in what world does this happen? both stetcher and jake do have leverage as they are eligible for arbitration, where they would likely both get in the 3 mil range. if they were 1 mil each then this wouldn't even be a conversation.
This isn't normal times. There are going to be a glut of players on the market. With escrow, I think players are only going to get 65% of their contract amount. And I think with 15 teams in cap hell, a lot of those close too as bad trouble as the Canucks, good luck with finding a payday. And I want Virts back, but if its $3M, walk away. He is not worth that. Of course, half the Canucks are not worth what they are getting paid.
ELC's, Horvat, JTM maybe, are the only players not overpaid on the forwards. (still under contract)
Not one of the D men. (ELC excepted of course)
And Demko is on a bargain contract that is going to get a major increase if we keep him.
We did good this year, but seriously, other than our young core let everyone walk. Horvat, Demko, Hughes and EP.
Sign Motte, ZM, and thats about it. Let all the others walk if they want serious money. There is going to be so much meat available on the waiver wire if JB only has the cojones to wait until then to fill his roster.
edit - We have 10 players (under contract) that are overpaid. Boeser is probably fair (but he needs to earn it this year). We have 11 RFA and UFA's that need to sign friendly contracts or let them walk.
No one has been a bigger bandwagon fan than me, but I am sick of JB handing out ridiculous contracts to underperformers. We are going to be a good team in a year or two, but stop screwing up our cap situation you idiot.