The Blues would probably accept if you keep Anderson.

ROR is not going to return a 1st, not given his year

Good chance he is if you’re going to ask for almost 4 mil in retention.

That said it’s looking like a buyers market with all of the expiring contracts rumoured to be available so it could drive the price down on the second tier of guys.

First, every team is going to ask for $3.75M in retention. Can’t think of any team that can afford him at full cap hit.
He may get a first (& his track record deserves it) but he’s had such a bad year, I doubt it. s you say - could be a buyer’s market.
Could he just re-sign there instead?

When I say buyers market I am talking about trade deadline buyers market. There are a pile of pending UFAs that are said to be available and with that many impact players on the market the price will potentially be much lower than in past years. So it could drive the price down, but in the case of a guy like ROR who is playoff experienced and still an elite level shut down Center he likely draws a first regardless when you take retention into consideration.