That's why I reconfigured Domi to wing in the next lineup.
What's wrong with Heinen? He's a RFA and will come cheap. Can play up and down the lineup as well. Who are we getting at that price point that is worth pursuing?
Why do we need someone "at that price"? If we're successful in being able to retain all or most of our UFAs, we're going to need to have less expensive players -- enter the NHL ready prospects: DOC, Zohorna, and the outside chance of a 3rd guy (one of Puusy, Bjorkqvist, Hallander in particular).
DOC, Zohorna and any of those other guys would be making league minimum. Heinen has probably earned himself a contract in the 1.5M range. Even still, I'd way rather have DOC over Heinen, and Zohorna has to clear waivers (which he wouldn't clear) if he didn't make the big club. Bjorkqvist also is not waiver exempt, but I don't know the organizations thoughts about him and if they see him as part of our future or not.
An example of a line up that I'm perfectly comfortable with that incorporates the above would look like this:
Guentzel--Crosby--Rakell/Rust
Zucker--Malkin--Rust/Rakell
Zohorna/DOC--Blueger--McGinn
DOC/Zohorna--Carter--Kapanen (if Kapanen can be re-signed to a sensible AAV)
13th F: Boyle
14th F: Bjorkqvist
If Rust walks, my first next choice (aside from the Forsberg or Gaudreau who likely are not attainable), my first choice would be Burakovsky or Copp as tier 1, then Niederreiter or Rielly Smith and maybe Athanasiou as tier 2, and only then do you get to the lower tiers of the Max Domi's of the world. And if Evander Kane is available, he might be my 2nd or 3rd choice of all of those guys.
So I really don't think we need to look at Heinen or ERod going forward. We should have the cap room, provided we move out one of Dumo/Petts.