Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
There is much in what you say. However, it does look as if Hartley actually is thinking of letting Backstrom play, which suggests that his confidence in the other goalies is at absolute zero. So not quite the same as 100% retention.
This I do believe, though: With cheap oil and the resulting economic uncertainty, the owners probably wouldn't want to be retaining any salary beyond the end of the current season. And I believe they were especially keen to save a few bucks by unloading those contracts at the deadline, because this would be a terrible time for the team to make a cash call.
If I'm in their shoes, I look at the Jones trade and say: ‘Well, we don't actually save any money by making this deal, but we do get a draft pick and it doesn't cost us anything out of pocket. Since the alternative is no deal and pay the same money to Jones… meh, whatever.’
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So they are cool with a trade that doesn't save them any money (in order to get a pick).
But they
wouldn't be cool with a trade that
did save them money, just less money, in order to get a better pick? (retaining some of Hudler's salary to improve the return)