Lots of trades

Jackets won't be retaining if they trade Elvis

Nah, Jackets take this. We retain half of what his buyout cost per season would be and we don’t have him on the books for 6 yrs only 3. This is a good deal for the Jackets.

Jackets wouldn't buy him out. He's a clear starting goalie and if on a better coached jackets team he'll have a great season again. Then, if they want pick tarasov over him still they trade him at a premium value

No, he’s getting bought out. We need this year to get Tarasov and Greaves ample experience. Elvis is a liability and occupies too much cap space. He also has lost respect in the locker room. Down the stretch, the team clearly played better with Tarasov. We are better to buy him out and either use that space to improve the team or take a bad contract to get picks or prospect.

I think Jacket's retaining 1.9M per actually saves them a small amount of real money. Avoids the extra 3 years and on the third year actually saves cap from a buyout. Costs more cap the first two though, obviously the first with Husso on the books.