I find it hilarious to read all these excuses that Sweeney had no cap space after he went for it last year.
Sweeney's obsession has been for years to hoard rubbish, overpay for it and give out NMT and NTC clauses to random players who have not proven anything.
Ullmark, signed with NMC, came without a single game in the playoffs under his belt, injury history, never played more than 37 games in a season during 6 years.
Forbort, signed with NTC as a bottom pair D, sucked in Winnipeg.
Foligno, signed with NMC and NTC over the hill and injured
Backes, signed with NMC and NTC, over the hill.
Coyle, signed with NMC and NTC, 3rd line center.
Lindholm, signed with NMC and NTC, next albatross contract in progress
How do you give these players even a limited NMC or NTC?
Either you cannot trade them when you want to (Ullmark) or if you can you need to package them with a 1st round pick or more assets.
Last night these guys were not on the ice:
Ullmark $5m
Grzelcyk $3.68M
Forbort $3m
Shattenkirk $1.05m
Reilly, bought out at $1.33m
That's $14m rotting on the sideline. Sure, you need some depth in case of injuries but none of the guys above were the case.
A back up goalie at $2-2.5m, a spare D and forward each at $1-1.25m. If our depth was at $4-5m we could have used $9m to sign 1C.