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Not saying it would be all these exact players, Pavel, Foudy, Johnson, Behrens, Malinski, ect all could be swapped around others in that same rookie/affordable vet type player -- depending on how his season ends Annunen at 1.25 might be a bit rich -- or if he gets playoff games might be low --- and in general the bottom of the lineup contracts are more just placeholders.
But this leaves you with 4-5 million in cap space depending on how you construct the bottom of the roster. This exact roster totals 83,288,750.
The big hole there of course is needing to fit in Mittelstadt into that. The last few weeks here and the playoffs are going to shape out where he comes in at. Can you get him on a 2 year 5-5.5 million dollar deal -- do you want to risk/do that and walk him to UFA where he will likely leave for a big payday elsewhere? If that is the route, I would move Wood for a cheaper option - maybe Richie is ready for the NHL, or another of the Avs forward prospects. Kovalenko probably takes Wood's spot on the 3rd line next year anyways? Moving Wood would clear you 1.5-1.7 more in cap space depending on the cost of the player replacing him on the roster. Again, depending on the roster build, you are around 5.5-7 million in cap space.
If you believe in Ritchie as the future and/or just want to ice the most competitive roster you can in the moment, you shape the Mittelstadt contract to be as affordable as possible for the now and are resigned to letting that asset walk eventually -- or hell maybe trading him after next season.
Deadline next year you once again go shopping for depth players to upgrade around the bottom of the roster as needed.