As chuck calculated earlier. About 36.5 million after a Richards buyout.
Hopefully we are wise enough to deal Girardi.
You let Boyle, Pouliot, Pyatt, D.Moore walk.
I am inclined to bring back both Cally and Brassard. Albeit at reasonable deals. Is brass RFA or UFA bc we know if hes a RFA sather will give him something like 2.5 and no more. If Cally wants anything higher than 5m I'm afraid you have to tell him to take a hike.
Say we are lucky enough to bring them both back. You are left with Nash, Cally, Brass, Stepan, Hagelin, Dorsett, Zucc (RFA), JT Miller, Kreider (RFA). You hope that a Fast, Kristo, Lindberg or Hrivik is ready but you cant bank on it. You have to sign 3 solid forwards to make that group competitive. A top six center, a top six winger, and a bottom six center.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like there are many top six centers out there outside of Stastny and that's only going to drive his price up. He will cost 5.5-6.5 which is too much. But when we have the cap space we tend to overpay. Don't be surprised to see him here next year.
There are some nice options for a top six forward. We all have mentioned the likes of Moulson, Vrbata, and Gaborik. Others would be Cammalleri, Hemsky, Michalek, Jagr, and Steen. Glen will sign one of these.
Side note: What are the chances San Jose doesn't resign one of Thornton or Marlaeu?? Probably unlikely, but if Marlaeu is out there I'd throw him a ton of money on a 4 year deal. Pure goal scorer.
Bottom six center options. Stajan, Bolland, and Ott. I like Ott the most.
What concerns me now is our defense. If you deal Girardi you need a young NHL ready dman in return.
All we have for next year right now is McD and Staal (huge question marks surrounding his health). What do you do with RFA Del Zotto??? What kind of deal do you offer him if he isn't traded? Stralman UFA may need to be thrown another 1.5-2m type deal. McIlrath needs to be ready next year. RFA's Falk and J. Moore haven't impressed this year. All signs point to having to sign a UFA dman but not breaking the bank on one. How about Raphael Diaz from MTL? Willie Mitchell on a 1 year deal? Kris Russell from CGY? This ones tough to figure out.
End of the day, this team needs 4 or 5 players off the UFA list. These decisions are the most critical ones of any off season of the past several years.