Quoting: DFinn91
Blackwood is younger and cheaper than Anderson. He also probably puts up better numbers than Anderson behind the Canes D.
I agree Orlov is better than Ferraro. But is he $4M per year better? Do you really want a $7M 3rd pair LD? Also, Ferraro is younger and has term at a good AAV.
Believe it or not but cap space, which Carolina is gaining a ton of here, does have value. Especially when you’re a team like Carolina in win now mode with a ton of important UFAs and RFAs.
Andersen's better than Blackwood. Blackwood was good this year, but this isn't close. Even if we ignore base stats and look at GSAx, Freddie dominates Blackwoo.
Orlov's not going to be third pairing next year, he'd be second pairing, and he's the idol of Alexander Nikishin. It's worth 4 mill more a year to get Nikishin across, especially because Orlov is 4 million a year better than Ferraro.
Carolina have 30 million in cap space, they can keep most of the payers they need to around. Guentzel, Necas, Jarvis, Pesce... there's space for all of them. Skjei is not needed with Orlov here. Only Teuvo may walk who stings, but guys like Nadeau, Blake, Unger Sorum replace that. Carolina don't need to get fleeced like this for cap space. Would just rather keep Morrow.