Absolutely and I was pretty vocal about idea when debates about waiting for draft day to trade him came about. Luckily, it turned out fine in the end but as you said, Pacioretty with two playoffs left before hitting the end of his term instead of one and under control for an entire year was, in a vacuum, the more favourable time. Personally I think a year prior would've been optimal.I don't know if the timing was right for Pacioretty in a vacuum -- it was only right in retrospect since the haul MB got was unexpected. What if Pacioretty had not agreed to an extension with his new team, just as he balked when MB was trying to move him to the LAK? I think the best time to have traded him should have been when he had more term. However, the argument is academic at this point due in large part to the quality and number of assets MB was able to secure for him during a contentious time when MB had no choice but to trade the player under the gun.
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