I would rather the Flames retain some dollars until Bouma is palatable for another team looking for a type of player like Bouma. Flames retain 1 million, and I bet a few teams around the NHL would probably be interested. Saves the Flames from buying him out or burying him, and won't affect the cap next season.
Same thing with Stajan, although in his case, he might have value on his own to a team that is both lacking in depth and lacking in cash. His cap hit is greater than his salary (though not by a substantial amount). Retain a bit more on Stajan, and I bet a number of teams come sniffing.
It makes more sense to retain on a trade than to bury them as well, since the Flames have some some depth.
Lazar, Foo, Jankowski, Hathaway - all players that either make the team outright out of camp, or are replacement level players on the cheap.
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg
Hathaway - Lazar - Brouwer
Still have Foo who sounds he is replacement-level at this point (maybe better, maybe worse), Poirier if he is doing well personally, Shinkaruk, Klimchuk and maybe Pribyl. These are all prospects that could probably benefit from a short stretch when injuries arise that should more or less be replacement-level.
If Treliving acquires another forward, even more reason to start calling teams on Bouma and/or Stajan and see if teams can be enticed with some retention. Might be a taker especially near the start of a season if teams experience a few injuries during the preseason.
Buying out just pushes a problem into next season. Rather the Flames just either retain on trade, or bury in the AHL.
After Stajan's play last season, I didn't think there would be any need to address his spot at all. This team is really getting deeper.
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