I too think it's more thank likely that the CAP approaches 82 million next year. I think you can afford to pay Nylander 7, Marner 8.5 and Matthews 10.5... Worst case scenario, it costs you a couple assets to move the last year of Marleau's 6.25 million. Let's face it, I love the guy, but he has posted 3 straight seasons under 50 points, while playing 82 games in each season. I think you could get 85% of that out of someone else, at half of that cap hit. Toronto is going to score plenty. Matthews and Nylander are going up in production as they develop, regardless who is on their wing (they were studs with Zach friggen Hyman). The same is true with Marner and Tavares. Anybody with decent top 9 skill, who can skate, is going to be productive on that line... For me, assuming an $82 million cap next year, the roster ought to feature no fewer than 3 forwards, possibly 4, on their ELC deals, a re-signed Gardiner at $6.5 (using Marleau's money) and there is still enough to give Matthews $10, Marner $8, and Nylander $7.... It's tight, but I ran the numbers twice, including small raises to others who are up for one, and a younger version of Hainsey on a $3.5 million deal or less, and I made it in just under $82.