Ok, so the All-American Boys screwed the All-American HockeyTown. That's ok, we don't need them. Why? Because we have Pavel "Dangle" Datsyuk and Nicklas "Hitman" Kronwall. But our lineup isn't complete. We need to make a few moves.
First and foremost, we need help on defense. Signing Quincey is almost a certainty now, even if we don't end up keeping him. Matt Carle will be the primary UFA defenseman target. With Suter getting $7.53M, I would expect no less than $6.5M for Carle and as much as $7.25M to be possible. $6.5M is acceptable, but $7.25M would be a tough pill to swallow. Sometimes its the hardest to swallow that is the one that is necessary. But if Carle is getting between $6.5M and $7.25M, Quincey isn't going to want to sign for less than $5M. And that is unacceptable. So If the Wings can't come to terms with him, I expect his rights to be traded. Florida has 5 defenseman already, but I'd like to see Franzen and Quincey moved for Kris Versteeg. Then sign Versteeg, to a 9 year / $49.5M deal. $5.5M cap hit.
Second, trade for Bobby Ryan. I would move Cleary, Miller, Mursak, and MacDonald. Combined they make $4.96M which is just over $500,000 less than Bobby Ryan. This move saves Anaheim money while giving them 3 NHL ready players with expiring contracts and a backup goalie. Cleary HAD a NTC, but it expired 30 days before the 2011-12 trade deadline. He is entirely moveable now. You can see it here.
Third, I would sign a depth defenseman. Someone to be a healthy scratch or play the third pairing with Ian White when Kindl is scratched. Cam Barker for example. I would be willing to overpay him so he'd only sign a 1 or 2 year contract without a no-trade clause.
Finally, I would resign Abdelkader to center the 4th line.
Here's your lineup (with notes):
CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Bobby Ryan ($5.100m)
Filppula would be extended. Bobby Ryan is a RH shot.
Kris Versteeg ($5.500m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Mikael Samuelsson ($3.000m)
Samuelsson is a RH shot and since he's a sniper would play better with Datsyuk than Zetterberg.
Todd Bertuzzi ($2.075m) / Darren Helm ($2.125m) / Damien Brunner ($1.350m)
Bertuzzi would provide nice veteran presence for Helm and Brunner. He has soft hands to feed both of them as well as a big body to sit in front of the net. Brunner is a RH shot.
Gustav Nyquist ($0.875m) / Justin Abdelkader ($1.200m) / Jordin Tootoo ($1.900m)
I really wanted Nyquist to play with Datsyuk, but he should get 3rd line time with Helm and Brunner. Tootoo is a RH shot.
Patrick Eaves ($1.200m) / Cory Emmerton ($0.533m) /
Eaves won't be rushed back and should get some of Brunner (if he struggles) and Bertuzzi minutes.
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Carle ($6.750m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($3.250m)
Niklas Kronwall ($4.750m) / Brendan Smith ($0.875m)
Kronwall will be a nice mentor for Smith. Both for finishing hits and normal play.
Ian White ($2.875m) / Cam Barker ($3.000m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($2.250m)
Jonas Gustavsson ($1.500m)
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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $70,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $66,775,000; BONUSES: $462,500
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $3,425,000


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