Quoting: ht42
Hanifin wanted to be traded to a team that he will gonna sign a extension, and he have a select list (ex : Tampa, Vegas, etc.).
Savard doesn't want to be traded away, and the Habs aren't open to trade him UNTIL a team that they will deseperate need a RD who can play defense, and that's lead that the team will gonna need to paid that price (best example : the Leafs).
Hanifin only had an 8-team NTC, it's not like Calgary was moving a guy like Tarasenko complete control over his destiny. If Craig Conroy was only negotiating with teams that Hanifin wanted to sign an extension with, well, he shouldn't be an NHL GM then (but that's a different story.)
To put it differently, here are two players:
Player A: 33 years old, former Cup champ, 19:34 TOI/2:55 PK, 3-12-15 in 55 GP, 43.5% CF at 5v5, 42/58 O/D-zone starts
Player B: 33 years old, former Cup champ, 20:33 TOI/3:18 PK, 5-10-15 in 40 GP, 43.2% CF at 5v5, 47/43 O/D-zone starts
Before you say which player you're trading a pick for, I'll tell you that one of these players is signed for an extra year at $2.75M AAV and one is signed through next year at $3.5M. Which one do you think is worth a 1st rounder?