I really don't think we can sign more than 1-2 free agents this season. Somewhat because of cap space, but mostly because of roster space. We'll have about 17 million to play with if the cap rises to 70m as rumored, but how much of that do we actually want to spend? We don't want to spend just to get to the cap, there has to be players worth it and spaces available. Looking at what we have guaranteed for next season:
Parise - Koivu - _____
_____ - _____ - Pominville
Cooke - _____ - _____
_____ - Brodziak - Mitchell
x Coyle, Granlund, Haula in whatever spots available.
Nino needs a raise. Unless he explodes, his current 40-50p projected season probably puts him at maximum around 3.5m a season for hopefully for like 4-5 seasons. Fontaine? Who knows. I could see him brought back for like 1-2m but I'm not sure if he thinks he deserves more
. Stoner probably 1.5m.
Zucker and Kuemper are wild cards. Kuemper will probably do a maximum 2-way deal. Zucker is a total mystery to me. I have no idea what is going to happen. He clearly believes he is ready for the NHL and will want a one way, but who knows. Maybe a 2-way for a year and then 1-way afterwards is an option.
So(pessimistically) Vanek(7.5) + Nino(3.5) + Stoner (1.5) = 12.5, leaving us with about 5.5 to sign Zucker, Fontaine, and Kuemper. And we don't know if the cap will go up at all the season after so we might have to actually keep that 5.5 in space.
Anyway, my ideal lineup for next season would be:
Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Vanek - Granlund - Pominville
Cooke - Haula - Nino
____ - Brodziak - Mitchell
Suter - Brodin
Orpik - Ballard
Scandella - Spurgeon
Somehow steal Sobotka away from St Louis to plug into that 4th line spot, sign Orpik for 3m/yr for two years, and our team would be solid from top to bottom, IMO.
So here's a question, are you/we comfortable giving Brodin a 7-8 year extension after only 1 1/2 years in the NHL?
My thinking is, if they can do it after this year (let's just say that he finishes with 25-30 points), perhaps we could get a lower per year average (maybe ~ $5m) vs. waiting and taking the chance that he puts up 40+ points next year, which would probably add $1m-$1.5m to the average. He wouldn't have "earned" that contract quite yet, so it would be a bit of a risk on our part. But, as continues to improve and the cap increases, the last 3-4 years could exceptionally under market value.
Also, it would clarify one of the bigger cap variables going forward, and allow us to better know what we can really spend in free agency this summer.
Or do we try to get something done in the 4-5 year range?
Thoughts?
Signing Brodin to an 8 year deal that would take him until he is, what, 29? That would take him straight to free agency at, presumably, the prime of his career. There are some positives for sure, but holy **** that could go really bad.
Personally, I want to take him to a bridge deal until his last RFA year is what I would do. If he wins a Norris and costs us 8-9m a year at that point, than screw it we've got a Norris winner and he deserves it. Sign him for another 7-8 years from there, taking him until he is 34-35 or whatever.
It seems a
lot less risky, IMO.
