It is what it is.
He'd have five full years under a full NTC which takes him to age 35. You would assume he'd be serviceable during that time. He'd then have two more years with reduced NTC & a salary smaller than his cap hit. By which point he'd probably still be movable.
They could have got a younger guy with less term in Chychrun - but you made post after post trying to tell us all why that would have been a bad move...
Maybe they should just stay as they are playing Bryson/Clague every game for the next 10 years & fail to get better?
it rare to have a respectable Dman who fairly earning a high salary playing 33+ . These are generally off first Dmen.
Chychrun want a high long contract that is also a problem
id rather get someone under term for 3-4 years making under $5M or you get an ELC Dman who would be owed a contract like Samuelsson got Around the same age.
you can easily get a cheaper vet Dman making $3M or less playing bottom pair role.
not blowing stuff on a 2+ yr rental or less.
it has a lot to do with the D prospect pool after Johnson. You figure drafted D from 21-23 drafts could be nhl ready by 26/27 season.
you need a 3-4 yr bridge to that point.
I can see them resign Lyub for 1-2 yrs in 2024 summer. You coukd resign Joker as a bottom pair role on a 3 yr contract. If you go the latter then you might have to use future assets instead of current players
if Johnson worked with power you can use Joker as bottom pair and fill a lower vet Dman for left side.
johnson could be on Sabres in 24/25 season
then you just need that mid pair Dman for the next 3-4 yrs
they don’t need a top level Dman. Just need a def first midd pair who is in 22-25 and under contract for 3 yrs or if on ELC/ bridge can be resigned for something under $5M
