So he’s an RFA then?
- Sabretooth9

Yes, Meier and DeBrincat are RFA's after this season.

Yes, Meier and DeBrincat are RFA's after this season.
- kingcong39

Ahhh. That makes things way more interesting.

I am okay with moving the 1st (top 10 protected). Like Vegas did with Eichel deal

This is his last year at 6 mill. His contract expires. Per cap friendly
- Sabretooth9

He's a RFA with a 10m QO offer, he's not a Rental

you are as fresh as john holmes corpse
- homiedclown

Do you kiss Nick, or Fred, with that mouth?

So we should all just throw our hands in the air and give up? Sure, Quinn and Peterka are semi-unknowns. The rest of the guys are pretty much known at this point - it is just a matter of how much.

I am sure they have salary projections for all of their players for several years. Some are going to be low and some are going to be high. This isn't a 4 million-per-year player that we are talking about, this is a guy that is going to cost north of 9 per. I think our roster becomes dangerously top-heavy.
- Slump Buster

Is that not why we’ve drafted a ridiculous amount of prospects over the last few years? So we have forwards on cheap ELC deals coming into the league in the upcoming years?

I can’t even believe we are going to talk like we can’t afford a high end player when our franchise center will be underpaid by market value by about 4-5 million

I'm not worried about immediately extending Meier.

I'm looking at him as a rest of this season and all next season acquisition, then seeing how things have gone by next trade deadline, before worrying about extending him.

Yes, that means qualifying him at $10M for next season.
- kingcong39

Just think Terry has a much different view. He went through a similar situation with Skinner and just watched Tkachuk play things out. Don't think that's something they'd walk into.

Is that not why we’ve drafted a ridiculous amount of prospects over the last few years? So we have forwards on cheap ELC deals coming into the league in the upcoming years?

I can’t even believe we are going to talk like we can’t afford a high end player when our franchise center will be underpaid by market value by about 4-5 million
- sbroads24

Well, yes, that is how it works. But there is still a line where you become top-heavy. We could have 100 great prospects coming - there are still so many spots where you can have high-end contracts.

For the record I never said that we shouldn't do it. I only said that I'd feel better about it if Skinner's contract was movable down the road in the event someone needed to go.

Just think Terry has a much different view. He went through a similar situation with Skinner and just watched Tkachuk play things out. Don't think that's something they'd walk into.
- Lunaion

He might, but you can't sell him on Meier being a 1.5 season high end forward rental to allow the remaining forward prospects more time too cook while helping the team make a playoff push now?

Worst case scenario, they could let him walk after next season and free up $10M off their cap to use elsewhere, while someone like Kulich is fully ready to contribute.

Well, yes, that is how it works. But there is still a line where you become top-heavy. We could have 100 great prospects coming - there are still so many spots where you can have high-end contracts.

For the record I never said that we shouldn't do it. I only said that I'd feel better about it if Skinner's contract was movable down the road in the event someone needed to go.
- Slump Buster

I do not see how skinner comes into this conversation

your saving 2 mi on tuch per year based on performance and 4 mil on tage

let girgens walk instead of paying him 3 mil and there is your money for timo

Well, yes, that is how it works. But there is still a line where you become top-heavy. .
- Slump Buster

top heavy like colorado last year or tampa the previous 2 years?

I do not see how skinner comes into this conversation

your saving 2 mi on tuch per year based on performance and 4 mil on tage

let girgens walk instead of paying him 3 mil and there is your money for timo
- homiedclown

I am not sure what you are missing. The fact that we have great value on the contracts does not mean that you can add unlimited contracts. They don't give you extra cap space for making smart decisions.

The NHL is a hard cap and that isn't changing. I think we can move on.

top heavy like colorado last year or tampa the previous 2 years?
- homiedclown

I must have missed it - those teams were the opposite of top-heavy. See the Leafs for the cautionary tale.

Yes, Meier and DeBrincat are RFA's after this season.
- kingcong39

Timo Meier and Dylan Cozens would be the perfect fit.

Without an extension though, argument is moot and they won’t get into a bidding war for him I would imagine.

I must have missed it - those teams were the opposite of top-heavy. See the Leafs for the cautionary tale.
- Slump Buster

tampa had 45 mil tied up in 5 players

He might, but you can't sell him on Meier being a 1.5 season high end forward rental to allow the remaining forward prospects more time too cook?

Worst case scenario, they could let him walk after next season and free up $10M off their cap to use elsewhere, while someone like Kulich is fully ready to contribute.
- kingcong39

At 10m next year of real $ above the floor, I have my doubts. Is KA really that aggressive either?

Timo Meier and Dylan Cozens would be the perfect fit.

Without an extension though, argument is moot and they won’t get into a bidding war for him I would imagine.
- Swedish_Jesus

Claude Lemieux, his agent, loves Buffalo

I must have missed it - those teams were the opposite of top-heavy. See the Leafs for the cautionary tale.
- Slump Buster

The Leafs are an annual 100+ point team.

I’d like to make the playoffs before we look down on current playoff teams

At 10m next year of real $ above the floor, I have my doubts. Is KA really that aggressive either?
- Lunaion

I doubt timo would turn down 5 years 40 mil total

if he liked it here

Timo Meier and Dylan Cozens would be the perfect fit.

Without an extension though, argument is moot and they won’t get into a bidding war for him I would imagine.
- Swedish_Jesus

I'm not so sure it's moot without an extension, as they can easily qualify him for next season.

Agree on not getting into a bidding war.

I'm not so sure it's moot without an extension, as they can easily qualify him for next season.

Agree on not getting into a bidding war.
- kingcong39

kane, meier or boeser

who would you rather have beside cozens for a year

I do not see how skinner comes into this conversation

your saving 2 mi on tuch per year based on performance and 4 mil on tage

let girgens walk instead of paying him 3 mil and there is your money for timo
- homiedclown

Terrible post Richard Anthony roma.

tampa had 45 mil tied up in 5 players
- homiedclown

Correct, and that is a reasonable number of high-end contracts. I think we would be closer to 55 with 7 players.

Again, I am not saying we shouldn't. The problem isn't giving out the contracts, it is the No-move clauses. That's where teams get into trouble down the road.

and DeBrincat moved without an extension

Getting Meier to extend here is the difficult part, not the trade.
- Lunaion

I think The Adam's Plan is working just perfectly and the negative view from players is pretty much over, and eyes are wide open to the environment...shall we say Cultural Change occuring.

Now, if you are referring to the City of Bufflalo, to me that is a totally different issue

Correct, and that is a reasonable number of high-end contracts. I think we would be closer to 55 with 7 players.

.
- Slump Buster

the leafs have 46 mil tied up with 5 guys as well

The Leafs are an annual 100+ point team.

I’d like to make the playoffs before we look down on current playoff teams
- sbroads24

... and you left out the little part of them not being able to get past the first round because they have no space to address their glaring deficiencies.