Quoting: OlegP
Hard to believe. His NTC goes modified next season, i can see him veto a trade to Detroit or Ottawa but whats the alternative there. He can take his pick now of where he wants to go instead of living a year of uncertainty in Tampa then traded somewhere he has no control. Let's see face it, wherever he goes with that contract, he'll be exposed in expansion and the Kraken will take him. Lebrun speculated the same thing in theathletic today.
Trade only makes sense for the Habs if Domi is traded for something cheap. Johnson has no value. Strictly a cap dump
They still can have there pick really, even with a partial NTC. Take Killhorn 16 no trade list for example
If he were to put Ottawa, Buffalo, Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Florida, Calgary, Boston, Winnipeg, Dallas, LA, Minnesota, San Jose, Montreal, Nashville and Carolina on it
The Rangers, Vancouver, Hawks and Islanders are trying to move out salary and the other Ten can't afford to take on 4.5 million in salary it's essential a NTC at that point.
With the flat cap all Johnson has to do is put the 20 teams on it with the least cap space next season and and it will be the same