Los Angeles has 14 forwards on the roster right now under contract for 2023-2024, plus 4 RFAs (two of whom are Gabe Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari), plus prospects like Alex Turcotte and Sam Fa-gem-o who will get long and serious looks in training camp, plus a cap crunch because we need to sign a #2LhD and starting goalie, so under what theory could the Kings possibly be interested in acquiring Mike Hoffman?!?!?

Washington has no need for Edmundson at their current juncture, as Sandin and Fehervary have been quality top 4 players while Alexeyev has excelled on the third pairing. No room for a random vet, even with retention, and Washington seems content to keep Mantha (for now) and give him a proper chance to play under a better coach.

Using 2 of 3 retentions at the start of the year would indicate we are not planning to be sellers at the TDL. Is that how you see it?

You're in year 2 of a rebuild, Montreal isn't anywhere close to being the 4th best team in the Atlantic or Metro for that fact. Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa are way ahead of Montreal in their respective rebuilds.