So Detroit is paying a 2nd and Berggren to take an extra $100,000 of cap. Why would they do this?

Because youre moving a healthy scratch with term for a useful middle six player

Flyers decline, no use for Acciari.

Detroit needs cap space and their moves them in the wrong direction. They would just buyout Holl long before they do this. Smith 32yr old bottom 6 player and most of Detroit's forwards have similar or better. Mayne you can get a 2nd or a good prospect for him from another team, but to Detroit he isn't worth a 2nd or Berggren alone so they sure aren't giving up both.

Rather just play Berggren there. Allow the young player to grow and be a part of the future rather than add a declining player who is not part of the future. Buying out Holl and re-signing Berggren is cheaper than adding Reilly Smith at 2.5M. I just don't see a deal like this working. Berggren will produces at the same rate already and although Smith might be better away from the puck now, still doesn't make up for it.

While I don't think DET would have any interest in this deal, it's factually wrong that your alternative is "cheaper." Buying out Holl costs $4.5m. Smith at 50% is $2.5m. Also, very clearly DET and Berggren are not enamored with one another or else he would be in the lineup regularly and he is not despite already proving what he can at the AHL level.

Trading a top-6 player for a bunch of lesser pieces is something long-successful teams do to kick off a rebuild (a la Pittsburgh), not something a young team loaded with prospects already and lacking top-end talent does in an attempt to get out of a rebuild (a la Columbus).

No reason to move Laine. His trade value is at its lowest, and we need a goal-scoring powerplay specialist. If he comes back and returns to form, great! We get what we need. If not, it's not like we'd be getting more for him right now compared to, say, TDL 2025/2026.

Sorry, cheaper cap hit for next season is what I was referring to. Figured that was an obvious point.

Yippee! Another middle-6 player!