I've put together a team that should terrify any opponent in year 1, and maintain its core for years to come. Iginla should be the only important departure for some time. Full roster, projected lines, and a bit of fat-chewing to follow:
| FORWARD | TEAM | DRAFT | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 |
| Steven Stamkos | Lightning | 2008 (1) | 7.500 | 7.500 | 7.500 | 7.500 | UFA | ||
| Jarome Iginla | Flames | 1995 (1) | 7.000 | UFA | |||||
| Mikhail Grabovski | Maple Leafs | 2004 (5) | 5.500 | 5.500 | 5.500 | 5.500 | 5.500 | UFA | |
| James Neal | Penguins | 2005 (2) | 5.000 | 5.000 | 5.000 | 5.000 | 5.000 | 5.000 | UFA |
| Loui Eriksson | Stars | 2003 (2) | 4.250 | 4.250 | 4.250 | 4.250 | UFA | ||
| Claude Giroux | Flyers | 2006 (1) | 3.750 | 3.750 | RFA | ||||
| Martin Hanzal | Coyotes | 2005 (4) | 3.100 | 3.100 | 3.100 | 3.100 | 3.100 | UFA | |
| Frans Nielsen | Islanders | 2002 (3) | 2.750 | 2.750 | 2.750 | 2.750 | UFA | ||
| Marcel Goc | Panthers | 2001 (1) | 1.700 | 1.700 | UFA | ||||
| Max Pacioretty | Canadiens | 2007 (1) | 1.625 | RFA | |||||
| Patrick Eaves | Red Wings | 2003 (1) | 1.200 | 1.200 | UFA | ||||
| Carl Hagelin | Rangers | 2007 (6) | 0.875 | RFA | |||||
| Andreas Nodl | Hurricanes | 2006 (2) | 0.845 | RFA | |||||
| Andrew Shaw | Blackhawks | 2011 (3) | 0.565 | 0.565 | RFA | ||||
| DEFENSEMAN | TEAM | DRAFT | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 |
| Zdeno Chara | Bruins | 1996 (3) | 6.917 | 6.917 | 6.917 | 6.917 | 6.917 | 4.000 | UFA |
| Andrej Sekera | Sabres | 2004 (3) | 2.750 | 2.750 | 2.750 | UFA | |||
| Cam Fowler | Ducks | 2010 (1) | 1.400 | RFA | |||||
| Adam Larsson | Devils | 2011 (1) | 0.930 | 0.930 | RFA | ||||
| Dmitri Orlov | Capitals | 2009 (2) | 0.900 | 0.900 | RFA | ||||
| Chris Tanev | Canucks | Undrafted | 0.900 | RFA | |||||
| Slava Voynov | Kings | 2008 (2) | 0.817 | RFA | |||||
| GOALTENDER | TEAM | DRAFT | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 | 15-16 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 18-19 |
| Craig Anderson | Senators | 2001 (3) | 3.188 | 3.188 | 3.188 | UFA | |||
| Tyler Bunz | Oilers | 2010 (5) | 0.683 | 0.683 | 0.683 | RFA | |||
| Payroll | 64.144 | 50.683 | 41.638 | 35.017 | 20.517 | 9.000 | 0.000 | ||
| Cap space | 0.156 | 13.618 | 22.663 | 29.283 | 43.783 | 55.300 | 64.300 |
Projected lines:
Stamkos - Giroux - Iginla
Eriksson - Grabovski - Neal
Pacioretty - Hanzal - Eaves
Hagelin - Goc - Nielsen
Chara - Sekera
Tanev - Fowler
Larsson - Voynov
Anderson
Scratches: Shaw, Nodl, Orlov
Every line should do well possession-wise. Giroux line gets the easier offensive zone opportunities, Goc line gets the thankless defensive zone rescue missions (which is why Eaves plays on the third line instead of Nielsen or Hagelin). Larsson and Voynov both excel in lighter-duty assignments, and all my other D have proven themselves able to play the toughs well. Anderson is unspectacular but reliable, and has played up to 71 games in a season, making the backup a less important investment. This team shouldn't let either goalie see many shots anyway. After this team wins its 10th Cup in a row, a blog called "Bunz is a Fraud" will take the web by storm.
Pacioretty, Hagelin, and Fowler probably demand a reasonable raise after year 1, and letting Iginla walk should make that achievable. Giroux and Larsson have to be paid the following season, when Eaves and Goc go UFA. Keeping Giroux AND Larsson probably necessitates moving out another bit of money that year, but not an immense one — maybe Nielsen (he, Goc, and Hanzal are all capable of being the überpossessor, and Hanzal is signed forever on what might be the most team-friendly contract in the NHL). Ideally, Pacioretty and Hagelin take somewhat of a discount on their second contracts due to being buried behind so much talent, depressing their boxcars.


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