Meh. Would really hope the Rangers don’t do that but they’d probably say yes

Drop the conditions on the second and add a 3rd and the Canes accept.

Rangers shouldn’t, but like mentioned above they’d probably take it.

Why would Edmonton pay for the hawks to take on a expiring contract

Just going by the recent narrative that Holland has to include a pick to move Puljujarvi.

Doesn’t make sense so Holland might do it

Hypothetically, EDM might need space RIGHT NOW for another TDL move. I doubt it would take a 2nd, though. But they probably would have to pay something or give him away for nothing to get it done.

A few of the Bedard teams would take him for free. High picks always get multiple chances

Sure, they MIGHT* take him for free. But he has sort of already had is "multiple chances", albeit with the team that drafted him. We'll have to wait and see, though. But if no one will take him for free, and EDM needs the cap space, they might get desperate enough. But I doubt it would take a 2nd. The thing about him is, his RFA rights are worth nothing, because no one is going to give him that qualifying offer. So, unless he is willing to extend at a more reasonable cap hit, he is probably set to become a free agent this summer. So why would a GM take on his contract when they could just wait to "give him another chance" this summer? As a favor? I don't think so. No one is doing anyone any favors right now. The market is primed right now for leveraging cap crunched teams, bottom feeders know that and contending teams up against the cap know that too.

I think the market is going to shift towards buyers with so many potential UFAs and contenders only being able to add maybe one player due to cap, 80% of the league is up against the cap.
The race to the bottom this year is just important as the race to the top.

Maybe. That race to the bottom definitely evens things out a little bit. But also consider the need for cap space with the cap only going up $1M for next season. It'll be close, but I think that might have it leaning toward sellers a little bit more. GM's can't get too wrapped up in the Bedard sweepstakes. Even last place only has a 25% chance of getting that 1st overall pick. Only one team is going to be able to draft him.