So I assume we'll see the market pick back up again now with a season looking to be forthcoming. What's everyone's final guess for what we end up doing?
I'm going to go with us taking one or both of Killorn/Johnson for a mid-round pick from Tampa.
Once there's for sure a season, you'll start seeing the teams that are over the cap move to become cap compliant. If there wasn't going to be a season, they'd of held out hoping for more favorable circumstances. No clue what happens though.
There are 10 teams over the cap:
Arizona - 2.77M over the cap on a 22 man roster. will be under the cap once Hossa goes to LTIR
Tampa - 1.9M over the cap on a 19 man roster. 2 high profile RFAs to sign (Cernak and Cirelli)
Canucks - 1.5M over the cap with a full roster. Could probably cut to a 21 player roster if absolutely needed.
Blues - 1.1M over the cap with Vince Dunn as RFA and a 21 man roster. Will have to make a move dependent on the health of Tarasenko and Steen.
Leafs - 1.05M over the cap with a full roster. Could become compliant by burying a contract over that or by trimming down to 21.
Capitals - 1M over the cap on a 21 man roster. Something will have to give here.
Vegas - Same issue as Capitals. 1M over with a 21 man roster.
Ducks - 1M over but will be fine once Kesler goes to IR
Jets - 700K over with Roslovic as a RFA. Will have to make a move dependent on the health of Little.
Oilers - 200K over with Bear left to sign. Klefbom is probably going to be out a chunk of the season so they'll probably be ok as is
At the cap (13 teams)
Stars - 250K space with a full roster
Canadiens - 380K space on a 21 man roster
Hurricanes - 930K space on a 22 man roster
Flames - 1M space on a 21 man roster and Kylington as RFA
Penguins - 1.3M space on a full roster
Avs - 1.8M space on a 20 man roster. Kamanev as RFA.
Sharks - 2.3M space with a full roster
Wild - 2.7M space with a 22 man roster
Bruins - 2.9M space on a 21 man roster
Buffalo - 3.495M space on a 21 man roster
Islanders - 3.9M space on a 20 man roster - Barzal left to sign but Boychuk going to LTIR so Barzal likely signs after that paperwork is done. Likely not alot of space left once roster is filled out.
Flyers - 4.8M on a 19 man roster - Myers left as a RFA. Likely not alot of space left once roster is filled out.
Blackhawks - 5.2M in space on a 20 man roster. D. Strome as a RFA. Likely not alot of space left once roster is filled out.
Teams with some spending money (8 teams)
Rangers - 4.8M in space with a full roster - may want to keep this as a bonus cushion though
Panthers - 8.3M in space on a 19 man roster
Columbus - 9.2M in space on a 22 man roster. Dubois left to sign which should eat half of this space atleast
Detroit - 9.5M in space on a 22 man roster
Senators - 12.5M in space on a 22 man roster
Predators - 12.9M in space on a 19 man roster. Kunin as RFA
Kings - 13.6M in space on a 19 man roster
Devils - 17.2M in space on a 16 man roster. Bratt and Blackwood as RFAs
There's alot of shuffling that is going to be needed. I expect some LTIR players to be dealt to gain some capspace for some of these teams over the cap. That said.... there aren't really many teams that can accept a full on expensive player like Tyler Johnson without having to purge their own cap somewhere.