Maybe ownership is just fine retaining on expiring contracts but more hesitant to retain on contracts with multiple years left on them and want to be properly compensated for doing so.
For example, the Flames paid a 1st round pick to unload Monahan and his $6 million remaining, if the Flames were to retain 50% on Markstrom that would be $6 million total as well I believe. So they probably wanted a 1st round pick on top of whatever they already believed Markstrom was worth on his own.
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