You started off by saying the Hutton is just as good as Allen and I don't think that's true, which is why I said something in the first place. Allen has been better. In addition, Allen has room to revitalize his career (and this year has been a good step in that direction) where 35 year old Hutton does not. The Allen-for-Hutton swap was just a hypothetical and not related to the specific trades here. The Blues are getting the worse player, who is also cheaper, while Buffalo gambles that Allen truly has rediscovered his game (which is why they agree to take the player with the higher cap hit). And if not, he won't be worse than Hutton would be and both are up after next year anyway. Buffalo is convinced that they are close to contending, and that kind of move would be in the spirit of that while not spending any other assets. I don't think Bozak goes to Buffalo, he's got a M-NTC and Buffalo is a perennial on those.

An Allen for Hutton swap is fine if there is no retention. Blues save 1.6M and Buffalo takes a shot at Allen being more than a solid backup.