For starters, it harms us in that the opportunity cost comes at the expense of what would likely be a package similar to a 1st + prospect in exchange for Palmieri.
It also harms us in that we’re signing a player to what would likely be a deal in the range of 5 years for let’s say $6 million while his play declines. We won’t even be real contenders for another few seasons, so we’re paying a premium for maybe one or two more prime years while our team isn’t going anywhere anyway. Then when it’s time to really make moves and get aggressive, we’ll be handcuffed by that contract.
A $6 million cap hit is barely a $1.5 million addition to his current cap hit on a team where we have zero cap issues and plenty of money coming off the books in the next couple of years in Zajac, Cory and probably Subban.
I know everyone is always infatuated by the potential of a return in a trade but at some point, you need guys who can play right now. And for us, we also REALLY need guys who can score. Trading Palms for futures likely puts even more pressure on our younger players to produce given no one comes close to replicating his goal scoring at the moment.
I just think it’s an unnecessary move at this time. We sold off plenty last year and acquired some quality prospects in Foote and Kuokkanen along with 3 firsts this year. Keep Palms and let them develop to hopefully take his role down the road. Moving on from Palms now for more futures puts an even bigger void in our lineup without any plan for who takes his place. Guys with his production aren’t exactly easy to acquire.
I don’t know. I think trading him now really waves the white flag for the next couple of years and adds a significant amount of pressure to Nico, Jack and Bratt. There really is no dire need to make that kind of trade right now.
