I would think long and hard before paying Ullmark 6 mill a year from age 32-38

Listen, we’re never gonna find the perfect answer. Askarov and Knight are too big of gambles for a team that’s ready to cup contender in the coming years. We need a goalie NOW. Ullmark will give us 4-5 good years and hopefully a Cup in that time

I think we’d have to see what he looks like at that time. But I just really worry that a bad and big goalie contract could be what stops this from being a real dynasty, although you could argue not having a goalie stops that too. I think I’d go 6 mill x 3 years. Hopefully we’d have already won a cup and he’d take a discount on term to stay. Maybe even 6.5 to get him to take it. That’s 33-35, which is iffy but not through 38 which almost guarantees it as a disastwr

When Ullmark is up, I probably wouldn't go longer than 4 years. The market is gonna market, but if you are offering 6x4m, then unless he won you a cup prior to his contract expiring then I don't think he'd get too much more as a 32 year old. Assuming he didn't win already, he'll be at that age where guys will take a little less to play for a contender and hopefully win a cup.

True. That’d be okay with me

Calgary likely wants a little more. (2nd-3rd round pick or prospect). But idk

1st for Toffoli works. But toffoli has to be 50% retained for it to work.

No way they don't lock up Luke Hughes for 8 years at something above 8 million and then you need another 8 million minimum available the year after this to resign Nemec longterm. if you don't, they'll both be over 10 by the end of their bridges and the window officially closes. Also, Mercer will likely end up around 6.5 and Holtz should be in the 4 million range if he gets the ice time he deserves. All in, there's very likely around 6 million that you likely need to account for at this season.

The only one I’ll most likely agree with you on is Luke. I do think there’s a chance he signs an 8 year deal off his ELC, but I also believe they go this route for 2 reasons:

1) The obvious reason is that it saves you 2-3m for 4 years. Those 4 years are prime contending years when you wanna add as much as possible to the roster

2) If Luke signs this deal, his contract expires a year BEFORE Jack becomes a UFA. This can be a strategic move by the Devils. At that point, you offer Luke an 8 year deal most likely in the 10m range which almost guarantees that Jack signs an 8 year extension as well the following year. We’d then have Jack signed until he’s 36 and Luke until he’s 34.

Moving onto Nemec, there’s no one that loves him game more than me, but idt he’s ever gonna be someone that gets a 9+m deal. I can see 7m maybe like Devon Toews or Hanifin like I listed here.

Mercer I think they’re gonna bridge this summer on a 3 year deal to sync up to Palat’s expiration. Mercer, Palat, and Hischier all expire at the same time. Palat’s 6m will be spread to cover their extensions and should have some left over. Nico will likely be around 9m and Mercer will be around 6m.

Holtz is also bridged similar to what the Rangers did with Lafrenière and Kakko. Allows us to add more. With Gritsyuk coming over in 25-26, a Holtz move could be possible as well as much as I wouldn’t like that

Don't hate the deal for Boston, but I don't love it either