The statistics show the Jets weren't all that good last year.
GF%
47.1; T-21st in NHL with Edmonton
SF%
48.6; 20th in NHL
We could have debated ad infinitum whether this year's team might sneak into the playoffs. Guess what? So can 80-90% of the league prior to each season.
One thing the overwhelming majority can agree on is that this year's incarnation wasn't going to contend for a Stanley Cup. So what's the point of trading future assets that you can build around in the years that Stanley Cup window is open for a marginal upgrade that might help you to a 7th/8th seed into the playoffs in the best case scenario?
because teams don't go from non playoff teams to stanly cup contenders in one year.
I think that trade was fine. This is supposedly a weak draft, and we just had a big one. Teams don't finish in the 7-14 spot for five years then one day magically wake up a cup contender.
I think it's very safe to assume that if we are moving seto at the deadline he'll return at minimum a 3rd/4th. I don't mind trading back from a 2nd to a 3rd to add 30+ points in a season.