Why is STL retaining for 4 years for free?

I doubt the blues will be retaining that much for 4 years. Might as well just play Krug and see if he can play better. It's not like we are competing and trying be a cup contender right now

Gonna need a serious asset tacked on for that much retention.

Leafs take that

Heh. 10+M in retention and you think STL then needs to add a decent draft pick??? Heh, good one.

One it’s an idea. You guys were talking about buying him out. This saves more money and less of a cap hit for years

It’s not a horrible idea. But I’d imagine at around 2m retention all while taking back a bit so great contract. There would be a decent amount of interest.

It would be more dire if we needed to clear cap. It would be nice to but not a necessity. Armstrong had said yesterday he isn’t using the buyout this off-season.

I could be wrong, but I don't think it was any of us who wanted to buy him out. But the real issue is you've stacked it so much, the money and cap savings aren't near worth it. It adds cap this season, which is the one they need cap for the most. The Blues are not retaining 10M+ for that, let alone adding a pick.

I don't think the blues have ever bought out a contract before. I think it's more likely they exchange him for an equally bad contract or just wait it out

Edited the trade

They bought out McKee in 2009 I think, but they hated it. What Army has definitely never done is retain more than TDL UFA, and certainly never 9M.