I wouldn't want Bowman anywhere near 8 Million in cap space. I can't think of one FA signing he has made where the guy even held par on his previous stats.
You have to move Gus before/at the deadline. And I would prefer Bowman to not be the guy making that trade. People overpay for D at the deadline and you have to get a solid prospect and a pick back for him, and honestly he should have been moved at the draft this year.
In my ideal world you trade Saad, Gus, Smith, and possibly Crow at the deadline. At the draft you trade Seabrook, Shaw, and either Maata or DeHaan unless DeHaan retires. Then you go after Pieterangelo hard if he is available in FA. If he isn't you go after guys like Barrie, Green, Schultz, Muzzin, Kulikov (basically anyone with speed and the ability to pass the puck up quickly). For forwards you target guys like Toffoli , Eakin, Simmonds, Namestinkov, Haula, etc.
We don't know who will be available but if the hawks can dump the contracts of Smith, Shaw, Seabrook, Maata, DeHaan and get assets for Saad and Gus....you have the potential to have another top 5 pick and to get a player who can play in 2020 (Byfield, Holtz, Raymond) and then use the FA pool to shore up your blueline and 3rd and 4th lines. But you won't ever be able to sign those FAs or make good trades if you keep the guy in place who made the mistakes in the first place.