or just retain 2 mill and get actual value for him...

So you bury him at 2.925m, replace at with even a 700,000 player for total 3.625 a saving 375,000. Might as well give him away so you don't have any Performance Bonus carryover. Burying a player isn't that cap beneficial for any player.

But the title is good, especially now that fall is here, and it's time to start planning for Halloween.

if someone was interested in him he would have been traded already

Right now the Rangers are carrying 14 forwards...that's 2 scratches each game- just go with a 21 man roster (1 extra D and F) so you realize the full cap savings if he is sent down...of course he would have to pass through waivers 1st- if picked up they see the entire 4M cap savings.

Trading him should be Plan A, trading w/ salary retained Plan B, and waiving Plan C....all depends on value returned in a trade and cap space generated and whether the cap space is used to sign ADA and also if the youngsters in camp show they are ready to take his roster spot.

Thee are lots of teams that need to get rid of cap, especially those teams who haven't yet sign their RFAs. Trading even if means not getting any return might be the best option. This cap crunch is hitting so many teams. As a Leaf fan, feel the Leafs were fortunate to get rid of Marleau and his 6,25m cap hit and the cost of first rounder.

No, teams haven't set their rosters yet and maybe the terms of the trade were not agreeable. Maybe the Rangers were asking for 4th rounder. End of September maybe the Rangers will be adding third rounder as a sweetener for team to take him and get nothing in return. Think we are going to see a lot cap carrying veterans available. It will be a buyers market.

Yeah...the cap crunch has really frozen the trade market...which is why waiving him might be the only way to generate cap space...keep in mind- waiving him now, for the reason you mention- not too many teams would be in position to pick him up...so there is a good chance he would go to Hartford. Thing about Names though, is that he is a useful player- just not worth his cap hit- especially in this cap crunch...whatever happens with him, he should have some value at the TDL.