Here me out....
1. Fire Therrien and his assistants including Lefebvre in AHL, Martin Lapointe, Scott Mellaby.
2. Fire my assistant GMs in place Bergervin's regime.
2. Fire Trevor Timmins and his scouts.
3. Hire a new coach, hire Larry Robinson as consultant.
4. Hire Chicago's head scout
5. Keep Stephanie Waite
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6. Trade Markov, Plekanec, Desharnais, Gilbert, DSP, Fleischmann, Scrivens for prospects and draft picks.
7. Trade Nathan Beaulieu and Sven Andrighetto for Jonathan Drouin.
8. If we don't pick 1st overall, trade our top 5 and some picks to move up to #1 overall.
9. Draft Auston Matthews.
10. Sign Andrew Ladd to $6 mil/5 yrs
11. Sign David Backes to $6 mil/4 yrs
12. Sign Brian Campbell $3.5 mil/2 yrs
13. Sign Matt Bartkowski $2 mil/2 yrs
14. Trade Eller to CLB for Dalton Prout and 2nd round pick.
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Pacioretty ($4.5m) - Backes ($6m) - Gallagher ($3.75m) =$14.25m
Galchenyuk ($2.8m) - Matthews ($975k) - Drouin ($894k) = $4.67m
Ladd ($6m) - Mitchell ($1.2m) - Weise ($2m) = $9.2m
Carr ($842k) - deLaRose ($925k) - Flynn ($950k) =$2.71m
Scherbak/McCarron ($894k) = $1.78m
Forwards: $32.61m
Campbell ($3.5m) - Subban ($9m) = $12.5m
Emelin ($4.2m) - Petry ($5.5m) = $9.7m
Bartkowski ($2m) - Prout ($1m) = $3m
Pateryn ($800k)
Defense: $26m
Price ($6.5m)
Condon ($575k)
Goalies: $7.07m
Total: $65.68m (cap $71.4 million) probably use some to retain Markov/Plekanec in trades.
I'm not aiming for top players as they may or may not work out and we don't want to be stuck with $10 mil player. I like leadership players, playoff players, physical players, fast skating players. Backes, Ladd, Campbell, Bartkowski, Prout, to some extent Drouin. Mostly the three Backes/Ladd/Campbell will change the dynamic of this team toward a North American style (no offense to Markov/Plekanec/Eller).
I think Pacioretty-Backes-Gallagher line will work because we all know Patches is a perimeter shooter now, Backes and Gallgher will find those dirty goals in front of the net. Backes wins about 54-55% faceoffs.
Galchenyuk-Matthews-Drouin line is a mystery line. Matthews (if we get him) is an excellent playmaker, Galchenyuk loves to snipe and Drouin is highly skilled. If Drouin doesn't work out, we try Ladd-Matthews-Galchenyuk. If we don't get Matthews, its Drouin-Galchenyuk-Top5 pick (Laine, Puljujarvi, Tkachuk). If we don't get Drouin, then Ladd-Galchenyuk-Top5 pick (Laine, Puljujarvi, Tkachuk).
Ladd-Mitchell-Weise line is an expensive 3rd line. I love Ladd's game, he can play top 6 or bottom 6. I like his leadership, along with Backes/Campbell will change this team's dynamic). Weise can chip in 10 goals.
Carr-deLaRose-Flynn line will surprise us. Carr isn't really a 4th liner but he'll get his chance to play top 6, or on 3rd line. DLR-Flynn bring size, speed and defensive game.
Campbell-Subban unlike Markov, Campbell can still skate and with his age, I think some teams will overlook and we can get discount at $3.5m. Campbell is still a very good passer and Subban would love that 1-timer play with Campbell.
Emelin-Petry well I think they play very well together.
Bartkowski-Prout is new, Bart can move the puck well and Prout is a big stay at home defenseman. If he doesn't work out Pateryn moves in. Low risk high reward bottom guys.
Price-Condon well if Price is health, he will carry this team.