If pens are retaining that, then we are giving a lot more then a 5th.

Are we though? Oliver Bjorkstrand just went for a 3rd and 4th. Zucker is a UFA and did not have a great season - so Tor is taking a flyer on him to get back to where he was.

Zucker is so bad, you're better off keeping Kerfoot and running a short roster. He's really that bad

Wow. That's an interesting take. He gets hurt a lot but healthy he's a solid second line LW.
I agree he's unlikely to get traded because the Penguins are also in win-now and have no replacement on the roster and no FA to replace him.
Lastly, you have 21 players and 80k in space. That's a bad decision that would likely cost you 12 - 15 games due to exhaustion in playing 11F or 5D for weeks due to injuries

How much shorter than 21 do you want?

Zucker is actually solid just injury prone. He hits a lot and plays a very solid 2 way game, he's a player you notice every game he plays, even when he isn't scoring, as he is still positively contributing to the team and making energy plays. The guy has just been very unlucky the last few years, and it's a shame because people act like he's a garbage, when he's still a decent 2nd line winger.

Kerfoot scored more last year than zucker did two previous years combined, is more versatile and younger. As far as running a short roster, the difference here is Jordie Benn, not anyone who would prevent exhaustion. Oh, and that 750k would be real easy to find with 2-3 months of deadline banking and cap shuffling.