Brooklyn Rangers Fan
Change is good.
Jokinnen trade wasn't a win now move. They got rid of Higgins and Kotalik both of whom were awful, and they got Prust who turned out to be the best player in the deal.
It absolutely was. It was all about getting into the playoffs that year, and not accepting their fate as a also-ran. The fact that they moved non-core pieces for him doesn't change the philosophy behind that deal. (Further backed by the fact that Slats went out and got Shelley for a 6th a few days later.)
What they SHOULD have done that year was to accept that they weren't going to win it all, and moved those guys, along with Prospal, Rozsival, and Parenteau, for young players, prospects, and picks.