Guys, please stop.
A very sober Eugene Melnyk, maybe a few months ago, talked about the internal budget and offered a few very valid points that most people have not heard or just refuse to believe. Although I have had a hard time with some of Euge's comments in the past, I find these points, in a sense justify being cheap to some extent.
Mika Zibanejad, Alex Chiasson, Mike Hoffman, JGP and Mark Stone are ALL RFA's next season. Also to note is that these guys are some of our best players.
So if..
Mika signs for 3.5ish, Chiasson for maybe 2.5-3, Mike Hoffman for 3.5-4, JGP for 3ish and Mark Stone for around 3.5 (if you want to argue potential salaries please dont, but my point will still probably stand),
That means that anywhere from basically between 15 and 18 million dollars would be added to our cap for next season. 55+15=70. Cap is projected around 73.
Then there is also Condra and Methot. Methot who, if he stays will likely be signing for 4.5-5.5, and Condra who if he doesn't get at least 2, will probably sign somewhere else. So best case scenario in terms of cheapest contracts would be another 6.5.
70+6.5=76.5
So we all know this is an impossibility. If anything, this is indicative of how well prepared we are for the future. Right now we literally have to trade 2 of our RFA's, and as Murray indicated in a recent interview, he wants another star.
Anyways it is obvious something will have to give, but be rest assured, we will be spending.
Another valid point Uncle Euge made was, "spend money on what?". Signing marginal UFA's in most cases is just a terrible call. Yeah I would of liked Pouliot too, but would any of you actually pay him 5.5? Clarkson? These deals are terrible, and who actually worth signing did we miss?
Toronto is an example of what happens when you decide that throwing money at the wall is going to win you games.
So all of this said, don't worry about the budget. he has no choice but to spend. The future at 55-60 mill a year is just not a possibility. Go Sens.