Once again Dickie: You are talking worst case scenario.
I'm sorry if I put into your head that Z and Kronwall are GOING TO BE DONE in the next year or two.
I get what you are saying and it's not that the points you are trying to make are without validity, but the doom and gloom just overshadows the points you make.
Sure, it might be a problem that Zetterberg, Kronwall, and Franzen being on LITR at the same time is an issue for us... and that's a HUGE MIGHT.
Kronwall has THREE YEARS. Franzen a whopping FOUR.
If needed, Holland may be able to trade one of those contracts in the future if necessary... or one may just straight up retire.
Which would hurt us on the cap-recapture penalty, but it might be something that has to be done.
Players get bought out, and the buyout process can sometimes be costly, but if managed they're not the end all and be all of the teams cap.
I'll dredge up the cap-recapture penalty vs. buyout info I've got saved somewhere if someone wants to see it, but the possibility of Z, Kronner, and Franzen all being on LITR or retiring without finishing their contracts at the same time are the least of our immediate cap woes and certainly not unmanageable in the near future.
Also, when is the CBA up? NHL and NHLPA options in 2019? For all we know cap-recapture penalties might go away... or buyouts of contracts before a certain year might have new rules... etc.