Looking back on the McTrade

[Jiri Hrdina]

From time to time I think it is fun to look back at some big deals made in the CPHL.

In this case we look at when the Wild traded the McDavid pick to the Penguins

Heading into that draft, I was aware that I held the pick that mapped to the NHL Oilers. So I was actively rooting against landing McDavid. Even though it benefited me in the CPHL it was with great horror to see them draw that pick knowing how good he was.

I was faced with if I should hang on to the pick and take McDavid. For the most part I don’t mind having players from teams I dislike. I have Darnell Nurse right now. But McDavid was a different case. So I made the decision I didn’t want to have him.

Interest was high but few teams could offer the package I wanted. St. Loo and I spoke about a couple scenarios involving moving down to the 2 slot to get Eichel, but DropIt was unwilling to add much.

Goffie had a couple of key assets that formed the basis of the deal. A high pick (#3) and Barkov.

The deal was struck with the #1 pick going to Pitt for #3, Barkov and Horvat.

So let’s look now at how that worked out

Goffie still has McDerp, despite recent rumors of him trading him.

I still have Barkov.

The #3 pick came down to Strome or Marner. For me this wasn’t a big decision. I didn’t like Marner – feeling he was one dimensional and his offense would sputter at the NHL. I felt Strome was more complete. Boy was that wrong.

I still have Strome – and that pick is looking at least OK now since the move to Chicago – though he won’t be the top line forward I figured he would be.
Horvat was traded that same off-season in this deal:

Team: Vancouver Canucks
- Staal, Marc (D) NHL

Team: Minnesota Wild

- Horvat, Bo (C) ECHL
- Fleury, Haydn (D) ECHL
Terms: 2015 1st round pick to Minnesota

Gross! Fleury hasn’t turned out to be much, but Staal also quickly declined.
I don’t who I picked with the pick I got but I think it was Nick Merkley instead of Travis Koneczy. Not great.

Staal though was eventually traded in this deal:
Team: Minnesota Wild
- Staal, Marc (D) NHL
- 2017 4th Round Draft Choice (la)

Team: New York Rangers
- Boeser, Brock (RW) ECHL
- 2016 2nd Round Draft Choice (chi)
Terms: Rangers owe the Wild a 2016 2nd round pick 45 or higher.

So that worked out! I don't know who I picked with those seconds. Hard to track that stuff.

At the end of the day my return for McDavid could have easily been Marner+Horvat+Barkov. Which looks killer. But I made a bad deal to trade Horvat so fast, and then made the wrong pick with Strome over Marner. But the Staal deal for Boeser got my back to a much better state.

Will be interesting to see what McDavid goes for if Goffie ever actually deals him.

In the meantime I’m glad I don’t have that little puke on my team no matter who good he is. McDork.

[JonDuke]

2236 letters in that description when all you needed was 14:
Goffie is No Good
(at least, until McDorkface is traded)

[DropIt]

I got screwed that year. I should have both Eichel AND McDavid!!!
And to the Oilers to boot. That was a rough day

[Goffie]

This is a deal I like to look at every now and again. I have never taken the Marner fact into account and always thought that Strome tanking makes it a better deal on the surface. But at the time I would have taken Strome for sure so that is a moot point. Horvat and Barkov are both great players and a team is probably better off having the 1-2 punch compared to the 1 elite guy. The fact that Mcdavid is an oiler makes it kind of satisfying for me having a guy that good and that hated.

[edslunch]

Interesting- that deal is not unrealistic in the real world IMO and shows how such a deal could swing from a win (Barkov, Marner, Horvat > McDavid) to a loss depending on picks and choices.