i think you have to bring one of the big three UFAs back, if only because petey, hughes, demko, and jt are still traumatized about the offseason after the bubble playoffs. i think you simply can’t follow up success with taking away pieces again (tanev/toffoli/marky, boudreau after the crazy new coach bump).
Z makes the most sense because he will probably be the least overpaid, and probably because he seems to add the most to the room and contributes the most irreplaceable skillset
and my hope is the only reason management hasn’t tendered our real best offer yet is gamesmanship, ie, giving in to an overpay on one means there’s no chance the other two will take a discount. but in two weeks, i expect/hope to see Z get an extra year and an extra $750k and call it a day.