I don't mind the addition of Schmaltz, whos been criminally underrated the past two seasons. But, with his affordable cap hit, I can't see AZ looking to move him for an expiring contract.

A Pinto offer sheet would be gold though.

Schmaltz is owed $6.9M OVER his cap hit for the next 3 seasons and Nylander only $2.5M for the rest of this season. If AZ's history means anything at all...i think there's a deal to be made. I'm not sure about dumba getting included...gotta this the CBA will look into retaining in a player that hasn't played a game under the new contract.

I see where you're coming from, I just think AZ will elect to pay that fee instead of a 9m+ for Willy when he wants to extend. I don't know if he'd want to stay on a rebuilding team during his prime years, either. He might walk to FA

I've been talking about this in another thread.
https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/755511?post_id=4370699

They could flip him at the TDL for picks since Simashev and But are pretty clear signals they're being patient.

OR

If you "reverse Stamkos" Nylander's next deal...it's very enticing for both AZ and Nylander. PLUS, if it's not working out...AZ can do the same exact thing with Nylander as they'd be doing with Schmaltz. Back end load...get the cap space...dump to a team that has money.

We don’t want dumbs

Dumba

The front office has made it pretty clear they’re looking to win and not sell off players. Paying schmaltz more than his cap hit doesn’t matter if you’re still coming in at or under your internal budget. It’s not that hard to pick up wing depth that’s being paid less than their cap hit to balance out schmaltz being paid more than his. For example schmaltz and Keller combine for a $13m cap hit, and $13.5m in real cash this year. Do you think Bill Armstrong cares he’s essentially paying his 2 best players $250k more in real salary than cap? Or do you think he accounted for that in the budget in other areas?

IF Nylander is traded it’s coming with a contract which means extra value. IF Nylander is getting traded to Yotes I want 1 or both of Guenther and/or Vejmelka. Also those 2nds become 1sts. You can call in over value or whatever but talent like Nylander doesn’t (also currently) become available all the time. Don’t want to pay then Leafs just simply keep the player.

I don't think the Leafs let Nylander talk to other teams because it really doesn't happen among contending teams, especially if they fail to deal him. Schmaltz is the exact same age, plays a solid 2-way game and has been roaming near PPG over the past 2 seasons and is only making 5.85 and would bring an immediate impact. I think you could pry a 1st, not much more because Schmaltz isn't much worse than Nylander as it is. Acquiring another goalie is unlikely with them signing Jones to be a #3. Dream scenario, you get two of Crouse, Schmaltz, or Guenther.

I guess my only thing is that the front office says things like that, but still goes out and trades for Voracek / Weber...and that's still in 2023...not even a full season ago. I'll believe them when I see it. Nothing they've done so far means they're spending like another franchise would.

The whole budget concept can also be interpreted differently. Trading Schmaltz and getting Nylander opens up $5M in cash for this year alone. That leaves $5M to find another player. Next year sign Nylander to a backloaded contract and you're likely still lower than Schmaltz...in terms of cash. He's owed $8.45M in cash. IF Nylander isn't working out, then trade him, BUT make his contract mostly signing bonuses so that AZ can retain.

I mean you can go get voracek and Weber then pay a guy league min, or pay Matthew Joseph $3m to score 3 goals like Ottawa is doing. I can pay Weber’s cap hit and JJ Moser league min on his ELC, or Ben Chiarot $5m like detroit is doing. Arizona isn’t overpaying for bottom 6 or bottom pairing players, you can say it’s cheap, or you can say it’s efficient, depends how you’d like to spin it.

The yotes have 4 major RFAs that need to get signed next offseason, Hayton, Durzi, Moser, and Valimaki. All of them are likely getting long term extensions, so they can easily move money into different years to fit whatever their budgetary restraints are, without having to move Schmaltz who is one of Keller’s best friends while also producing. Nylander just simply doesn’t make sense for this team right now. Great player, but isn’t worth the cap gymnastics needed, especially since he’s not thrilled with his financial standing compared to the rest of the core 4 and very likely wouldn’t accept a back loaded deal.

Not much less worse than Nylander..? Are you okay? I do like Schmaltz, I do, but to say he’s not much less worse is insane.