Here's how the cap roughly breaks down. If you subtract Bjugstad, they have 64M committed for next year. I'd estimate the RFAs aside from Murray around 14M so that's 78M.
At that point you have a full 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and Jarry. All you really need is a bottom pair RD and backup goalie and you have 3.5M in cap space plus whatever the cap goes up by.
Even if that doesn't quite fit Murray and a defenseman depending on the cap raise, you can easily get there by say buying out JJ.
So my question is, if it fits, what move would you make for about 3.5 M (rough difference between Murray and DeSmith) that's more impactful than Murray?
- Tojo.
Good info.
So you're estimating that we would have only $3.5M (+ cap increase) to sign both Murray and a bottom pair RD? In that case, I doubt Murray takes $3.5M (the increase in cap would likely be wiped out by 3RD). Or we fill 3RD from within (Riikola?) and spend the rest of the cap on Murray? But if we buy out JJ (I'm skeptical) then Riikola becomes 3LD and we still need a 3RD hopefully not named Ruhwedel.
I guess we can lowball Murray or take it to arbitration and hope the number isn't more than the cap we have or we'll have to trade / buyout / waive someone else. Also, isn't arbitration binding and for 2 years? This would help with the expansion draft anyway.
Here is a list of the pending FA goalies who have posted better numbers than Murray this year (with save% and current cap hit):
Corey Crawford - 0.911 - $6,000,000
Robin Lehner - 0.921 - $5,000,000
Jacob Markstrom - 0.918 - $3,666,668
Thomas Greiss - 0.916 - $3,333,333
Cameron Talbot - 0.924 - $2,750,000
Jaroslav Halak - 0.921 - $2,750,000
Anton Khudobin - 0.928 - $2,500,000
Mike Smith - 0.904 - $2,000,000
Aaron Dell - 0.909 - $1,900,000
Ryan Miller - 0.909 - $1,125,000
Pavel Francouz - 0.925 - $950,000
Surely one of these guys will be available for cheap. Murray is .911 for the past 3 seasons. I think we can do better for cheaper.