In my opinion, if we don't get Mats, the smartest thing to do would be to re-structure Andrei Kostitsyn's contract to a front-end loaded deal, while we still have the luxury of cap space.
Andrei just signed on for 10 mil (approx.) over three years, however, according to media sources, the moola is evenly distributed over the three years of the contract.
Montreal should offer to pay him 6 mil of it this season, 3 next and 1 in the final year.
We can afford it now, and the strategy will pay dividends in the future in terms of cap space.
And I'm pretty sure Andrei wouldn't complain either. Just my two cents.