Quote:
Originally Posted by $ven27
Our team could be completely different if we didn't trade him for basically crap. I remember hearing reports that a lot of GM's didn't even know he was available. I also remember a Philly report saying they might have been willing to deal Jeff Carter or Richards for Phaneuf.
But, I suppose we wouldn't have Sven or Gaudreau (most likely) if we got a different deal.
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I've always questioned how much of those stories came from "unnamed GMs" and how much was certain media types exaggerating comments to fit the commentary they themselves were running. The truth is, Phaneuf's name was linked to trade rumours for weeks. There is no way any GM worth his job wasn't aware that something was up. If they failed to make a call, that is on them, not Sutter.
As to the trade itself, my opinion then was that the best case was that it would have been an even trade. Three years later, it looks like I was right, though not in the way I hoped. Nobody on either side of the trade has done a damn thing for their new organizations. Both teams are probably worse off for it.