The retention helps but Detroit just doesn’t need more small wingers.

We sat on one all year in GR because we couldn’t/wouldn’t make room for him.

Avs need Girard much more than they need Kuzmenko. Strangely I feel like the Flames need Kuzmenko more than Girard. So I guess the entire trade doesn't make sense to me.

Markstrom's contract doesn't expire until 2026. No chance the Flames take that deal even without retention. The other two deals aren't much better either, all three get declined by Calgary.

Probably more likely with 50% retention and that condition.

Conroy accepted the Holtz-for-Markstrom deal in February with 2.5 years of $2 million retention. This deal is $1.5m for two years.

I don’t know what the latest narrative is now on why management killed the deal. At one point, it was due to the retention. Then later, it was because they wanted to stay competitive. But assuming they are now on same page, I would think the retention wouldn’t be an issue.

How does COL trading a cost controlled top 4 dman for an under achieving winger work for them? Easy answer is it doesn’t.

Simplest no the Avs would probably ever give. That's about the last thing they need to do.