Thats simplifying it quite a bit, how about the player with the 3rd most playoff points in the last 5 years after Crosby and Malkin. It can go both ways.
1) Brassard is not 3rd in playoff scoring over the last five years. He's literally not. He is 6th in games played though, which allows a player to score more (obviously). Also, scoring in the playoffs is pretty much dependent on how far your team goes, which leads me to.....
2) He's 30th in points per game in the playoffs over that time (.7 ppg), which is very respectable, but I have not claimed he is a bad player or not a playoff performer. I've been following the guy since his days in Columbus, and actually like the guy. I'd love to have him on the Pens. Just not at the absurd cost some people are saying. Guess who is ahead of Brassard in ppg in the playoffs? Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, Guentzel. So the whole "3rd in playoff scoring over 5 years" was a pretty terrible point to make.
3) Overpaying for a player based on select performances is a horrendous idea. Not doing that is why the Pens were able to win back-to-back cups. Doing that is how you get Cory Conacher.
4) If you're going to lecture me on using stats to my advantage, don't do it yourself. I was judging Brassard based on the dude's ENTIRE career and you're all pissy because his stats at this point indicate that he's not worth 1st, Sprong and Jarry. That's hilarious overpayment for the guy.
Is that complicated enough for you, or am I still oversimplifying?
EDIT: What it boils down to for me is that I'm not willing to deal Sprong for Brassard. I'm ok with the first going. I'm ok with Jarry going if a 1st isn't. But I'm sure as hell not ok with all three going, that's ridiculous.