I mean, the return on Pettersson is also not likely to be right. You aren't going to win a trade where you're moving out a player of that calibre. You might get 1-2 'solid' players but your chances of getting a game-breaking superstar are very low.
Teams never let top 20-something players go for nothing or crappy rental packages for a reason. Teams never trade superstars in their mid-20s for a reason. It's f***ing hard to get those players, but fans convince themselves that the magic beans they'd get back are going to automatically be even better. It's such flawed thinking.
Bo Horvat is having probably the best season for a C not named Henrik in this team's 53-year franchise history and is younger than the Sedins/Luongo when Gillis took over. But people are frothing at the notion of trading him for some garbage rental package that is basically a guaranteed loss for the franchise. It absolutely boggles my mind.
Bo is having a career year, much like JTM last year, or Eriksson before.
You extend them based on that performance then youre gonna have a BAD time.
Also Im fully aware that the package we're getting back isnt gonna be equal or even gonna be worse that what we're sending the other way.
But the trades are gonna get us picks, prospects, cap and helps the team tank for a high 1st round pick for the foreseeable future.
We desperately need all of those.
Also those "magic beans" can be used on other trades as well like I dont know why youre so fixated on the idea that those trades are all one and done.
You build a solid foundation for the team by getting young talented players on ELCs or their first extentions which are cost effective(or in rare cases, the likes of Kuzmenko). Then using the left over capspace to sign supporting cast for the core players, or even eat up shit contracts for other teams in order to get prospects/picks. You dont sign the likes of OEL/JTM/BH/AK to freaking retirement contracts which are only effective for the first couple of years.
That strategy has resulted in the team in this dog shit position we're in right now.
Drop the "magic beans" arguement and look at the big picture.
The team needs a shake up, you cant rely on Markstrom/Demko like the last 8 years, their body cant handle that much workload. The D cant do shit and the team isnt going anywhere.
You cant honeslty be happy with the results on ice.