People pointing to last season and dismissing it for Peeke by saying he was on a bad team are ignoring that he's played worse this year to the point where he's a healthy scratch. The Bruins just gave up actual assets for Columbuses equivalent to our own Derek Forbert, but with term and they took on full salary. Think how happy we'd all be if someone gave the team a third for that guy.
Now that being said, you can be down on the move and dislike the fact that they ate all the money for a buyout candidate, and still want the player to do well and contribute to the team in a positive way. And if he does that it will be great, but that still doesn't dismiss the fact that they bought a player at his lowest value, ate all the money, and gave up a fairly valuable pick to do so. It was a dumb move and needless to do.
Agreed.
Say next year Peeke plays at a similar level to this season. Fans here will be offloading excuses of "Well he hasn't been in the system long enough."
Meanwhile we're a contending team looking to make trades, at the 2025 deadline even, and we're sitting here wondering why we can't and it's because we decided we needed another John Moore, or Derek Forbort at the 2024 deadline.
Or extend that scenario to 2026.
The worst part is not only did we actively sign up for this potential outcome but we gave up a 3rd for it!
People here will say, "ah well it was worth the risk! he's a tall defenseman and plays physical, that's what we needed!"
Is this actually worth the risk? Better hope our hometown scouts are right and he is a formidable player.
