Lets start with WASH.

WASH's window is still open but they are an aging team. In this trade the only roster player they trade is Leason. WASH gets a legitimate two-way 2C in Horvat who still has a year remaining on his very respectable deal. Horvat is also a faceoff ace and has the ability to put his team on his back in big games. He's the type of player all contenders should want on their roster and this will likely be around the cost to acquire him, B+ - A prospect 1st and young roster player.


The LA trade I can see how it might make less. My thoughts were LA is stacked down the middle with young prospects. Boeser is still young and will be an RFA at seasons end. I figured a young roster player with 30-40 potential could be a good piece to add to play with their exciting center depth. I will admit I didn't think to look at how deep LA was at the RD position so that could be an issue for LA. I posted a few days ago of a Boeser for Turcotte and 2nd and was told I was undervaluing Boeser but that Turcotte wasn't available. My understanding is Turcotte has greater value than Clarke.

Yeah the LA one makes no sense even if you do value Boeser to the equivalent of 1sts (one being a potential franchise RD), LA just doesn't make it because they don't need Boeser over what they're giving up right now.

The Washington one is interesting because they're at the stage where they're going to need to inject some youth (and ELCs) into their lineup if they want to remain competitive. If they have Horvat playing 3C (with Backstrom and Kuznetsov ahead, or however you want to lay them out) and they have to give up 2 of their futures, it doesn't make sense. While the value is high on Horvat and I could definitely see a team putting a similar package together, I just can't see Washington doing it.

Is Clarke now considered a possible franchise Dman?

I mentioned I listen to a LOT of sports talk and Clarke was someone discussed on every prospects interview on the local Vancouver sports stations, as the Canucks were drafting in his range and had/have a glaring hole at the RD position. The majority of insiders projected him to likely be a solid second pair guy with possible top pairing potential. That’s a massive rise in projection to go from top 4 to a possible franchise Dman in 16 OHL games, however if that is the case then obviously the trade value is off.

My original thought process for value was:
B+ to A prospect
Mid 1st rounder
Late 3rd rounder.

To me that seemed decently fair for a player of Boeser caliber, age and team control.

From what I understand, Brandt Clarke has the highest ceiling out of any defenseman in that draft not named Owen Power. But regardless of what either of us think we know about prospects, I agree with you for what the package for Boeser should be. I just believe the Kings think Clarke is the Doughty replacement one day