Just buying Merzlikins out would be a superior approach for the Jackets.

I don't disagree but I keep seeing this trade. I was going to put 1.9M of retention because it actually saves them real dollars in comparison to a buyout and I believe that was factoring in Husso contract. Cap implications for the first two seasons are higher but the third season is actually less than a buyout.

Davidson doesn't strike me as the type to trade down. They've got a plethora of picks and would rather have quality instead of quantity.

Yeah I could see that. Just they don't have a fourth and an extra third so they were just the random team picking around there I chose.

Hawks are more likely to package picks to move up for quality. They have plenty of quantity in their system. Then need more high end prospects.

Plus the pick value is not really close according to Puckpedia:
Pick 72 - 2.485

Pick 112 & 128 - 0.97+0.72 = 1.689 So you are still another 4th round pick off in value.

Or look to package those picks to move up into the 80s in the 3rd round.