Probably shouldn’t need that much to dump off Hagelin, but it’s a minor detail. Those trades are certainly blockbusters, the kind you don’t really see nowadays. I mean, that Kane trade is more than Buffalo got for Eichel lol. Going this route shortens the championship window to about 2 years, but it gives the Caps such a good chance at winning a cup this year that it could be worth it as a last hurrah before going into a rebuild/retool.

Exactly well said

Detroit would accept that without the retention. You don't need retention to stay cap compliant and Detroit have other potential trades they need their two remaining retention slots on much more.

Ok