Remove Pageau, and you might get negotiations started. Not enough if you want TK 50% retained, but it's at least a start.

I don’t think anyone wants JGP

I think you could get Mangiapane at half price for a 3rd for sure.

Nobody is going to retain 50% on the superior player and take back Pageau just to help the Islanders make cap space off the deal. I could potentially see at the deadline if Konecny/Buch/Mangiapane weren't extended and their teams weren't anywhere in a race them eating half the salary of the player. But i'm not sure a team is going to eat 50% on one of those guys in the offseason. That generally only happens when teams feel they need to get rid of the player (Hayes/Johanson).

Like Hayes and Johnasen I think the Islanders could potentially find a taker for Pageau at 50% for a 5th or so. It's a pretty buy-out friendly deal if someone were wanting to do that next offseason.

Yeah I don't see the blues eating 50% and taking back JPG. There are other teams that could take buch at full salary or 50% without sending back a bad contract