Process = poor. Result = trending well. That's been the evaluation. He didn't need to be waiver wire bound for him to be considered a "fringe" asset. That's what he was at the time (verified by PIT blogs). And rebuilding teams do not generally pay picks for fringe pieces.
The funny thing about this trade is that it certainly separates the opinion of those that just don't care about asset value. That's why a certain segment of fans will prefer to wait and see on most every deal, even if the price paid seems bizarre from the outset. If the trade works out well, then it's "you were wrong, Benning is a winner" type drivel. If the trade does not work out, then it's "we're still waiting, be patient". Or, "he didn't pay that much". Or, "the pick has the same odds of working out". etc... It's not "why is the super scout GM trading picks in a rebuild?". Where is that rationale?
Process = Poor, in whose opinion? Yours?
If the process = We have liked Pouliot for a long time, and there is developmental upside we can tap, let's trade for him.... then it seems the Process = excellent.
Don't mistake thinking Pouliot was worth Pedan and 4th = not caring about a 4th round pick.
Because YOU didn't think it was good asset management, does NOT mean it wasn't.
Warning... Appeal to Authority: The professionals in charge seemed to think it was worth it.
Also a rebuild isn't an all or nothing approach. Not every transaction is or has to be a trade for a pick going only one way. Sometimes you trade a depth pick for a 23 yr old. Don't think you can find a single team that's rebuilt well that did not trade picks in their process to target players they felt fit their team.
Pouliot significantly changes the complexion of our group of young dmen.
Seems like he will be a middle 3 offensive defender for our team for the next decade. That's a nice asset to have for a cost of .... assets.
Or we can dismiss the Pouliot trade and pretend they just willy nilly lucked out on this one.
"why is the super scout GM trading picks in a rebuild?". Where is that rationale?
Maybe consider maybe the management feels like we have our high end elite prospects now and a decent cupboard of potential depth... so let's move forward and support them with some veterans with the goal of winning and pushing for the playoffs now because a competitive environment will breed and produce better character players than if they actively wasted a professional year of service of all our current players having a lineup of unsupported youth flounder around the ice.
So going forward... the plan is to break in players like they are Goldobin... create some depth above them that they have to break thru to earn a spot and earn to keep it.
You want Pettersson to do the same thing next yr. Dalhen. Juolevi.
Feel bad for Burmistrov and Weircoch who signed on for an opportunity to play for their next contracts..... but have become a safety net for our roster instead.
Sedins are obviously coming back next yr... Vanek may not be - definitely not for $2mil... but I'm off on a tangent now.
My point... Just cuz YOU don't understand the rationale of Pouliot for Pedan and 4th, does not mean there is a lack of it.