isn't Gritsyuk's contract capped at a certain amount? I don't think they can just give him whatever they want.....
The ELC length/amount is capped, but part of the negotiation will be whether the contract gets registered for 2024-25.
18-21: 3 year ELC
22-23: 2 year ELC
(for Europeans) 24-28: 1 year ELC
I'm sure the Devils would rather have the ELC start in 2025-26, but burning the ELC might just be the price of luring him over.
He was a little bit older, but it could be a similar situation to when Nikita Gusev signed with Vegas in spring 2019. Gusev signed his 1 year ELC and it kicked in immediately. Gusev showed up for a couple practices as Vegas was in the midst of its opening round series against San Jose.
Gusev was that RFA that offseason but didn't have the service time required to be eligible for an offer sheet. So Gusev was in a stalemate with Vegas who didn't have a ton of cap space. Gusev had some leverage in that he could just go back to the KHL. Eventually Vegas dealt him and Gusev signed 2 x 4.5 mil without any NHL experience.
I would expect Gritsyuk's camp to push to burn the mandatory ELC year in 2024-25 and get some guaranteed money in 2025-26.