Can't imagine the Wild will help the Blues.

So to sum it up

ANA gets: 2022 1st (STL), 2023 3rd (STL)

STL gets: Lindholm

MIN gets: Scandella, 2023 2nd (STL)

And

ANA loses: Lindholm

STL loses: Scandella, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

MIN loses: nothing

I think something is missing here.

Without Minnesota taking part of Lindblom cap AND taking Scandella off STL payroll, STL and Anaheim cannot complete the trade.

They just helped Colorado....

Sure they can.

ANA retains Lindholm's full contract and take in Scandella themselves, alongside those picks. Money is close to even, around $500k difference between half retained Lindholm and full Scandella. Wild is not needed in this exchange.

If anything, ANA could sell Scandella afterwards to Wild.

I mean they're getting the better, younger player with more term. That purpose of that trade wasn't just to let Colorado clear cap.

Colorado is in win now mode. Do you think Sakic makes that trade if he views it as a loss?

I think it's possible for two guys to make trades that work for both teams. No GM is going to make a trade he thinks is a loss.

I agree. I think the trade works both ways. Minnesota just helped Colorado.

I was coming at this as Scandella is a cap dump. If Anaheim wants to take back his contract, then go for it. They may see him as a useful player, but if they were to try to flip him they would most likely be retaining salary for little return.

Even if Scandella was considered a cap dump, there's no way STL (or ANA) would retain part of his salary AND pay a 2nd to move him.