So we can't sign any UFAs because it might offend Larkin, Raymond, or Seider? Every UFA is going to have inflated contracts not just the superstars.
First of all, pointing to a bad free agent signing is not an argument against all free agent signings. The Leafs were right to sign Tavares. Sure they completely choked their cup window away, but they were right for at least trying to go for it.
Future contracts are going to be dictated by market value across the league, not what players on the current roster are making.
Players will try and maximize the money they make regardless. Do you really think Yzerman is going to walk into his negotiation with Edvinsson's agent and say "we didn't sign Mitch Marner to a 14M AAV contract" and Edvinsson's agent will reply "yes good point, we will now lower our ask".
All fine but what happens when you've signed all the team friendly contracts that players want to sign and you still have 20M in cap space left over? Are we just not going to spend to the cap because we couldn't find enough players willing to take discounts? Fans don't celebrate good contracts because we saved the owner some money. The entire benefit of having contracts like Larkin, Raymond, and Seider is that we can now afford to go out and sign elite talent in FA.
Mo Seider was drafted 6 years ago. The core is entering their prime. You have more quality prospects and picks than you will ever be able to fit in your roster. You have one of the best cap situations in the NHL. At some point you need to hit the gas and turn those organization advantages into on ice wins.