Make it a 2020 2nd and DET will let you send Smith without salary retention.

You really think just changing the year would make that much of a difference to take away salary retention?

It would for me. Though IDK for DET if salary retention is necessary either way. Maybe add in a 5th or remove the 4th.

If it truly got down to that point, a 5th thrown around here or there would make little to no difference for either team

Agreed. I am just all for DET utilizing cap space to get assets. Ideally I then retain 50% on Smith and flip him for a 2nd and 5th as well.

I could see them getting that return easily, but the big deal is idk what team would take it on

Good luck getting anyone to take Beleskey, much less a team with their own cap trouble giving up 2 picks to get him.
Detroit surely hangs up the phone to that offer. I think they like Bowey and they have no use for Smith.
Edmonton won’t trade Pulju for an overpaid utility man on an expiring contract, either. I’d like to get him but it would have to Buchnevich, a prospect and/or picks going out to make that deal.

One: Detroit doesn't want him, they got rid of him in the first place
Two: IF Detroit were to take him, The Rangers would need to sweeten the deal a little more. Either by retaining about half of his salary and a 2nd round pick in 2020 or retain no salary and give them a 2nd and 3rd in 2020.
Three: The 2020 draft is the deepest since 2003 when everyone and their mother was drafted. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2003e.html look at this draft and tell me that you wouldn't want a draft pick in the first 3 rounds.

Why would Winnipeg ever do that?

So your last post you were paying Puljujarvi $4m for 4 years, and now it's down to $2m for 3 years. A step in the right direction, but keep going because NO TEAM in the NHL would pay him anywhere near that much. He would be lucky to get $1m for 2 years. And trading an AHP player for 2 draft picks to the Jets...….so their GM is taking drugs now? LOL