Do we have to?Continue.
Detroit are a better team than the Canucks, yet they still are smart enough to realize they are not close to contending so jumped at the chance to turn a 2nd pairing dman into 1st and 2nd picks ina great draft, BIG PICTURE.... typed out a reply.
The general gist: we have seen this before... it doesn't end well. At some point they need to transition. They are not even close to the playoffs, let alone cup contending.
I think you can rationalise this trade in isolation if you want. Like i've heard many reasonable justifications of many of the other trades we have made over the last 10 years, I've even made some of those justifications.
This is a continuation of a series of trades over many squandering draft assets for players who aren't going to move a team from 27th to genuine contender. Each pick on it's own is low chance to yield a player like Hronek, sure. The totality of them is the issue.
Every time someone can say the context of the team is different so this trade makes sense, or that the player is different so this trade is worthwhile. If the last decade has taught us anything, I think it is that this isn't really true until you are actually a genuine contender. We're still at the bottom without many real pieces.
Detroit are a better team than the Canucks, yet they still are smart enough to realize they are not close to contending so jumped at the chance to turn a 2nd pairing dman into 1st and 2nd picks ina great draft, BIG PICTURE.
I think I’ve landed on my feelings here.
I think Hronek is a good player. Instantly our second best defender.
I think the cost to acquire him, on the face of things, is probably fair.
Where I am confused - and where I feel this trade really falls down - is the timing and where we are at as a franchise. I think it’s right move…wrong time.
I will say it's a little different in that the Canucks have a few VERY GOOD pieces up front and a top d-man and goalie. But the gulf on defense and in the prospect pool is so large I don't think it can just be addressed by trades that just shuffle assets around.
Sounds like Winnipeg.minus -87 doesn't scream second best defender- even on this team.
minus -87 doesn't scream second best defender- even on this team.
Same people want Severson for $6 million as a free agent. Hamilton was legit the last UFA Dman that went for $9 million and is a comparable. These guys are not available…..
No worthy RHD is ever available
I'm still not a fan of this move, but I think I may have moderated a bit on my initial distaste. Much of that probably stems from unfamiliarity with Hronek tho. The sticker shock was pretty high when the trade first broke since I thought Allvin getting access to a potential unprotected pick next year was a total coup. However some other points here about needing to augment a valid core of Pettersson, Kuzmenko, Hughes and Demko are valid. We do have a pretty decent, young offensive core here. We've just sucked on defense and goal this year. With Demko back - Bear and Hronek are actual attempts to fix the glaring roster issue.Where I am confused - and where I feel this trade really falls down - is the timing and where we are at as a franchise. I think it’s right move…wrong time.
IF OEL is on LTIR for the rest of his career, then Filip may do okay, as the offensive threat on the second pairing.
But both he and Quin need a stable defensive minded d man for their pairings
Strange thing about signing free agents, is you don't have to give up draft picks to do it.
Notice, this is DURING a recession period