Who else is worth protecting on that D core? Simek?
Doubtful Seattle was taking Burns anyway.

Seattle is gonna take simek

Not really. It would be nice to shed his cap 100% but he’s still good. Protecting Simek over Burns would be equally controversial.

It's not about worth protecting, it's about needing to get rid of and create cap space and get younger and get rid of a player who is about to be one of yet another anchor on this team (if not already). At least give it a chance. A 0% chance is always < a small chance.


Simek's cap hit is a fraction of Burns' 8mil. And Burns' contract is still for 4 more years going until he's 40.

Simek can be moved for a late rounder -- Burns cannot be moved without sweeteners or salary retention or reacquiring a negative asset.

MTL left Price exposed. NSH left Duchene and Johnansen. STL Tarasenko. No excuse for DW to protect Burns and quite frankly I'm just as shocked at how the fanbase isn't up in arms about this...

Seattle has so many better options available both financially and personnel. Jake Bean (young, very good), Soucy (cheap, manageable), Demelo (manageable and good) etc etc - Burns being exposed wouldnt have done anything but annoying him probably.

Burns would have cost assets to move and so keep the relationship healthy as opposed to exposing him for the sake of exposing him. Yes him moving would be beneficial but it wasn’t gonna happen and they weren’t gonna pay the assets.