Not so sure we could of easily topped that return. We shouldn’t use hindsight evaluation at who Grigs and Zadorov are today. Back at the time of the trade, they were grade A prospects and the Habs didn’t have any. Scherbak and McCarron were not.
Would you of made that trade back when? Seriously?
As expected. You asked how we could have possibly been in the mix for ROR and were given two legitimate possibilities. And of course you just dismissed them both because you were never interested in actually considering how we might have made any trade. Moreso just helping perpetuate the excuse-laden narrative for Dear Leader.
As a centrepiece player, I'd argue that Gallagher was the best available piece vs. the guys Colorado got from Buffalo. He was a Calder finalist, then 24G-47Pts in year two, with all of the boatloads of intangibles that NHL execs love. And signed to what most agreed was a good long term contract. At the time of the trade Grigs has played part of two seasons in the NHL with 9 points in 43 games, along with concerns about his work ethic. He wasn't a bust then, still too young for that, but it's not hindsight to suggest there were warning signs he might not work out. Zadorov was a good piece, but Beaulieu was still well regarded at that time.
And while I would not have enjoyed trading Galchenyuk, if the team is hell bent on using him the way they have, then I think the team would be better off with a legit C. If we didn't have Juulsen I don't think too many people would be pining for him back, he's fairly replaceable as a prospect.
But anyway, carry on. It was simply impossible for Bergevin to do anything. But at least he tried, maybe.