You're assuming that every NHL GMs think like you. That's a mistake.
Let's break this down: If you offered up Hornqvist alone for a 7th round pick to all 22 Teams not on his NTC, you'd have 22 GMs jumping at that. That's just undeniable. Even if they don't want him or can't afford him on their roster, they'd be able to immediately flip him for something better.
Now, you add JJ. As I always say, you're not looking to sell 10,000 units here,
you only need 1 buyer.
- There are always teams in this league who need to get to the cap floor
- There are always teams who have cap space to spare
- There will always be GMs who LOVE players like Hornqvist
- and, hell, there's probably still a GM or two who think JJ is a good player
There's ALWAYS a coach who thinks
"I alone know how to get the best out of this player". Hornqvist has had many great years and Jack Johnson is a former 3rd overall pick and even though those things don't mean a damn as far as future output goes, again, you'll always find a GM or Coach with the hubris to think they know better. We have a couple on this team, in fact.