I think one of things that is hard for some people to understand is that trading a pending UFA in the NHL is not like selling a couch on Craigslist.
I vaguely remember someone earlier this year comparing what Burke did with Cammy to himself trying to sell a couch for $800 and then burning the couch when the best offer was $100. That particular analogy is pretty bad.
To adapt the couch selling theme better; a NHL GM's job pretty much involves trying to sell a couch to the same 29 people year after year after year. Unlike when you or I sell a couch in a private transaction, those 29 people know exactly how much a GM sold a couch to the other guys in previous years.
If the GM will dramatically lower his asking price over fear of losing an asset for nothing just before the deadline, those 29 other people will notice and they will use this knowledge next year.
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