Suppose this guy scores 20 goals by the deadline, he's gotta be worth a 2nd round pick to somebody. He got Carolina a 3rd round pick last year after 23 points in 52 games. Even if he's at a similar pace this year for us, he's still probably worth a third rounder to someone.
Also I wanna note, it's not likely he'll score 20 goals by the deadline. I wouldn't bet on it or expect it, neither should anyone else. Though stranger things have happened and even worse players have achieved greater. Steve Bernier last season, and David Clarkson scored 30 one year and had 10 goals in 14 games the next season. If Tlusty hits a Clarkson like hot streak like the one to start out the lockout season, he could hit a decent amount of goals for us. Also provided he doesn't completely grenade after those 14 games like Clarkson did. Even Clarkson still had 14 or 15 goals in 48 games that season with how incredibly useless he was in the last 30+ games, just because of that 10 goals in 14 game streak to start the season. Even Tlusty himself scored 23 goals in 48 games that same season. With a lot of luck and some unsustainable shooting percentage, he can possibly overachieve and get us at least a good pick at the deadline.
Once again, I wanna stress that I don't believe there's a good chance he'll hit that number. I think the chances are very low. It's just some food for thought for people who think this will slowdown the rebuild. If he can do what he did for Carolina last year pre deadline, he probably gets us a third. If he can outproduce that, he might get us a second. If he stinks and becomes Brunner, we get nothing, but it only cost us a measely $800k grand and one year. And his roster spot won't be blocking anyone this time next year, whether that's a young player who should be in the lineup by then, or a better signing that we could be making (think Gomez not being signed because they didn't want him on the 4th line and we still had Brunner) to someone else.
Right now, I don't see him really blocking anyone. Boucher? I'm sorry but Boucher hasn't looked like an NHL player outside of his first call up 2 years ago and a couple preseason games last year. And maybe literally one or two games in his call up last season.