You're not getting 3M retention and dumping Hickey for that.

You’re overrating Tarasenko. He’s played 34 games over the last two years, has requested a trade from St. Louis, and has a massive contract. St. Louis has little leverage in negotiations so getting back a young player w promise in Bellows, a solid bottom-pairing defenseman and a 2nd for Tarasenko + 3 mil retention over two years is not terrible.

Wow, there's all sorts to unpack here, so I'll just tackle it in order.

1- You would not be trading for Tarasenko's last two seasons. I understand the uncertainty angle, but he's now healthy, motivated and will actually have a preseason to fine tune his shot again.
2- If I'm overrating Tarasenko, what are you doing with Bellows and especially with Hickey, who has played all of five games the last two seasons?
3- Hickey's cap dump + 3M retention is at least a 2nd by itself. That leaves Bellows (who has played but 22 games the last two seasons) for Tarasenko, which ain't gonna cut it.

Final analysis: Take Hickey and the retention away and you're making an okay offer for Tarasenko. With the Hickey dump and the retention, you're waaaay light.