And? We're discussing what's going on, not what potentially could. If he goes on the block, then the dynamic changes.

Meanwhile, Army has been talking up an extension since the deadline passed.

Again, Buch is not on the market, he's not on the block. You keep talking about players who are openly on the block, being offered around. That's not this.

This is I'm not offering anything to anyone, if they come to me I'll listen. If someone rings a nice enough bell, fine, I give in, I will trade him. If not, great, I keep the player I wanted to keep all along. Army still holds all the cards.

There is no "price" to drop here. There's I dare you to make me an offer I can't pass up. Still. And now, quite conceivably, more teams will play the game. Does that automatically mean they offer more? No, but market forces are market forces for a reason. They tend to have an effect. Having one less playoff run would push a price down. Having more teams bidding should push it back up. Could teams come in trying to bargain shop because "the price went down"? Of course, but they are not going to like the tone of the response. The price is not going to chance a great deal this summer. Nor should it.

Sens accept.

If Doug can’t sign him in the offseason or doesn’t want to sign him, he is most definitely on the block…

The "we're not trading him" argument doesn't increase the price.

Either he's available, in which case the highest offer will get him. And it will fall almost certainly in line with comps for guys with 1 year before UFA

Or he isn't and he won't be traded.

There's not this team that's going to come in and massively overpay for 1 year just because he "isn't on the market".

That's none of Army's concern. Yet again, there is no price tag. If somebody wants him this summer, they will have to pay handsomely. And not just "value" but the right value.

Maybe that could work with a top flight C or top flight RD. But winger is not the kind of position where you can say a guy is unavailable and expect any team to overpay (in fact it likely just means you scare away buyers and lower the offers).

Teams will just move on to the endless supply of other wingers that are always available

Right. Which is an entirely different situation to the one we are in.

Pray tell?

You're talking about a future hypothetical. We're in the present and none of those things have happened. Like I noted, Army spoke about extending him this week. Seems like that's the direction if no one turns his head well enough.

But why?

Because I think he would pair well with Sanderson or Chabot and we’re stacked at Center. Deal addresses a need and clears 1.4 million dollars in cap.