Piecing together what we heard from our internal sources and outside noise, it sounds like Conroy did a good job:
Pre-deadline:
-Fitz and Conroy open discussions and the discussion is serious enough that it warrants Conroy to seek Markstrom dropping his NTC to NJ.
-Upon hearing that Markstrom dropped his NTC, Fitz decides to lowball Conroy with the assumption that he has no other option and wont keep a goalie who has essentially one foot out the door. Rumours were that he only offered a second and Conroy wouldn't bite.
-Deadline passes
-Fitz wastes assets on 2B goalies and complains that other GMs were trying to extort him
-NJD miss the playoffs
June:
-talks restart, we hear internal rumours that things are advancing and a preliminary deal is in-place
-external rumour that Fitz is offering a conditional 3rd
-Conroy does an interview with Francis stating that Markstrom hasn't demanded a trade and he is happy to keep Markstrom going forwards
-The next day, the trade is consummated with a 1st round pick
All of this leads me to believe that Conroy wanted a 1st rd pick from day one and held firm until he got his price. I too fell into the trap of imagining a 10th overall, Mercer or Casey but he got a more than fair price IMO.
|