I think with a trade like this you have to look at it two ways.
Many saying it will take many years to evaluate, and I get that, but that also misses the point.
None of us know the market. Conroy may have turned down 3 1st round picks from the Rangers (he didn't) because ... reasons.
But we all heard the basic model was a 1st round pick, a NHL player that could be a cap dump, and a prospect (likely not the team's best prospect). If we disagree that that was the model, fine.
But if it was then you look at this deal accordingly.
1st Round Pick
(check, but adjusted down by say 3 draft spots because they are dealing with the 1st ranked team).
NHL player / Camp Dump
(check, and a two way caveat. He has an extra deal which is a minus, but he arguably has value to move next year which is a plus ... overall plus)
Prospect
(check, HB is not the Canuck's top prospect, but I think for many of us and most outsiders he exceeds the value of the prospect component in this deal vs expectations)
That on it's own is a very good deal vs the model in my mind. A slight hit on the 1st round pick, an uptick on the established player, and an uptick on the prospect.
Then you add in another prospect with some upside, and another pick?
That's where Conroy did very well in his first major trade, and easily exceeded expectations.
|