You can't go out looking for a #1 dman and only be offering spare parts in return. It's just not realistic. That's way too low, and someone will pay more than that. AA or Mantha will almost have to go the other way because we're not giving up a 1st. Winnipeg will want value for the value they're losing.
What do you think will be the next opportunity? And why do you think it'll be cheaper than getting Trouba?
I personally think compared to this thread, people will be kinda shocked at how simple the return for Trouba ends up being. WPG doesnt have a ton of leverage unless they can get a bidding war going, and that depends on a lot of teams valueing Trouba highly and equally.
As for alternatives to Trouba, keep in mind I see him as a well rounded #2-4 and not at all a boneafide #1.
The appeal to having someone like him this year is pretty high, because I think guys like 52, 65, Daley, bowey etc, really handicap the top 4, by being serviceable but one dimensional, which makes it a lot harder for the coach to work a kid into those pairings.
So if we get outbid, or talks go cold, i'd say we have a lot of ammunition on draft day to try and dig up a guy to play a more modern style, and give him the opportunity that we're pretending to give Bowey.
Beyond that, over the next couple years I'm happy enough with our past draft record to expect a surplus at forward, as we find out who we're going with beyond 71 and 59 up front, and unload either guys like AA/Mantha or Ras/Zadina to round out the top 4. (I'm not there yet, but expecting by the end of summer to feel pretty darn confident that 17 and 21 will have a lengthy run in our top 4)
And then further beyond that, all the old contracts are off the books, so a good GM should be able to convert that into a solid top 4 guy.
I'm not saying that guys like Trouba are available all the time these days, but I lean towards standing pat compared to trading a 1st pair package for a guy who I'm worried is hitting his ceiling as either shotgun on the top pair, or great 2nd pair.
Tyler Myers is a UFA btw. He has as much untapped potential as Trouba imo. It's not that cornerstone #1 everyone is looking for, but theres only like 10-20 of those at any given time, and I rank Cholowskis odds of getting there ahead of Trouba, and if pressed it's easier for me to see Myers actually turning into the next Chara, than it is for me to see Trouba being more than the next Brad Stuart.
All that said I love player combos that act as multipliers, and if the Red Wings see Troubas shot blocking and hitting skills as a perfect long term combo with Cholowski or something like that, I would happily re-evaluate my nerfed impressions of Troubas potential and value.