Calgary doesn't want Graves unless he comes with retention.

Ive done retention in other posts and some flames fans say they dont need it but with this team it still works if we retained $1M

He’s negative value at full price. Some fans don’t watch hockey so their opinions shouldn’t be taken into account.

By some Flames fans you mean @KingofRnR... For some unkown reason he really likes Graves and has wanted the Flames to acquire him for years.

Myself I'd be perfectly happy with a 3rd for Graves without retention if his contract only had 2 or even 3 years left instead of 5 years left. 5 years at 4.5 mil per doesn't fit the flames future but 5 years at 3.5 mil per would be fine.

Yup Graves is a guy I like a lot. Big Canadian 2-Way Defensemen who handles a tremendous work load like Tanev did for us, yet can contribute offense

He’d be a complimentary D-Partner for Andersson or Miromanov and maybe eventually Brustewicz. He’s Young and his Cap Hit is fair. Besides, expecting a Team to retain for 5 seasons is simply unrealistic

I mean his CapFriendly Bio sums him up pretty well: Ryan Graves CF Profile

He’s just a guy I think would fit the Flames and I’d be willing to pay up to a mid-3rd for him, but if we can get him for less, even better!

sure thing, and Gudbranson and Mattheson cost 1st round picks to move.

There is such a need for defensemen in the NHL it's not even funny. There is a dire shortage.
The penguins could move Graves 1st day of the offseason with no retention if they wanted because there are 2 dozen teams who need defensemen and an average 2LD on an average 2LD salary isn't a burden on a team or have "negative" value.

But hey maybe you'd like to keep running with last years defense and see where that gets you.

JT is so slow, why do you think TOR fans want to chase him out.
Why would you ever agree to take that 9mil cap dump, let alone pay for it.
If he was anywhere close to being worth that salary TOR fans wouldn't be chasing him out the door.

Only way I'd take that cap hit back is if they are paying for it. Otherwise, let the young legs with speed play, the team will be better off.

Except he isn't an average 2 LD. He's an adequate 2 LD/4th D or an expensive bottom pair D who's 28 years old. He's decent defensively but not very physical for such a big guy and doesn't contribute much offensively either. By the time his contract runs out he'll be 33 years old another player on the wrong side of 30 who won't be as good as the others.

Calgary wants to be competitive in 3 years time, they'll want a good 4th D, not an olderguy who was just adequate when he was a bit younger.

i really hate to break this to you, but he's an average 2LD on an average 2LD contract.