They have to create cap for next season when Luke will need an extension. They probably have to go with a one year stopgap that falls through the cracks to add to the top 6.
I'm only thinking a year ahead here, but next offseason is the year I could see one of Palat or Haula done away with. I'm not gonna bother guessing who, but Palat gets paid more.
I said a bit in advance using this same thinking that I really think one of Marino/Siegs is gone in the offseason. Not many people felt like that would happen.
I think it would actually be more expected that one of Palat or Haula are on the outs around this time next year than one of those two defensemen for this year.
Someone may say that Dougie will be the casualty, and I think that may happen later on, but we're probably at the closest 2 years away from that happening, probably even more like 3. And Dougie is still a more productive player than either Palat/Haula as of this moment. And I don't expect that to change by the end of the 24-25 season.