you can have soderberg or wallmark for a 5th but murphy is off limits.

Chicago easily rejects

Ditto. Murphy is valuable and we don’t need a locker room issue. You can have soderberg or wallmark.

Everyone declines.

I don’t think NSH would retain on a Johansen for Trouba deal — especially since he has an extra year + a NMC which would need protection in the expansion draft. I don’t think it works on NSH’s end regardless though, even if they want to get rid of the Johansen contract.

... he’s also 2-3 years younger

And started declining at a younger age then too — but regardless, NSH doesn’t want to stop paying Johansen $8m just to pay Trouba $9m.

And as @villenash mentioned earlier, Trouba takes up an expansion protection slot. NSH already has four defensemen (Josi, Ellis, Fabbro, Ekholm) they'd want to protect.

It's possible something could be worked out after the ED takes place, but a lot closer to a one-for-one swap without NSH retaining. Even then, with the extra year on Trouba's deal, I'd be hesitant to do that from NSH's side.

NMC...