From current roster, we lose Bourque's $3.33M (presumably). Any other expiring contract is relatively nominal, as the other RFA/UFA's on expiring contracts are $1.075M (Prout) or less.
However, Bourque's salary isn't near enough to cover increases to Boone and Murray (whether by bridge or long-term contracts), and to Karlsson (bridge likely).
So where do the $ come from just for next year to sign both Boone and Murray to $4M longterm and Karlsson to bridge? That totals roughly $10M for the 3 of them (assuming Karlsson's bridge is close to $2M). Subtract the $1M in cap space, their current salaries of $767K, 830K, and $894K, and subtract Bourque's $3.333, and we still need $3.176M in additional room (assuming cap stays the same) to do those deals. That assumes no new money for a new D (although Werenksi could be a new D for no added $). Here are the candidates (not necessarily in order of priority, and not because of better play or fits, but after factoring in contract terms, NMC/NTC, and other factors:
-Trade Tyutin, at $4.5M for 2 more years (but who takes him without an add on at that number - maybe a playoff contender who has deep injuries to D at trade deadline?). Replace with Werenski, Bondarchuk, etc.
But note - Tyuts has a limited NMC, details unknown.
Trade Hartnell at $4.75M for 3 more years. But Hartsy has a NMC.
Trade JJ at $4.375M for 2 more years...at least there is not a NMC or NTC.
Trade Joey at $4.0M for 1 more year (plus arbitration year).
Trade Cam at $3.5M for 2 more years (there is no NMC or NTC).
Keep in mind that if you project CBJ signing Joey to $8M for 2017-18 and beyond, you need to free up $4M (or more) the following year (Boll and Campbell not being re-signed would free up $3.2M - I am not advocating that, just that Boll and Campbell are the only 2, along with Cody, with expiring contracts for 2017-18, and I assume Cody gets re-signed).
So if you keep Joey, we need to find $7.176M or more in salaries to dump in the next to years. That looks like Tyutin this year and probably Hartnell this year or next year (possibly Cam in place of Hartnell). Note, however, that is simply what is needed to keep the roster as it is and count on Werenski, Rychel, Milano, etc... to fill up any needs with lower level ELC salaries. That doesn't bring in any FA or trade up for 1/2 D-man.
I also do not think CBJ parts with both Tyuts and JJ at the same time - unless it includes bringing in a top pair D-man to replace them, at which point there is likely no salary dumping involved. Kind of puts the whole shooting match on what to do with Joey. If Joey isn't re-signed, that leaves the $8M + to look at other D or F optionswhether that be keeping Hartsy/Cam, a D upgrade in 2 years, etc..).
I am not saying everyone else is untouchable. I ignored lower-end salaries (less than $1.0M) because they just don't help cap space enough for this discussion. I don't see CBJ trading any of the following above $1M in salary for the following reasons:
-Saad, given the recency of the trade for him and relatively good performance thus far (although $6.0M would create largest space and there is no NMC/NTC involved)
-Dubi, given NTC/NMC and Torts mancrush (deserved or not)
-Foligno, given NTC/NMC and being the new C
-Clarkson, given obvious
-Calvert, given $2.2M contract is high value to CBJ and is playing above that (which means we'll trade him, lol)
-Boll, obviously not tradeable contract, and a buyout of last year of $1.7M would not create that much additional space
-Savard, given recent contract and improving performance (albeit subjective)
I didn't think we were in cap hell as much as some were saying. But the above says we just might be, unless....Young kids come stomping in Sept 2016 to make team (Werenski, Rychel, Milano, etc, and/or unless we gut some veteran core and/or unless we trade Joey at some point. Don't have to do any of those today, but in order to extend Boone/Murray now, we would have to do some of those moves.
EDIT - Espen, you beat me to it.
