Cole will not be paid 4M/yr next year. If i had to guess, it would be under 2, giving the Soucy Cole duo an AAV of 4.5M-4.75M vs. Dumba's 6M. If we replace Cole and Soucy with Menell and Addison, we still have to pay them- probably about 2M for both. So we'd save 2.5-2.75M on the third pairing.Here's a crazy idea to help with cap space: maybe don't put over $6m on the third pairing. Let Cole walk and trade/lose Soucy to SEA. Play both Menell and Addison on the third pair. Saves the same amount of cap space without significantly downgrading.
By replacing Dumba with Menell/Addison, we'd save 5M in cap, for a net saving of about 2.5M.
What lineup would you rather have?
Suter Spurgeon
Brodin Dumba
Menell Addison
-two small, offensive RHD rookies, making for 4 RHD
- this lineup cost us 2.5M more
or
Suter Spurgeon
Brodin Menell
Soucy Addison
- saves 2.5M
- balance of size and skill
- balance of LD and RD
Completely as an aside, I am not in favor re-signing Cole, unless it's a really low AAV, and for no more than 2 yrs. He is getting way up there in age.