I get nervous about giving big contracts to guys like Strome and ADA. A lot of what happens depends on things we don't know yet.
-Does Chytil take the next step and become a 2c? If so, we can move Strome. If not, we're set at 3c (Chytil is already that), but we need to upgrade on Strome. Either way, unless it's on a cheap short term contract, I don't see a space for Strome on this roster.
-Is Barron a 3c or a 4c or a AAAA player? Has implications on both of those bottom 6 lines. If Barron can be a lockdown center, then we can move on from Howden. If he can be better than that, and Chytil can't lock down 2c, which of the three does the team keep?
-Can ADA or Fox play the left side? If so, it's a no-brainer to keep ADA. If not? That's a lot of money for a 3rd pair D (whichever of Trouba, Fox, or ADA you end up playing there). Particularly since, after next season if not earlier, we really only have ONE LD on the current roster (Lindgren). Does Miller make it? Hajek? Rykov? Who else is in the LD pipeline that is likely to make the jump in the next 12 months? Ideally, Lindgren is best suited to 3rd pair, but Hajek hasn't shown himself to be any better than that yet, and Rykov is still a question mark.
My concern is that if we give big/long contracts to Strome and ADA, they could--within as soon as a year--no longer have a real spot depending on how/if the prospects develop. I just don't see either one of them (especially ADA*) taking short, team friendly deals.
* Not a knock on ADA. He took one for the team this past season, and deserves to be paid. It's just a gamble based on the points above.