Assuming they lose the lottery:
1. McCann to Buffalo for Montour, re-sign Montour for 3 years at $3.5 million AAV
2. Murray and JJ (with salary retained to make it work) to Ottawa for Brown and Nilsson, re-sign Brown for 4 years at $3.5 million AAV
3. Hornqvist to Nashville for Sissons
4. Bjugstad to Edmonton for Russell (this deal is to solely give POJ more time before rushing him into the NHL)
5. Re-sign Sheary for 2 years at $2.5 million (if you can come up with a better playmaking 3rd line RW, I'm all ears but I can't think of anyone), Simon for 1 year at $1 million, Lafferty for 2 years at $800k and Jarry for 2 years at $2.5 million
Guentel-Crosby-Brown
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Poulin-Blueger-Sheary
ZAR-Sissons-Tanev
Lafferty-Simon
Dumoulin-Marino
Pettersson-Letang
Russell-Montour
Ruhwedel
Jarry-Nilsson
This lineup falls at $79.1 million plus whatever money you're retaining on JJ. You can cut some money here by trying to get someone cheaper than Russell in a swap for Bjugstad, paying more to not retain on JJ, signing a different playmaking winger than Sheary for less money or trying to flip Nilsson to someone else.
1. Yes, please. But I don't think Montour signs for that cheap. I've got him around $4.5m.
2. Maybe? And I think Brown gets slightly more than that.
3. Nashville, based on HFB, doesn't want Horny back unless they come out with cap space.
4. Yeah, he's a bit better than JJ. Fits the "battle" that some people want to see. And can play both sides. I'm not opposed.
5. Sure.
My drunk ArmchairGM:
1. McCann for Montour. Montour signs for 3 years at $4.5m
2. Letang and Legare for Cam Fowler. This is THE shake up trade. Anaheim does this to get out of a longer term contract and to clear cap space in the near future.
3. JJ with 20% retained to whoever.
4. Buyout Bjugstad, even though I know the Pens don't do this but I'm drunk so whatev.
5. Murray to Toronto for Zach Hyman and a 2020 2nd.
6. The Hurricanes sign Lehner and need to get rid of a goalie. The Pens acquire Reimer for 50% for Riikola and that Toronto 2nd.
7. Re-sign the following: Simon for a year at $1.5m; Lafferty, Angello, and Miletic for two years at $750k; Jarry for 2 years at $2.25m
8. Sign these UFAs: Erik Haula for 5 years at $4.5m; Jon Merrill for 2 years at $2.5m (he can play both sides)
Zucker-Crosby-Hyman
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-Haula-Hornqvist
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev
Lafferty
Dumoulin-Marino
Fowler-Merrill
Pettersson-Montour
Ruhwedel
Jarry-Reimer
That leaves $174k in space.
You could afford a 23rd roster player if you don't buyout Bjugstad or retain on JJ. POJ to be called up when injuries occur.
BTW, I asked the Detroit board if they'd be up for a Bowey and Riikola swap. The only response I got was "yes".