0% chance we take on Bobby Ryan, he has 4 more years with a 7.25m hit. That's hideous. Way too much term left on that. I only would have considered that if we were also getting Karlsson, which no longer seems to be the case.
Callahan for 2 more years at 5.8m is more feasible. Most of the young guys will still be on entry level contracts during that time. If we take Bobby Ryan we'd still have that hit on the books while trying to sign Chytil, Andersson, potentially Kravstov etc. after their entry level contracts expire. We can even try to squeeze in a good FA next year knowing we only have Callahan for one more year (as opposed to Ryan for 3).
That said, as others have pointed out, we need to be compensated for this. Not just because we're taking on a bad contract but because we're facilitating the creation of a dream team in Tampa Bay that we're going to have to get through if we want to get back to the cup. We all saw what Karlsson did to us two years ago, and now he'll be down there for 8 more years with Stamkos and Hedman torturing us. No way I do this without it being worth our while.
Here's what I would do, attempting to be realistic:
To Tampa: Erik Karlsson
To OTT: Tampa roster players and a pick (my guess is Tyler Johnson and Sergachev - still pissed we didnt get him in the McDonagh deal - and a 2nd next year).
To NYR: Callahan, the conditional pick we got last year (2nd that turns to 1st if they win the cup) becomes locked in as a 1st (i.e., conditions removed), and one of either Taylor Raddyish or (as dump suggested) Mitchell Stephens
Both Raddysh and Stephens are right shots. I'm more familiar with Raddysh, a 2nd rounder 2 years ago, who is a year younger, bigger, and a winger. I believe Stephens has spent more time in the middle. A big, right shot winger...sounds like Wahlstrom.....
That's just me spitballing. The general point is that unless we come away with a 1st rounder and a high level prospect like Stephens or Raddysh, I tell Stevie Y to get lost.