Your looking at it in the wrong direction.....
It wasn't about not wanting to keep them.
Scotty Bowman left after his Son BEGGED him to help out in Chi-town, Scotty had a Lifetime agreement with the Wings and Mr. I.
The players left so they could get more playing time, they could not crack the line up enough to be on the top 2 lines. (Hossa being the exception).
Kopecky is a very good player and I hated to see him go, gritty tough guy.
Hossa left to chase the cup, I would have hated to see the Hawks lose this year as Hossa would have been going to the Flyers next.
Lieno in Philly is there and playing VERY well, just didn't show the same determination when he was in Detroit as he is in Philly, change of scenery created more playing time for him and he's shined.