That said, I think Hossa's deal is moveable without having to attach a premium asset (like Teravainen with Bickell's deal). You need to find a team that is unlikely to sniff the top end of the cap for the 3 years of Hossa's deal that remains and then put together some combo of a non budget in a rebuild team willing to just buy a pick or prospect or a budget team that has a contract they don't want to pay any more (player has declined or become redundant by someone else evolving on their roster).
Arizona might be a little bit of both types of teams. Acquiring Kruger made no sense (other then maybe to surround OEL with another Swede to get him to sign an extension) as he has declined badly, is over paid (even with Carolina retaining and the Hawks paying the front end of his frontloaded deal), and they have pretty good center depth (not necessarily great quality....but quantity). If newly acquired Galy is going to be a center there, Kruger makes even less sense. Instead of paying Kruger the 2 million they will owe him this year, maybe you can convince them to pay Hossa his 1 million a year and get a 3rd round pick (or a prospect they like where we are not as much in love with)?
Maybe Buffalo flips Moulson who was in the AHL most of the year and is probably done being a useful NHL'er for Hossa straight up? Buried in the AHL, Moulson is 3.975 against the cap or 1.3 less then Hossa. No LTIR wiggle room though, but you are done for good after this season as it is the last year of Moulson's deal. Moulson is only owed 3 million in real dollars so he is a wash against what is owed Hossa. However, Pegula is deep pocketed and maybe you convince him to buy a 3rd rounder for a million by retaining on Moulson. Still not ideal, but more cap room this year, no carryover bonus overages (that LTIR does not absorb), and full cap next year. Beaulieu has a 2,4 cap hit and is owed 2.5 in real money. He was a bust of a trade, will not have a role with Dahlin pushing every LD down a notch, and I can not imagine is moveable for any asset. Middle round pick and prospect with Hossa might be enough. Waive him and hope he gets claimed, or bury him in the AHL to lose half his cap and have depth for injury
If Ottawa moves Karlsson (presumably for futures and cheaper short term NHL'er(s), they are probably in full on rebuild with Duchene moving by the deadline at the latest and certainly not resigning. They would have little to no chance of sniffing the top of the cap in the next 3 years. Zach Smith is the wrong side of 30 to hang onto in a rebuild, his 19 points in 68 games last year doesn't scream great value with 3 years @ 3.25 still owed to him. There may be a point where retaining 750K on Smith and paying Hossa 3 million makes more sense then paying Smith 9.75. Smith at 2.5 for the Hawks as a 4th line center wouldn't be horrible with 2.75 more in cap space the next 3 years too.
Carolina with something around a salary retained Darling for Hossa as part of a bigger trade (I would not do this accept in something bigger where we get something we want for a little less then we are willing to pay otherwise).
Unless the Rangers go nuts in free agency, they seem to be headed toward a rebuild so top end of the cap shouldn't matter if they are smart. Belesekey is owed 1.9 per for the next 2 years in cap (and 3.5 in total salary), He is a total bust and probably not even an NHL player at this point, but flip Hossa for him, bury him in the AHL and you free up 4.5 per year the next 2 and Hossa fully gone in his 3rd year. Brendan Smith with retention by NY for Hossa in part of something bigger where we get something we want might make sense. They have 3 first rounders, 2 2nds, and Kreider would look filthy on the Hawks if you could build something that makes sense for both. Maybe something like Kreider, Smith 1.35 retained (net 3 per for 3 years to us) and a 2nd for Anisimov, Hossa, Forsling and one of our 3rds. I think Kreider is worth every bit of Anisimov and Forsling straight up (and probably more) upgrade a 3rd into the second and flip Hossa's 16 million in cap hit into Smith's 9 and let NY turn the 13 million they still owe Smith into 7 (1.35 retained plus Hossa's a million per year) while adding a center and LHD they both seem to need organizationally.
The possible landing spots for Hossa are pretty limited. not many teams that cam eat 5.25 in cap space for 3 full season. If it were only a season or two, the option become wider.
