Bullfrog said:
I don't see how retaining any salary/cap height is going to move the needle much on the value, assuming the team getting him has the cap room (and I suppose that's the real question.) After his $3M signing bonus, he's only owed $1.25M in salary. Just about any team can justify that for a player of his ability.
The real dollars are a non-issue, agreed. It's the cap hit that's the problem. That's where retaining some might make him a more palatable trade option, and could reduce/eliminate the need for a sweetener to be thrown in. For example, it's much easier to justify a 3rd/4th line winger that puts up ~30 points if they come with a ~$3.5M cap hit than with a $6.25M cap hit. Unless Marleau's willing to waive his NMC to go to a team that taking him on as a cap write-off (which feels unlikely), the Leafs will need to eat some cap.