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then how would people feel?
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I would feel that in trading a pair of bad 2-3 year contracts for a much worst five year contract, we got robbed. I can only point to the 2010 Blackhawks and how they couldn't keep Byfuglien around. I'd hate more than anything to be unable to keep a guy like Bennett around. While a Toffoli would be nice, if you can't hold the team together then what's the point?
Stajan's our longest-term vet contract, and its cap hit is half of Richards. He's a guy who's perfectly fine with his 4th line role (and he's been very good at it too).
The other bad contracts - Raymond, Bollig, Smid, Engelland - are going to be easier to move individually near their final year than to put up as collateral right now. It's possible some of those guys can even be moved for 5th rounders right now.
As for "PO Experience"... Wideman, Hiller, and Hudler have all been pretty deep, and they can actually still play. I'm not convinced Richards would get a roster spot over Stajan right now. The guy just got waived for a reason, and I wouldn't take L.A.'s bottom-end centre depth over CGY's. Don't discount that Hartley and Gelinas have championship experience too.