Yup. Overpaying for Kadri who is a tough SOB who will likely score 60-70 points on this team getting top six minutes is not going to be our downfall.
Overpaying anybody is bad. This implies they are not worth the cap hit. If Kadri gets 60-70 points while playing his usual way, 7 mil is not an overpayment. You are seeing the fruits of overpaying guys that are fine, but don't move the needle (Bailey, Palmieri, Pageau). That's 15 mil for three guys that are nice to have, but don't move the needle. Having players like this, prevent you from getting a needle mover in a cap world.
Kadri's aging curve is very strange. There aren't many examples of players like him. Guys that play a hard game with skill don't typically break out at age 31. This makes it very risky.
If this is the route the Isles are going, I'd try to move Pageau. That contract is already starting to look bad. After next season, it'll probably be unmovable (it may already be). However, he is a center who is grossly overrated. Perhaps there's some value to be had.
Moving Bailey and Pageau, and signing Kadri and maybe a Milano makes this team significantly better in the short and long term. I don't see this team being a cup contender with just swapping Kadri for Bailey in the next two seasons. This team after the next 2 years becomes so old, that it's hard to see them competing.
