As bad (okay, old and slow) as this team looks now....Next year - OOF.
We have bunches of guys that are UFA next year and several RFA. Sadly, none of them are really part of the old/tired problem (except Eller)
7/8 current roster d-men
could move (all except the ONE we NEED to move)
Carlson is locked in for another 3 years after this one.
Orlov, Jensen, TVR, Irwin, Gustafsson are ALL UFA's at end of this season. Fever is an RFA. We sure as fuck better sign Fever
Brown is a UFA. SHeary, Hathaway, Eller, Mojo all UFA's.
Strome is RFA.
In today's market, I don't see Eller getting $3.5 anywhere else (and hopefully not here). Mojo - meh, take him or leave him at $1m now, but he has to be about done. Hathaway - basically bargain (1.5m), and kind of depends on whether he wants to go elsewhere I think. Sheary is a downright bargain at $1.5m. Hope he stays for that. Hags is an UFA, but I think he's done either way.
I expect the Backy situation will resolve itself at the end of the year one way or another. Either he makes it back and is playable by year's end or he's done. I would hope they don't string it out into next year. NOt sure what happens with a player's contract and the salary cap if he is unplayable.
So if Backy, Eller, Hags and Mojo are gone next year - that's alot of coin (depending on how Backy deal works) to spend on retooling. It's early yet, but I'm kind of liking Strome, and definitely Brown - I'd keep both if possible
Curious to see where the D-men end up. I expect Orlov will stay if we pay him ridiculous money. TVR, Irwin, Gustafsson are bargain basement salaries. TVR has been well worth his 950k. He ain't great, but I'd take eight of him over one Johhny Q. Norris for the same coin any day. Jensen has been pretty solid, but he is 32.
Alexeyev is an RFA. He is on the IR (or was at start of this season), but I think he could be a solid guy in the future.
boredom thread. Read it and weep.