Speculation: 2021 Big UFAs: Who to keep?

[HABitual Fan]

Gallagher 5yrs @ 6.0M (raise of 2.25M)
Danault 5 yrs @ 4.75-5.25M (raise of 1.75-2.25M)
Tatar 2 yrs @ 5.5M (raise of 700k)
Armia 2 yrs @ 2.9M (raise of 300k)
Lehkonen 2yrs @ 2.6k (raise of 200k)

That would be 5.2-5.7M in additional salary.

Alzner comes down 2M.
Allen to Primeau saves 3.5 or Allen takes a backup goalie salary.
Weal to Evans saves 650k

If Kotkaniemi overachieves and gets a big contract then you definitely have to move one of these guys or Byron.

If next offseason is like this one, I think with 18M of cap space you will get much better players for the 17M you budgeted for Gallagher,Tatar and Danault. If Suzuki and KK show they can handle centering the top two lines, you can find a 3rd line center for way below the 5.25 you want to give Danault. Teams shifted to getting cap compliant this year, but next year when they need to sign their other players, I believe it will lower trade costs even more from this season, the same for UFA prices. Let them all walk if you have better options.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[ahmedou]