Eh. TB has 13+ million coming off the cap through UFA next season. Clearing Johnson and Callahan frees up over 10. 23 million is more than enough to cover raises for everyone due unless they ask for the moon.
11 players signed for next year with $23.2M in cap space. If Callahan is part of the deal, that frees up $5.8m in cap space. So 10 players signed with $29M in cap space. We have to assume the cap grows a bit so lets say it grows $3M. That's 10 players signed with $32M
RFA's: Kucherov, Paquette, Point, Koekkoek, Dotchin
UFA's: Gourde, Andreoff, Conacher, Stralman, Coburn, Giradi
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Karlson: 7 or 8 years at $11M AAV
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Kucherov: 8 years at $10M. One of those years is RFA.
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Point: He has 4 more years of RFA. I think a 2 or 3 year bridge deal at $4.5M (+/-) AAV.
Thats 13 players signed with roughly $6.5M left with 10 more players to sign. Someone has to be moved. Johnson frees up $5M. That would be 12 players signed with $11.5M but 11 players to sign. That's 11 players at $1M each. It's tight! Almost impossible. The hold up on the trade (if true) is likely due to Yzerman talking to Kucherov, Point, and Karlsson on leaving some money on the table to free up a bit of cap space. Taxes are less in Florida so it might just be possible.