I haven't looked too closely at the numbers, assuming Holtby is gone and the raises others are due, but I figured that they would let Gudas go without making an offer, but try to re-sign Dillon. I think he is their answer to a stable veteran, just in case all that youth isn't ready next year.
With all that said, I'm not sure what kind of raise he would ordinarily be due, and no one knows quite what the pandemic-related aftershocks are going to do to salaries for middle-tier, non-stars with two years of flat cap and a slight increase the year afterwards. A lot of players could be looking at very short deals, when otherwise they would be seeking four to five years.
My default assumption is that players will be looking for stability and low-risk options. That may be all wrong, though. Predictions right now are based on a whole lot of nothing.
Generally, I'm in favor of promoting the kids who are ready to shoulder the burden, but having a veteran in case too many of them faceplant out of the gate. Hopefully Alexeev and Fehervary shine and take top-six roles... but you probably can't bank on that if you are a contending club.
