Zetterlund sucked in the 20 games after he was acquired but his status coming into this season was never in doubt for reasons that don't apply to Kostin. Zetterlund had 28 points in 59 games in New Jersey. He had played to the standard he's currently playing at previously in New Jersey. Kostin had 36 points in 136 games before coming here. If his purpose here is to play on the 4th line and that's it then no he won't block any prospects and while they don't need the cap space, paying 2 mil for what is at this point an ineffective 4th liner is just a waste. Just because we can afford it doesn't mean it makes sense to just let it happen. Now, if Kostin manages a point per game to finish the season then the decision is super easy to keep him because he's actually showing promise of another level to his game but it's a lot more convincing to do that after 20 games than after 3 considering his average play time. There are going to be far more effective options for hitting the floor than keeping a 2 mil 4th liner. We only need to spend 17 mil with Kostin or 19 mil without him. That's plenty doable when we need six forwards with Kostin or seven without and two defensemen. If Kostin shows over what's left that these first three games are a preview of what's to come then I have no problems keeping him. If he falls off and reverts back to how he was playing before coming here that made three other teams give up on him then they should look for better options to fill out their lineup whether they're paid to take on a contract or can find players in free agency that will add to the team in numerous other capacities that Kostin probably isn't going to do himself. Plus, if anything buying him out will still help them reach the cap floor. 166k in dead cap space then replacing him with some free agent potentially at the same level but will do more both improves the team and helps them reach the floor. While 5% is still a chance it's not necessarily a chance worth giving. I'm sure there are other 4th line caliber players with better odds of making more of an impact even if they're a little older than Kostin.
It depends on what one may be looking for here to be a positive outcome with Kostin. Middleton at 24 was still trying to crack the lineup as a project defenseman. Kostin is on his 4th team already with very limited production over two seasons worth of games. I'm not certain what a positive outcome looks like for Kostin here. If all anyone wants out of him is another 4th liner then I don't see why it's a big deal to buy him out and find a better option for that line than him. That would allow us to have someone that could help kill penalties or bring veteran leadership or even someone who plays the body with more frequency than Kostin does. Kostin, to me, has to show he's worth keeping on at that rate with how he plays these last set of games. If his first three games are an indicator then it's a no-brainer that he stays but if he reverts back to what he was prior to being here, it should at least be a discussion.