|
After Chicago won their Cup they were forced to trade away at least a third of that Cup team over the same summer because they had too many high contracts and too many younger players due for big raises. Campbell, Byfuglien, Brouwer, Kopecky, Versteeg, Ladd etc. etc.
There will be problems adding Nash on top of Lundqvist, Gaborik and Richards. Del Zotto gets a raise this year--so does Prust (though not a huge one). Next year it's McDonagh, Stepan, Hagelin, Sauer (if he can still play) and Anisimov. It all adds up and we'll still have to fill holes in the bottom of our roster and pay for a backup goalie--this year and afterwards. And the NHL I expect is going to try to knock the cap down. Nash's contract could turn into a killer. Put another way I wouldn't trade for him until the smoke cleared on the coming CBA.
This may be an off season to lay off the UFA signings. Not really a whole lot after Parise and Suter. That has the potential of driving up the price for a bunch of 2nd-3rd liner types. Anyone willing to give Gaustad a $16 mil contract for 4 years? Probably can fill some depth positions at reasonable cost--thinking though that continuing to diversify and employ some of our younger players might be a good way to go.
|