Smart move locking up their two superstars or are they handcuffing themselves against the cap for the first half of these contracts until the cap goes up enough?

Gotta pay your stars when they've won 2 cups already. How much it handcuffs the team going forward depends on how much the cap rises. 

Maybe a handcuff this year as they only have $5 million left and only have 15 players under contract. But they will be fine moving forward. One of the agents tweeted about Max salary ten years ago and players were making more. So comparatively speaking these are good deals. To be honest if JT was a free agent and wanted $10 million to sign in Winnipeg I wouldn't bat an eye.

Hell the jets reportedly offered Stastny $8 million so there ya go.

The new salaries don't kick in until next year.  Old contracts this year.

Well then. There ya go. Though I still believe they are up against the cap

Well then. There ya go. Though I still believe they are up against the cap

They are. They are one of several teams who are up against the cap right now, Boston and Philly being 2 others for sure.