teams don't take on bad contracts that actually cost money to to get to the cap floor. never have.

Really?

Datsyuk
Clarkson
Hossa
Horton
Pronger
Semin
Bolland

Should I continue? All contracts moved to teams to get to the cap floor but never played for them.

I think he means, teams don't take on contracts where they actually owe the player larger sums of money.

The contracts previously traded to reach the cap floor were front loaded contracts which aren't allowed anymore. The Senators owner is cheap as hell and if he is going to spend money on anything it better have a purpose and actually be of value.

Datsyuk - Alleviated cap space yes, but gave the Coyotes a better pick and I'm pretty sure he wasn't actually paid since he was retired and playing in Russia.
Clarkson - Was traded for Horton, both never played so just swapping dead contracts
Hossa - Salary = $1 million, Cap Hit = 5.275 million
Horton - See above...
Pronger - Salary = $575k Cap Hit = 4.9 million
Semin - Alexander? I don't recall him being traded?
Bolland - Was traded with a prospect to take on a salary. I'd say the trade was more to acquire Crouse then it was to hit the floor.

thanks for reading my post.....and proving my point. I said teams did not take on cap those cost them money.....
datysuyk had retired. he never costs the Arizona any money just cap hit......pronger....LTIR, just a cap hit Bolland LTIR (just a bit of money), but Arizona got players. Clarkson...equal contracts as Horton...money the same due to Horton's uninsured contract, but Horton was on LTIR so Leafs got cap relief.

Shall I go on?