When you're trading a star player for futures, a lot of the criticism you might receive is muted due to the uncertain nature of the exchange.
'too soon to judge's
But when you're trading a star player, especially a star as bright as gaudreau, and you're getting pieces back to win now, if you don't win NOW it then becomes very easy to criticize the trade, even if in many ways it's just as "too soon to tell" as a futures trade.
This off-season is looking like it could be the worst trade atmosphere of the last 7 years to do a deal, further increasing the potential criticism of the return.
The flames could always keep gaudreau in the end, but will open themselves up to massive criticism should the team experience no extra competitiveness, with an even worse trade climate on the other end of this season with a limited NTC in effect and just a year left on his deal.
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