Vancouver is not retaining salary for four years . If he doesn't fit your budget move on .

Canucks don’t retain on multi year deals.

Why are the Canucks retaining on the better dman

All the above

If Schmidt plays like he did last year then Vancouver is paying to get rid of him, plain and simple. Either by retention (low odds) or bringing back a bad contract.

1. Schmidt wants out of Vancouver
2. Schmidt had a poor season
3. Schmidt carries a near $6M per year cap hit for the next 4 seasons
4. Schmidt, after 2 strong seasons in Vegas, was only worth a 3rd round pick last summer.

All of the above.

1) No real source to come out and confirm this rumor.
2) New team, new system, entire team underperformed.
3) Not a cap dump, he is a solid top 4 dman that can play all situations and special teams.
4) VGK needed to shed cap for Pietrangelo, not due to performance.

All of the above.

It doesn't matter WHY Vegas needed to trade Schmidt, the fact is the best return they were able to get for him without taking back salary was a 3rd round pick.