Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
So I might be in the minority here, but I think we should consider packaging Baertschi, Gaudreau and Gillies in a deal at the deadline..
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I would keep Gillies, as I consider him to be our best goalie prospect and I think he has a great size/athleticism combination which I think can make him successful in the future.
As for the other two, it would really depend on the return. Looking at those two players we are trading, they are probably the only prospects (outside of Monahan) we have who have that first line potential. Gaudreau has the potential to be elite(Kane is a lofty expectation, but it is possible), and baertschi has the skill, just not the mental toughness (for now) to be a first line left winger.
Gaudreau is an unknown, you are basically trading potential here. Baertschi is a little more known, and while he has struggled a bit, he still is very very young and may still live up to that first line potential that I think he has.
I honestly don't know if we could package these guys in a way that could significantly improve our team now and in the future. I think the only way to do this would be to maybe find a team who is willing to overpay for a guy like Gaudreau who imo does have that elite potential in him.
You kind of also have to look at this as a relationship type move between the players and the team. I don't know what kind of message it is sending if we traded two of our best prospects away when we are rebuilding. It doesn't look good for us and it may deter good players/prospects from wanting to play here.
I would only make a deal like this if the return was way to good to pass up, and I think that only happens if like I said someone buys into the potential of Gaudreau. Even if we did get that, the players we would be getting back would probably be of the same mold, prospects with potential. I just don't think that a deal of this caliber is realistic at this point in time.