I love him...he is my favorite player, but... I think it is time to move David Krejci.
This solves all our cap woes and some other problems.
I'll play.
1) Spooner becomes one of our top 3 centres. Let the Spooner era begin.
He's proven nothing. Who does he play with? Makes our 3rd line a disaster area. We need salary cap space, agreed. You don't trade your #1B center to clear cap space.
2) This move along with somehow clearing Kelly's contract, gives the Bs $6M to use at the trading deadline for any needs (in case Spooner doesn't work out, or to get a winger, etc...).
You are creating needs to fill needs at the trading deadline when prices are through the roof. You don't trade a top 6 center and HOPE you can replace him at the trade deadline if the player you are using to replace him doesn't work out. You don't create cap room, moving a top 6 forward in anticipation of being able to make a move at the trade deadline.
3) It allows us to keep our D together. We won't have to move anyone here.
It may do that but, Johnny Boychuk is leaving at the end of the year unless he signs a very team friendly extension. The defense is currently together but a move MUST be made, regardless of the cap situation. I don't want to see Johnny Boychuk moved but he has good value and he won't be back in 2015. It's simply unaffordable.
He will be looking at 5.5 million a year as a starting point. For fun let's say he receives 5, which is far too low.
Doug Hamilton will be getting around 5.
Chara makes 6.9
Seidenberg makes 4.
That's north of 20 million on just your top 4 defense. It can't be done long term.
Trading Krejci so you can keep a defense together for one more year is not a good route to go, IMO.
4) It will likely get back a great pick or prospects or a great cheap young winger.
In a capped league, no one is trading a good young winger who is cheap as well for a pending UFA. We are in win now mode and the window is wide open.
5) It frees up cap space next year.
He's a pending UFA, trading him does not free up cap space next year. It creates a gaping hole THIS season, that's all.
6) It allows Krug and Smith to get paid.
Why do they need to "get paid"? They are both under club control and have ZERO leverage. Smith has had one decent year, Krug as well. They will take bridge contracts or sit and rot.
Marchand - Bergeron - Smith
Lucic - Soderberg - Eriksson
X - Spooner - X
Paille - Campbell - X
Defence is status quo as is goaltending.
Xs could be filled in by guys like Fraser, Florek, Ferlin, Khoko, Lindblad, and maybe Caron.
Thoughts?
You have created a lineup that is one injury at center away from Ryan Spooner being in the top 6 and Greg Campbell in your top 9.
What Chiarelli SHOULD have done, but didn't do was buy out Greg Campbell and trade or buy out Adam McQuaid.
I'm confident Chiarelli will find a taker for some of the money he has to move. Needless to say, I don't think moving David Krejci's money is the move he should even consider.