Could get more retaining half on JVR

The issue is I think people are going to disagree with your assertion that Puljujarvi is worth a 2nd. I view him as being worth at least a late-1st. Tough to say what his actual value is given the nature of his skillset and the understated quality to his game, but I wouldn't accept less than a late-1st worth of value. As for the Kassian portion, I'd sooner just buy him out than sacrifice Jesse to be free of him.

You can buyout Kassian. The cap hit is nothing this season.

"You expected me to get Keith for free?"

"The market for Jesse wasn't there"

Somehow these quotes will make sense to Holland.

I'm fully prepared for Puljujarvi to be dumped for a 2nd or 3rd.

And yet, before Jesse came back to the league, Holland wasn't prepared to accept a 2nd for him. Now that he's returned and showed himself to be a good NHL player, I doubt that will have changed. However, to your point, I guess I've seen stupider moves made over the past decade and a half.

And further to that point, in the following season, the cap hit is up at 1.6mil but that's during a season where, so long as Ken doesn't make a monumental mistake, the team will have plenty of space and only really Bouchard and Skinner/another goalie as major pieces to re-sign. Buyouts are less than ideal, but I'd argue that losing a 2nd is worse in this case.

You cant make this stuff up. Ppl are way too analytical here, sometimes. These Gms make decisions by the seat of their pants and scouts fall in love with players on 1st viewing. Nepotism abound.