing a few vets (Like Zolnierczyk, Oduya and Liles at under $2m) for deadline time. If I do not they might be FA looking to get signed, rather then teams looking to trade with my team. I'd even talk to Chicago about signing Oduya specifically to trade him back to them IF they needed him for a min price of a 5th or 6th pick.
By the deadline I'm looking to move Beagle, Lehtonen and/or Halak, Neal, Bellemare, Sbisa, Stoner, and Engelland (who can be signed back in off season) all for picks and prospects. Hagelan has another year, so he's on the market but I don't feel he NEEDs to go, especially if keeps me from moving another player. If I can only move half these players and they walk as UFA, I'm fine with that because I have cap space to save teams next year as well and still retain enough to please the fans with a strong effort on the ice.
I moved Fluery to a team that needs him, as Vegas isn't going to be in the playoffs the next 2 years. Better to get for him now, and then get more for what you get for him down the road. It's double dipping.
Pickard (RFA) is my goalie for the foreseeable future, unless someone wants to over pay me for him. He will split time with Halak and Lehtonen. Either can be moved to teams with broken goalies and I can absorb as much of their contracts as needed. I have $5m in cap space to let me additional absorb cap hits for teams while taking their prospects and picks. If that means trading Neal and retaining the max, I'm OK to do that.
Marchessault MUST go before reaching UFA, which shouldn't be to much of problem. I still would like him to start the season, unless I get a deal coming to me. I could see a team in Cap trouble giving some value for him at his salary, and then hoping to sign him back, maybe after dumping salaries, and absorbing salaries is my business in Vegas for the next few years.
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Shipachyov,
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