Rather buy him out.

Basically turning Armia into a 4 x $6.9 mil player seems like a really, really poor strategy, when you can just buy out Kane and use that money elsewhere.

I don’t see the point in this when it will end up being the same cap hit between armia and the retention for Kane for the same term.

I think the point I to avoid paying a 1st to move Kane for prospects. Also buying him out means you still make whatever replacement player worth essentially 3.5 mil more as well. Kane has a 3 team trade list he can veto any trade so the destination has to please him as well and I am not sure Montreal would be on his trade list.

Just what the Habs need... more problems

This is just not a good move for the Sharks.

I think so too. If they'd bring down the 3.5mil retention to somewhere between 2-2.5mil, I think it's a good move.