I mean there are tons of options if the player is in agreement and more besides.
But trading him away, and getting a sweater in the mix is a three way win,
Condon gets a bit better of a situation
We lessen the goalie log jam
EM saves a bit of dough
We get a slightly better draft position
PD gets a low five from EM for the slight savings
What’s not to like, I mean it’s a slight nod of approval given our enduring situation, which is better then stubbing your toe.
1. Condon may not be getting a better situation; McElhinney is certainly expected to play ahead of him in the NHL, and they already have 3 other minor league goalies under contract for next year in Domingue, Martin, and Wedgewood. If two of them outperform him, he's in the exact same situation as in Ottawa and would have to OK a loan to an ECHL team, or other non AHL/NHL team.
2. A logjam implies we have to play him, we don't.
3. If the insurance is not retroactive (which would be the most likely scenario) we do not save any money when compared with buying out Condon.
4. At the opportunity cost of making a different trade; there were likely better ways to do so and the difference between a 5th and 6th is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of things
5. see point 3, we probably could have saved more by buying out Condon, but whatever.
I appreciate people wanting to put a positive spin on this trade, but frankly it looks far more like spinning our tires to me. Condon should have been bought out when we had the chance. Now we are paying the price to get rid of him instead of being paid to take on an LTIRetired contract.