Thompson will probably also go on LTIR. That's 1.6. Stoner/Theodore will be sent down when Lindholm signs. That's ~900k. 1/2 forwards will go down when Rakell gets back. That's another ~600k/1.2mil. That will give us around 7 million to sign Lindholm.
The CBA LTIR explanations suggest it's not possible to use two different LTIR Exceptions (Despres + Thompson) to fit in one replacement contract (Lindholm).
Hypothetical example:
- Salary cap is at $70m, team has a roster cap AAV of $69m.
- Two players are injured at the start of the season: one with a $4m contract, one with a $2m contract.
- The team places the $4m player on LTIR, the team can now add $4m to their team AAV, and have a team AAV of up to $73m ($69m+$4m).
- If that team were to then place the $2m player on LTIR they could add $2m to their team AAV, and have a team AAV of up to $71m ($69m+$2m). Which is less then the available space the team already has, so there would be no benefit in LTIR'ing the second player. Fundamentally no different from the principle that there's no point in LTIR'ing a player unless the team's available cap space is less then the LTIR player's contract.
A team could LTIR the $4m player, then add a replacement $4m or less player(s), then LTIR the $2m player and replace them. So it's possible to use all $6m in LTIR space across multiple players. However, the CBA LTIR formula suggests it would not be possible to LTIR a $4m player and a $2m player then replace them with a $6m player.
Maybe the NHL/PA have agreed to handle multiple LTIR's differently. I'm just basing this on a careful reading of the CBA LTIR section and examples that seem to say the math doesn't allow it to happen.
p.s. If anyone is aware of past LTIR situations that contradict this, that would be very helpful for research.