While they receive a good return for it, I highly doubt MTL is interested in having $2.75m of dead salary. As for the Lightning, after having already sacrificed a top prospect in the organization, I don't think we're interested in another one. Especially since re-signing Sergachev and Cernak won't be easy, and we don't want to put ourselves into a position where we have no choice but to re-sign them, since that gives them all the leverage. Foote is the main piece that grants us the depth to fill a defensive hole should one arise. Plus, Petry is 32, which means he's not going to be an asset for the future. Foote is a cheaper, long-term asset. Throwing in Fortier and a 1st makes this deal totally out of bounds. Sure, MTL takes Gourde (who very likely blocks this deal with his NTC), but it's not as though Gourde is so terrible that nobody is going to want him without a ransom. He's still fast, good defensively, and typically can contribute around 40 points per season, which is not bad. Maybe you don't want him at $5.1m, but it doesn't require an elite prospect, a 1st, and a mid-to-high prospect, to get someone to absorb the cap hit. I'm guessing the reason we're paying so much is to get Petry, but we're better off not doing that, because we don't have the cap to have Petry on our roster even with the retention and that wastes a long-term talent for a short-term asset.

The Coleman trade was one thing because it gives us a very cap controlled, talented player, and the prospect sacrificed likely had a couple of years before NHL readiness. That doesn't mean we're prepared to give up our best immediate prospect (and only legitimate defensive prospect) for a defenseman we can't afford and to facilitate a cap dump.

Alright, but the value was more Foote + 1st + Fortier vs Petry but that’s an overpayment so they are sending Gourde without any salary retained. This trade would mean Tampa are a top contender for this playoffs run and the next one