[Samuelsson]

My issue with the narrative that Treliving might be known as a 'fleecer' is that, firstly it's bull, and secondly, would those who subscribe to that narrative rather Treliving had been completely honest in the scenario, spelling out that his best guess would be that Fox and the buzz around him at the time indicated that he'll probably want to hit free agency and end up at the Rangers, and asked for ONE of Hanifin or Lindholm, and a lesser player, instead of both? If that had happened, those people would be calling for Tre's head.

A GM's job is to get the best deals for his team. Besides, it wasn't known at the time what Fox's intentions were. It was speculation. There were still, what, 2 years left until FA? I'd classify a 'fleecing' as a GM that hides an injury of a prospectively traded player, or other such skulduggery. And I'm not even sure if that would be legal, or if there wouldn't be repercussions. That would be when a GM would be considered persona non grata; not when a GM simply comes out on top.

There were far too many variables at hand to indicate the outcome of this trade at the time, and as we know, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Who knew that Ferland wouldn't re-sign? Who knew that Lindholm and (clarification needed) Hanifin would have career years this year? They were both upcoming free agents, with stellar-but-not-outrageous numbers.

Who was the GM for the Islanders that traded Larsson for Hall? Has he been run out of the league, never to work again? Or is it more likely that people think that Chia is the most stupid person in hockey?