Hawks should offer sheet RFA Mathew Knies. Leafs have big bucks tied up in their big 4 and may not be able to match. IMO, he is the perfect big body to play alongside Bedard.
He would a great get. But it's the same problem as with Cuylle (who I think is even a better fit). The teams theyre on, have the cap space now.
Leafs have 27.5M cap space for Marner, Tavares, Knies and 3 other forwards.
Those 3 others will likely be 925K players or ELC, so that's -3M cap space. D is set with 7 contracts, goalies too.
24.5M for Marner (12M). 12M is left for Tavares and Knies.
We would have to go beyond the 4.9M threshold with the offersheet, otherwise easy match. If we do we put the 26 own pick on the table, which I'm actually fine with, but I think I'll be alone with that.
Even if we offer sheet Knies for say 8M per, Leafs will just let Tavares go, or trade out Domi (3.75M) Kampf (2.4M) or Jarnkrok (2.1M). Easily doable.
I agree that we should try with the offersheet just to see, and try to get creative with the GMs but unfortunately it's not realistic.
Knies, Cuylle, Vilardi. All prime OS targets, but all three teams have ample means to keep them.