Let's assume that he signs for an even $3M/1yr.
That leaves about $3.5M in space for another offensive D and/or T6F (or both) with ideally $1.5M give or take a bit in wiggle room.
Schneider is a no-go, as far as I'm concerned - too close to the cap, and no long-term gains (Murray always has a long-term plan).
From what I can see, the only viable option for a PMD otherwise is Boucher, and a trade involving Neil has been tossed out.
On paper, it looks great, and works out wonderful for Ottawa, but how many stars would have to align for all this to happen?
My biggest question would be why Dallas would feel compelled to dump anyone. Cap-wise, my quick-and dirty calculations suggest that they are about $950K under, so they could still make a run for it. It would take some fancy footwork, and maybe some of the kids would ride the bus for a few games, for cost reasons only, but I'm sure they could do it. The only reason to dump Boucher otherwise, as I see it, is to make space for the "up-and-comers", and that I can't comment on. But Dallas doesn't really need someone like Neil, do they? And if they wanted to dump salary, they wouldn't want half of it back. We'd end up sending picks and prospects, which is what we don't want to do.
Going back to my original question, as much as I'd love to see him in Ottawa, I suspect Boucher remains in Dallas, at least until Feb.
The more I look at things, the more I'm afraid (really afraid) that we may be looking at the opening day roster, or at least all the pieces of it (once we sign Mez). That concerns me immensely.