[Oling_Roachinen]

NMC notwithstanding, the Flames could retain 50% on Lucic's remaining contract (see Dubynk in 2014)

Which would result in:

2.625M cap for 4 years, 7M in actual cash spread out over 4 years to Calgary
2.625M cap for 4 years, 7M in actual cash spread out over 4 years to Team A
0.750M cap for 4 years, 2M in actual cash spread out over 4 years to Edmonton (and an additional 3M they just gave in bonus)

I think there's a number of teams that would be willing to take Lucic on at an average of 1.75M in actual cash and 2.625M in cap hit. Reaves' deal pretty much sets a precedence for teams willing to pay this.

Next year, after the bonus is paid out a retained salary transaction of 50% would mean the team acquiring Lucic would be on the hook for 5M spread over 3 years.

If the concern comes simply from a Neal buyout, this seems to be a better alternative. Saves a lot of actual cash (7M vs 15.33M), barely an additional yearly cap-hit (2.63M vs 1.9M) and would be four years sooner off the books.