Yea would rather just buy Gardiner out than give up that much to move him

How do you expect to be able to keep all of those defensemen without losing Trocheck or Teräväinen?

Never mind...I apparently can't read.

Oh if Dougie doesn't resign by expansion he doesn't need to be protected, only way he's picked is if he were to agree on a contract with Seattle. Also Dougie is not consistent defensively to warrant 8.5 million, he'd get his ass burned if he wasn't paired with Slavin

That's fair, though my thought on the trade was more about keeping both Skjei and Bean when only one could be protected in the expansion draft. So it's both moving him and retaining the rest of the D corps.

My protection list in my head was Slavin, Pesce, and either Skjei or Bean. I think they'll probably agree to a contract with Hamilton but not sign it until after the expansion draft so they can avoid losing a protection spot. $8.5 probably is a little high, especially if he wants to stay. I had Pietrangelo's 8 x $8.8 on my mind as a "top of the market" range, with him coming in below that. Would $8 be too much do you think?

Also, any thoughts on 3 x $6.5 bridge for Svech? The bridge deals are tricky to gauge.

Bridge is fine. Although a 3 year bridge might be tricky because that is when Aho, Teuvo, etc contracts end. A 2 year is probably the path.