Quote:
Originally Posted by northcrunk
Why would we include ANY of our players under 25 in a deal to move up 3 spots in a draft with 4 players who are of similar talent levels? If anything we should be trading picks (2nd, 3rds)/vets or nothing at all and pick at 4.
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This is my final take on it:
If the scouting staff & management have assessed that Ekblad is a key component to the franchise's future success then they have a unique opportunity to actually do something about it this year.
Every year Todd Button and the rest of the staff get to assess all the best players in the draft but very rarely do they get the chance to actually pick the prospect
they deem to be the best. With Tallon actively looking to trade down (to get Nylander, Ehlers or whomever they fancy) we actually might have the necessary components to make the trade which allows us to get the best defenceman in the 2014 draft.
We can go on and on about "the best defencemen get picked in later rounds" or "there are 4 players of equal ability & standing" or even "franchise defencemen are easy to acquire in a trade" all we want, but these opportunities come around very rarely (next to never.) If they think Ekblad is the guy to build our defence around then I could respect the decision to go after him.
I can understand this being management's mindset, and if they decide to pull the trigger on the deal to bring us Ekblad then I'm all for it. If they stay put at 4th OA and draft whoever is left I am ok with that as well. I have to admit I am excited by the idea we have a management team who can recognise key assets they want to acquire & then the gumption to go out & acquire them.