It’s more concern about kids taking the next step and requiring bigger contracts but we give out NMCs like candy.
I know but I don't see the crunch necassarily.
Even if they do take giant steps we have 24 M now and about 50 M the season after that when Kakko, VK, Fox are all due
Lindgren, Chytil, Kakko and VK. Will they even be getting 4 or 5 M? Maybe that's where I'm missing. Like what could they realistically be getting with pretty much no consistent scoring ability shown so far? Realistically, we can expect all three guys to get around 30-40 points in an 82 game season... maybe?
Fox I assume around 8 M give or take 1.5 M
Shesty prob gets locked up like Hank after his ELC to the tune of 7-8 M
Buch around what Kreider is making, give or take 1 M.
That leaves a good 15-25 M depending on if we keep all of them, let one or two guys go, etc.
Zib and Strome are already making a combined 10 M so boot Strome and just fold that into Mika. No net gain. If you give Mika 10 or 11 maybe he signs for 3 years so you can keep him if the kids don't take off like rockets. You can buy him out the final season to buy room (if needed). You can trade Kreider by then. I think you can trade trouba by then too.