That Kings trade is pretty terrible.

Detroit will need picks in compensation for taking a cap dump. They won't give picks for a contract like De Haans. Similar issue with the Buffalo and LA trades. If those GMs say no, you are screwed, and they know this. So they will command a higher price for their cap space, as a finite commodity.

You are going to have to buyout Zach Smith noone is going to pay to take your cap dumps

De Haan isnt a cap dump lol

Consider it this way then. How do the rest of your moves work with De Haan on the roster. There is a need for him to be traded to make space for your other moves.

All those teams need to reach the cap floor and have needs in those positions, look at the salary cap table of all those teams I traded Smith, De Haan and Maatta to. Thats why I did them. Im not trading people off willy nilly because of their record.

consider it this way though. De Haan would be the best defenseman on the Red Wings roster and you're getting him for 2 3rds

Being one of Detroit's better defencemen isn't exactly a high bar though. Hroneks pretty darn good, but other than that the NHL roster this year was pretty barren. We could take on a cap dump and have him be one of the better D on the team. Maata. De Haan would be solid on Detroit. But unless we're acquiring a mentor for Seider, I dont see the benefit. Im sure theres a better fit that would give up a draft pick for De Haan.

Detroit won’t give up draft picks for players that aren’t in our long-term future

De Haan is better than most of what Detroit currently has on the left side. I wouldn’t call it a cap dump. I wouldn’t give up two thirds for him but one is certainly fair