Arizona is not going to retain Chychrun for 3 years while they are still retaining OEL. He is already on a team friendly deal and you have the cap space, so why ask for retention?

Two reason: The Coyotes will likely start to be very competitive likely only in 2025-26, and the Canadiens will keep some money for signing Caufield, Slafkovsky & Ghule in the next three years.

Sure, but that also doesn't solve the fact that Arizona only have 1 retention spot until 25-26...not really about being competitive...more about asset management over the next 2-3 years. Those retention spots are extremely valuable for a rebuilding team. Just using the Ducks as an example here but if they only had 1 retention spot last year, their ability to move Rakell/Hampus/Manson for a 1st+4 x 2nd+Clang+Helleson+Vaak+the rest, wouldn't have been possible. For Arizona, doing it on OEL until 27-28 is already less than ideal.

Well, then, Arizona won't deal with you because a team playing in the ASU fieldhouse before an intimate crowd of less than 6,000 close friends isn't going to be eating a lot of money no matter what the financial position of one of the most successful franchises in all of sports is.

Thanks for the entirely accurate observation about the Ducks, by the way.

ASU is not going to voluntarily kneecap themselves with the biggest trading piece, they can get the trade done without retention, they will shop Jakob elsewhere.

These move would be stupid by the habs. Better to keep in mind the rebuild. Even if they are in a playoff race, they have to sell Monahan, Edmundson and Drouin at least.

.500 record and apparently it's time to deal multiple first round picks and crater our future