YES YES YES

This is a deal I could definitely see go down it really helps both teams needs.

You’d probably need a bit more to get them to do this, but not that much more. No matter what the Wings think, they’re not getting a first or a top prospect for a 35 year old rental. The question is: would they rather get nothing for their rental or take Allen and get a 2nd rounder and a prospect?

You're close. But need to up to offer a bit. Detroit's asking at least a 1st for Howard and they'll probably get it with how weak the goalie market is. If not, a 2nd is minimum. 3rd round pick gets a hang up from Ken Holland. Blais is an interesting guy though, hasn't produced much at the NHL level but has the talent to. He's what, 22 now though? Almost at that stage of saying "okay, what are you now", so a higher pick would help Detroit take him. Allen is just too inconsistent to provide real good value, not sure Detroit would take him. They might just ride Bernier and write this year off.

So I'd say right now you'd be closer with Blais and a first (next years since Buffalo has this year's) for Howard is the ask from Detroit based on this offer. Not sure St. Louis does that, might have to include another B level prospect to be able to drop that 1st to a 2nd.

That being said, is St.Louis really in a spot to be dealing high picks and prospects when they've mentioned that they wanna shake up their core? If they go for a rebuild they'll need those picks.

Or they could just resign him, like they are planning on doing after the season anyway. There comes a point in the return that doesn't make sense to make a trade, especially if you plan on resigning them anyway. Does a 3rd round pick move the needle? Does the prospect you are getting in return move the needle? If the answer is no, you are better off not making the trade.

Kenny always gets pretty good returns on his selling, and the reputation of driving a hard bargain is one of the reasons why. He'd rather keep than weaken his position for future negotiating. Not enough GMs understand that. If by saying No to a 3rd round pick today gets him a 2nd or 1st round pick on a different asset tomorrow, then saying No is the right course of action (especially on the possibility of a 3rd round actually making the NHL, which is around 10%, where it's much higher in the 2nd round, near 45%).