if Darlings plays poorly we have his contract for another 3 yrs and no chance to move him. Same for Smith, true.
But I personally see a much higher chance to get Smith back in shape and have a decent D-man that we really need.
And even if Darling plays good in his 20+ games as Lundqvists backup still noone will take him and his 4M+ caphit as he has just shown he can't handle being a starter. What do we do with him then when Shestyorkin is coming over?
If the martians kidapped Benny Allaire, then I consider your point.
Few but most desperate only risk takers move on Darling now.
But like I said, we already have track record w/him and pretty much every goalie he ever worked with, and Pavelec is indisputable.
You'd have to carry Darling at least half the season, or, until injury forces someone's hand.
But you WILL be able to move him.
Smith deserves no extra consideration, and he is not even actual RD, just a lefty who has done both sides. Tuffness factor, check, everything else is question mark. He did play well enough to get that contract, but at this point everything is a risk.
Let him go to Canes. With their improvement, he can fit as a 7, esp if moving Faulk or other opens a slot and everyone moves up.
Plus, we get McKeown in phase 2 there, an actual righty.
Do it.