Our Cap space is rediculous right now given (cheap) youth is ready to play. I spiked this up on CapFriendly including resigning McMichael and Beck. I probably have them low, especially McMichael who is now playing himself into a contract more like Protas (or higher). But even with these signings we have $13M in cap space. I’m just not sure where i would send. And do you keep Miro up next year? Does Leonard come to WSH? Does Oshie LTIRetire?
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Protas contract is weird because it's 5 years. I'm not sure McMichael comes in at 2.5 but I'm also fairly sure he would be better off signing a short bridge than giving them 5 years at whatever amount. I'm really speculating but Protas seems like a guy with very little pedigree who went from mid-round pick to a guy with the opportunity to earn a few million a year and took it, even if it means trading some valuable years in the process, and is kind of just happy to be here and not concerned with what others are making because the extra few million is already gravy to the guy.
Conrad McManus... maybe the team is just slow but McMichael put on some serious wheels this year and looks like he's still building, if I were him I'd maybe think about a 2 year bridge and an opportunity to prove myself. I once called him an IQ player who seems to take time at every level to figure out how to get away with the things he wants to do, but once that pops he just "gets it". It hasn't fully popped at the NHL level yet, so in response he's added to his tools and seen some strong improvements...
I wouldn't be surprised if a 2 year bridge wouldn't both give him a little security and also let him beef up the rest of his game. It seems to me like his IQ is catching up to what he can do, and we've certainly seen him taking more risks and making fancy touches in the later parts of this season... next year could be a big one and a 2 year seems like the perfect window for them to see what's what for both parties. If he doesn't fully open up by then they can still try for a lockdown contract with term on an offensive 3C, and if he does they negotiate in good faith.