Tspky
Joined: Feb. 2016
Posts: 3,885
Likes: 980
if you want NYR to retain while getting essentially the same player, it'll cost you more in draft picks than the rangers give up. Especially since Gauthier has been one of the best in the league at drawing penalties this year.
Edit:
Namestnikov makes 2.5m which is 1m more than Blais, and BB is an AHLer. So with retention, you are having them take on an additional 2m in cap for worsening their draft position. If you want those players at that reduction while dumping Namestnikov, make it a 2nd rounder or 3rd & 4th rounder.