To me two things drive the Kreider decision:
1. Does he want 6 or 7 years at 7 mill per +/-. If yes I cannot give him that much.
2. What is the return? If he gets viewed as the clear # 1 player available at the DL, and I can get two valuable assets for him, I have to do it. If I can get a 1st AND a NHL ready clear top 6/9 forward, that would be difficult for me to pass up.
I'll also say, while we have cap space now to sign him, especially after Hank/Smith/Staal come off the books after next season and Shatt's dead money takes a huge drop, what about 3-4 years down the road when Kreider makes 7 mill (and has 3 or 4 years left on his deal), Panarin makes 11.6 mill (and has many years left on his deal), Trouba makes 8 mill (and has years left on his deal), and we have to resign many kids? We are good today, and next year, and even the year after that, but in a few years it catches up as kids need new deals (see TB as was mentioned in another thread).
We need to be mindful of that I think.