I will collect in here, what is the whole total of FREE CAP SPACE in NHL. How much there is total space for rest of the free agents. Is there even enough? And how this weaponized cap space could favor us, if we are the rare only team negoating for cap dump -bargains.
(fast look on capfriendly)
Arizona - 0 (only technically over by ~2.8M, thanks to "fake" Hossa caphit. Probably a complete team, Grabner buyout already did their thing.)
Vancouver - 0 (over by 1.5M. Complete 23-man team. Have to load that salary out, or use 21-man roster as a desperate move and bury 2 players. Wait for an injury, and create LTIR situation, whatever.)
St. Louis - 0 (over by 1.1M already + Vince Dunn getting ~2.5M extension. Using already Tarasenko and Steen on LTIR. Don't know are they full seasonal situations or not. Looks pretty bad anyhow.)
Toronto - 0 (1.0M over with complete 23/23 man team. Think they are set, just go with 22-man team.)
Washington - 0 (over by 1M with 21/23 man roster. Too many defencemen, trading either Kempny or Jensen will solve the cap for forward slots. Kempny currently injured for 6 months, also LTIR could do the thing.
Vegas - 0 (900k over with 21/23 man roster. Has to shed something like 2-3M out to open 1-2 extra spots and get under.)
Anaheim - 0 (over only by 1M with 22/23 man roster, but has 6M Kesler on LTIR. so basicly could have 4M cap space. Has had internal money cap in the past, so maybe not taking anything extra. Complete team.
Winnipeg - 0 (700k over without Roslovic and Niku extensions, with 22 man roster. Using already Little LTIR cap space, probably a complete team. Could use extra 3M, if Little LTIR is full used.
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Montreal - 300k cap space with 21/23 man roster = basicly also ZERO cap space.
Edmonton - 700k cap space with 22/23 man roster = basicly ZERO cap space.
Calgary - 1.0M cap space with 21/23 man roster = basicly ZERO cap space.
Colorado - 1.8M cap space with 20/23 man roster = basicly ZERO cap space.
Tampa Bay - 2.9M cap space with 18/23 man roster = basicly ZERO cap space, and over the cap with estimated contracts by 8-10 Million.
NY Islanders - 8.9M cap space with 20/23 man roster = basicly ZERO cap space, Mathew Barzal+Ryan Pulock are gonna take 11M at minimum, and then they're over the cap at least with 2M, probably more.
NY Rangers - 10.8M cap space with 20/23 man roster = Ryan Strome will proably be re-signed for ~5M. Rest of the cap space goes for 1+1M extra guys, plus, letting space for Lafreniere+Sesterkin rookie bonuses. So there's basicly ZERO cap space, to avoid cap problems next year (thanks to those bonuses). These kids are so good that they are gonna get them. That's the reason they already traded Staal for cap space.
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Dallas - 4.0M cap space with 21/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space, but Roope Hintz deal (2-4M) missing and rest could be saved for Miro Heiskanen rookie bonuses. Basicly ZERO space.
Carolina - 4.3M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space, but unsigned Warren Foegele+Haydn Fleury could get 3-4M combined. Maybe ZERO space.
Philadelphia - 4.8M cap space with 19/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space, but all could go also for RFAs. Philippe Myers should get 1.6M and extra guys take 1+1+1M. Maybe ZERO space.
Chicago - 5.2M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space, but Dylan Strome should take ~3M. Extra guys take 1+1M. Maybe ZERO space.
Boston - 6.6M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space, but Jake DeBrusk should take ~4.5M. Extra guys take 1+1M. Then it's maybe ZERO space.
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Pittsburgh - 1.3M cap space with 23/23 man roster. - Complete team, will build probably towards the deadline. No need for cap dumps.
San Jose - 2.3M cap space with 23/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space.
Minnesota - 2.7M cap space with 22/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space. After an extra guy ~2M.
Buffalo - 6.5M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space. Olofsson is gonna take +3M, and extra guys 1+1M, but it's still ~1.5M free.
Florida - 11.5M cap space with 18/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space. MacKenzie Weegar is gonna take ~2.5M, and extra guys 1+1+1+1M, and there's still ~5M free space. Could be already against their internal money budget, though.
Columbus - 12.9M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kevin Stenlund and Stanislav Gavrikov are gonna take 8-9M combined to complete the team. Then there's still ~4M free space. Could sign some free agent (like Granlund), but there has also been rumors about an internal budget.
Nashville - 12.9M cap space with 19/23 man roster. - Can do something with their cap space. Luke Kunin is gonna take ~2M + extra guys 1+1+1M to complete the team. Then there's still ~6.9M free space. Could sign some biggest free agent left (like Hoffman).
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Four Teams who can really weaponize the cap space:
Los Angeles - 13.6M cap space with 19/23 man roster. - No pressure for pay rises for RFAs. ~10M of real space.
Ottawa - 14.3M cap space with 20/23 man roster. - No pressure for pay rises for RFAs. 11M real space, maybe an internal budget.
Detroit - 15.2M cap space with 21/23 man roster. - Mantha + extra guy getting 6-7M. Real space ~8-9M.
New Jersey - 17.1M cap space with 16/23 man roster. - Jesper Bratt is gonna take 2.5M, then 6 extra guys ~5M. Real space ~9-10M.
That's about it. All NHL team situations.
Worst situations are at Tampa Bay and Islanders for sure. Vegas also has to do something. Then Vancouver and St. Louis (if injuries not long-term). Think Washington can do a hockey trade with their defencemen.
