I don't think this is a good idea for either team

I think an interesting and more realistic 2C target might be a guy like Adam Henrique. ANA is tanking and he’s under-utilized. Could easily get ANA to retain some cap and he comes with a second year of term. I think COL could get him at a dirt cheap price given his bad start this year. He’s a big body, defensively sound, really good at face offs.

San Jose wants nothing to do with all that retention for a late 1st

San Jose will have to retain on Couture or pay another team too.

I would imagine they will but not that much. I would be fine retaining a mil a year, but there’s no way they would have to pay to move couture

Needless to say EJ blocks that trade, he gets what 13 teams he can put on the no trade list gotta figure for him AZ, CHI, SJS are locks on most lists.

With a rebuild coming, the max retention will be likely mandatory. It's not so much of paying to move Couts, its maximizing a return on a 33 yr old(34 come playoffs) with a 3 team trade list and 4 years left. There is little to no negotiating power.

How would shark fans react to something like Girard, Bowers and a 1st for Couts(4m retained) and Ferraro. I like the thought of adding a Fiero to Makar garage.

I think you may be off for once on that. California teams might all be ones he'd accept. Not saying it works at all, just the EJ point.

There is a reason I didn’t put ANA, I think he blocks SJS every time.