No, it was a smart move to sign him for nothing and get a return. He fits well on a team that can slot him in as the 6th best forward. On the habs he is arguably the best player...which on paper sounds great, but he is not good enough to be the best player anymore.
I'd be ok with seeing the following next year:
Tatar Danault Gallagher
Kovalchuk Suzuki Armia
Drouin Domi
Hoffman
Byron
Evans Lehkonen
Weal
Kotkaniemi, Poehling, Ylonen in laval as injury replacements.
Chiarot Weber
Romanov Petry
Scandella Mete
Kulak, Folin
Plus Fleury, Brook, Ouellet, Alzner in Laval
Price
New backup
Plus Primeau and McNiven in Laval.
I.e. compared to the starting lineup at the start of this year:
In: Romanov, Scandella, Kovalchuk, Hoffman, Evans and a new backup.
Out: Cousins, Thompson, Kinkaid.
Pushed to reserves/development time in laval: Kulak, Fleury, Kotkaniemi.