Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
There is a line in the sand that you have to draw when making deals. Five players for one or two is a little insane. You're moving up three spots, so don't go crazy. Taking on Hartnell's contract provides a good benefit to the Jackets. Backlund and Hartnell's salary is more than enough compensation for the pick, a 2nd is the kicker that makes it too hard to turn down. All of a sudden Columbus is looking at Brown, Backlund, another player of their choosing, and ditching a $4.75 NMC contract. Good return for them long term.
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Yes, a good return and possibly fair, but it isn't going to turn Kekalainen's head. He's made it abundantly clear that only a vast overpayment would make him consider a trade (posted pages back):
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Kekalainen told The [Columbus] Dispatch that he’s already had at least two offers that would include the No. 3 pick.
“I’ve had phone calls; I’ve had (other GMs) ask me if we’d move the pick,” Kekalainen said. “And I’ve already had a couple of really good offers. Aggressive offers. Fair offers. But nothing yet that’s made me really consider moving it.”
He also said “it would take an awful lot for us to move out of that pick.”
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Columbus are in the driver's seat here. There is nothing forcing them to move down in the draft. It has to be a no-brainer deal for them, and I'm afraid a 2nd rounder, a middle six centre & a meagre amount of cap relief isn't "an awful lot" when you're passing up on one of the top 3 talents in the draft and parting with a veteran top 6 forward who can still produce.