I doubt they accept that. Maybe Hutton + 2020 2nd + 2020 3rd if they really need the cash and can't get anything better

And since the bonuses were paid already, both those guys are owed $4M combined going forward. Hutton eats most of the "savings". There has to be a better way of saving $1.25M than trading one of your only centers and a goalie with great numbers though injury prone for a pure cap dump and a second rounder.

Good luck finding teams to take on 8 million in cap while giving up prime assets.

the savings is on the salary cap, not on cash

I'd rather give up a little more and go after Kessel instead of Stepan. After Kessel's signing bonus was paid July 1 his salary for next season is only 1 million. They have the same cap hit.

i think we need a center for this year as cozens gets acclimated, we can also flip stepan at the deadline if we are out of it, likely getting back the 2nd we moved for him, not the same with kessel

Totally agree unless we draft Lundell or Rossi who are supposed to be 3C ready. New Jersey is bereft of RHD and I think Zacha for Montour is reasonable to work on to fill that 3C hole as a more sure option.
As for flipping Kessel, we could likely do it next offseason after we pay his 5 million in signing bonus and let another team have his last year for a million

fair enough, i like phil, but i wanted stepan to bridge the center gap and give cozens and mittelstadt another vet

Stepan's a fine idea for you guys, but not at that price.

it'd be in separate deals. A team like WPG who really needs centres would gladly take Stepan, and Raanta would be a considerable upgrade for many teams in net.

Raanta alone is worth more than a 2020 2nd, much less a 2022 2nd, and someone would give a asset, even if it's just a 3rd or 4th or 5th, for Stepan