Once a Kings Fan Too
Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 39,687
Likes: 24,608
This isn't just an exchange of bad contracts -- it's an exchange of underproductive players. In outline, it's a really good idea for both teams.
However, Johansen's AAV is $8 million and Skinner's is $9 million. Therefore, the $1 million retention is merely keeping Nashville in the same economic position that they were without the trade for the next 5 years. The problem is that the Preds will be on the hook for Skinner for two more years -- and if you think that he is unproductive now, imagine how that's going to pan out 6 years from now. So I think that Buffalo would have to add significantly to persuade Nashville to accept this burden for the last two years.