Taking on a decent $ hit for the future even if Dan Girardi's buyout expires after this year by buying out Shattenkirk and Smith. I think Smith is more likely to be bought out.
- airjan23
In both players having two years remaining on their contracts, the killer is Buyout Year Two of 2020/21, with Shatty's buyout charge of $6,083,333 and Smith's at $3,145,833 in dead cap space. Otherwise, in the other 3 years, Shatty's annual cap hit charge is $1,483,333 and Smith's $1,145,833, totaling $2,629,166 in dead cap space.
Shatty's total 4 year buyout cost is $10,433,332, while Smith's is $6,408,332.
Shatty is still due $13,300,000, while Smith is due $8,700,000 in salary total.
I agree with your thinking Jan & Jim to buyout only Smith, but was looking at the issue in the following means had this situation occurred or still will:
(1) Had the Rangers already been able to trade both, or if by prior to the start of this season by retaining the 50% money they were willing as rumored, they would have picked up in total, $6,650,000 on Shatty and $4,350,000 on Smith, (i.e, one year's worth of their two year's remaining money due them).
(2) The difference via a buyout vs. a trade under a 50% retained basis is:
(A) Shatty's buyout costing an additional $3,783,332 in total, vs. a trade with retaining 50%.
(B) Smith's buyout costing an additional $2,058,332 in total, vs. a trade with retaining 50%.
That totals $5,841,664 in additional dead cap space (an annual average of $1,460,416) over the next 4 years, should both Shatty and Smith be bought out, as opposed to both having already been traded, (or if traded by prior to the start of the season), with also retaining 50% of their remaining contracts.
In addition, the combined $8.175M of Namestnikov, Vesey, & Beleskey will likely be gone after 2019/20, along with Staal's $5.7M and Hank's $8.5M expiring after 2020/21.
