I doubt petry waives, it's probably buying him out and having to pay someone a 2nd to take Holl

Unfortunately I agree with you

This is what I wanted Steve to do at the deadline. Move Holl out and bring in a rental upgrade over Petry and then buy him out in the offseason.

It's taken Petry his entire career to land back in Detroit. He isn't waiving to go to Chicago or anywhere else. If by some miracle he did waive, Hawks would probably take him for a 3rd, not a 4th.

Well you can save $4M by not bringing Perron back (since he's completely washed at this point).

I wanted something but Yzerman is so conservative.

Petry finishes his contract out in Detroit and they buy out Holl. They sign Roy and then Petry and Chariot can split time in the 3rd pair.

True. Although, I'm sure if Yzerman went to him and said "Look, I'm sorry but, if you don't allow a trade we are going to buy out your contract." he might be upset but if it's between that and not playing at all I think he probably takes the trade.

He for sure says ok buy me out before he agrees to a trade. He's a ufa and can pick a destination if that happens

That's not really how free agency works... There needs to be mutual interest. Also, he has a 15 team no trade list, any team not on that list is fair game. So, if they shop him as a cap dump or at a discount to move the contract, and no one wants him, that means his choices will be 'slim to none' in free agency, as well. So, if he wants to play, he should accept the trade and try to prove himself in the last year of his deal.

Any player will take being a ufa and having choices over a team picking where he has to play