Islanders aren't dealing Dobson without an overpayment.

I think you would probably have to give a lot more to to get dobson, he is the future of the islanders blueline. A more fair package would probably be a 1st and a B-level prospect.

Sharks aren't retaining 5.5 mil for the next 4 years and taking Granny's 5 mil. Grier wants to remain employed.

Dobson isn't available.

EK65 will need to be retained..

A fair package wouldn’t get Dobson. There has to be incentive for the isles to trade him

Yes. But more like 3.5. Not 5.5. Especially since they'll be taking a Cup dump. I still think Sharks ownership is all over the retention number.

Imagine trying to sell this to an owner.

"Please pay a player no longer playing for you $14 million over the next 4 years to score 100 points a season and win more Norris Trophies. Oh and can you please take this 5 mil cap dump for the next 2 years? Thanks a bunch."

Owner says "Ok and what am I getting for this?"

Grier: Some kid named Poulin. Ty Smith. And some draft picks who most likely will never play in the NHL."

Owner: Oh. Mike get me a coffee. We need to talk about your contract.

absolutely absurd dobson trade, islanders obviously decline

I would expect San Jose ownership to have a hard line on what they'll retain. I doubt they're willing to go to 50% as well. If I'm Grier, I'd want multiple first round picks for 50% retention.

And I'd be surprised if Dubas did that. He already has a reputation of giving away 1st rounders like candy. I just can't see either happening.

Grier knows he'll have to pay more than his preferred 2.3 mil AAV retention on EK65. But 5 isn't happening. Sharks aren't retaining 20 mil for 4 years and taking a 5 or 6.25 mil cap dump for 2 years.

Better off keeping Karlsson. He can sit out games if he wants to. He won't get paid.

Better to spend the money and get something back.

No it isn't. Having your legs hacked off to save your face makes as much sense as hiring Peter Chiarelli to be your GM.

Yes but no more than $4.5M. Sweet spot is probably $3M - $3.5M.

oh well i got granlund and a 1st right atleast lol

1.5 mil AAV retained for 4 years. Wow. I knew ownership was all over the retention number but I didn't see it being that low.

This was obviously the goal for SJ. All they had to do was eat a $hit sandwich taking all those cap dumps.

Wonder where they go from here with duclair, granlund, hoffman? Flip them?

Grier should be trying to flip as many players as he can. Like Lou did in Toronto. Yzerman did in Detroit. It's much easier selling than it is buying.

Some players will be easier to flip than others. Grier only has 1 retention spot this season. Who does he use it on? Granny? I don't know.

Grier should be busier than a one armed trapeze artist at the trade deadline.

I agree. He was somewhat handcuffed into making the EK65 deal, i think from here on out we will see what he's got as a GM

I said all along Grier's main goal in the EK65 trade was low retention and that his owner was all over it. He's already paying Burns to play games in Carolina.

He knows Grier inherited Wilson's mess and he's giving him a chance to clean it up. You're right. Grier has more room to wheel and deal now. He may have had a trade(s) made with Dubas or other GM's but couldn't get it OK'd by his owner because the retention wasn't low enough. We'll never know.

I don't believe that trade happens without Montreal helping out. Grier basically ate a turd sandwich to get low retention. He could sell this to his owner so at least for today, he accomplished what his owner wanted.

Edit: Plattner was set to owe EK65 $46 million for the next 4 years. After this trade he owes him $6 mil.

I'd say that's a pretty good win for Mike Grier. Just something for fans to think about when they're roasting Grier.

yeah i agree