from Jim Matheson at the Edmonton Sun,
With pro-scouting meetings this week, here’s 10 things Holland has to get to, with $67.3 million committed to 15 players (eight forwards, six defencemen and one goalie) for next year with the salary cap likely going up to about $83 million in 2019-20.
The big tickets are, of course: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Milan Lucic, Zack Kassian, Sam Gagner, Colby Cave and Kyle Brodziak up front; Oscar Klefbom, Andrej Sekera, Adam Larsson, Darnell Nurse, Kris Russell and Matt Benning on defence; and Mikko Koskinen in net.
1. The elephant in the room is Lucic, a 30-something forward making too much for his production. A buyout with the cap hit spread out over eight years seems implausible because it would be $3.625 million next season, then $5.625 mil, then $4.125 mil, then $5.625 mil, with only the final four years ($625,000) making it worthwhile.
They shopped Lucic last summer after his 10-goal season and they’ll do it again with Holland cognizant he’s dealing from a weak position because of Lucic’s four years and $24 million left, plus that no-trade clause, which means he’d have to OK a destination.
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