the funnily thing about the people who say “let’s trade our best guys because the return will be good for rebuilding” is that they expect the return to pan out.
Picks and prospects are neat, but if they don’t pan out for you your basically in the same spot you would be in had these guys stayed and retired.
Not saying you can’t have conversations, I just think it’s funny how people think rebuilding is this sure thing that works for every team and leads to years of success.
I don't see the majority of folks saying it's a guarantee that prospects or picks will work out. It's a gamble, but it's an effort to facilitate a return to cup contention quicker and for longer than waiting for the team to tank and get higher picks, or for cap room to open up and relying on FA.
Picks probably carry the higher uncertainty as compared to prospects starting their NHL careers and showing some signs that they can be part of a new core group. For me, IF a deal is done that moves one of your best players and essentially signals you don't think you have a reasonable chance to win and are on the verge of becoming irrelevant playoff wise, it's got to be with that in mind...build a new younger core group.
Not a lot of teams with those types of assets are in a position to deal them, since they're usually not teams who your aging but still productive vet will make a difference in the near term...Marchand or Bergeron going to Buffalo for instance means Buffalo still sucks just not as bad.
Hard to find a dance partner, but still interesting topic for some to discuss...but i get that multiple factors turn some off to the discussion too...the unlikely nature of executing such a move, not wanting to lose a career Bruin like Bergeron under any circumstances, the FO perceived propensity to over-value the return and essentially have nothing that refuels the tank..or fact that the thread has Milbury's name in it.
There's a few players around the league that I'd like to see in Boston that could become part of a developing new core...just a couple of examples...
Anaheim - Zegras and Drysdale. Anaheim having nice season...don't think they're in win-now mode so tough to extract youth for a vet
Colorado - Byram and Newhook...Girard also better than our little Dman, but that would require add'l outgoing assets; they are in win now mode...63 or 37 might make them favorites. But at the expense of the future.
Risky approach as Milbury acknowledged and difficult to pull off as many here have stated.