A few thoughts. One, I don't think we will buy anyone out. As others have pointed out, there is a lot of cap space compared to other teams. And the budget has always been set below the cap max anyways. So a buyout won't be necessary. But if they do decide to buy someone out anyways, it won't be helpful in terms of fitting in more salary. I'm pretty sure that the buyout dollars would count toward the internal budget. Because that's the point of a budget in the first place, to control dollars spent.
Two, the way I see it with the budget and Samueli, I think that he seems flexible on budget occasionally when it involves "his guys." Basically the few guys who they feel loyal to fit some reason. I'm thinking specifically of Niedermayer and Selanne. Burke was allowed to go significantly over budget to keep those two in the fold in 2007. But if you subtract the salaries of those two, then they actually held pretty close to the budget. My interpretation is that Burke was allowed to build his team to the budget, then when those two decided to come back, Burke was given the green light to spend over the budget to stay loyal to them. So if they decide that Getzlaf and Perry are worth that kind of loyalty, then I think the GM would be allowed to spend too keep them.
Three, and I keep coming back to this, but if push came to shove I still think that Ryan would be moved and Perry kept. Assuming he wants to stay if course. It just seems that all this time the team seems to favor those two over Ryan for whatever reason.
Just kiddin'.
