Not arrogant. Just speaking from experience. BUF was in a similar position. Trading Eichel changed everything. Obviously, the situations surrounding the players are not exactly the same, but trading 1 elite player for 3 very good and 1 above average player is just better asset and cap management. I know it's hard to let a player like Pettersson go, but what other options do you have?

No one wants OEL. No one wants Myers. Bo won't command much as a rental. Miller is an immediate regret and a ticking time bomb apparently. Boeser is overpaid and not progressing. Kuzmenko is a bright spot, but he may not last long. Garland is overpaid for several more years. Demko is injured and not playing well.

I hate to break the news to you. VAN has very little in the way of options to actually improve.

Coming from a BUF fan, I know how it is.

Trading Eichel was hard for fans to swallow, but it was a great move.

Huh? I said I value goals more. Tage has more. The next thing I value is assists. Tage has way more of those. Assists aren't as important as goals, but more assists > fewer assists. How is that hard to comprehend?

By your logic, why don't the Sabres trade Tage Thompson for 3 very good and 1 above average player? Saying Bo won't command much as a rental seems pretty dumb as he is the best rental the market has seen in a long time. On pace for around 60 goals. Myers and Boeser both expire within the next 2 years so they aren't long term problems.

Still in the same tier as Horvat only has 1 less goal than Thompson. Both are same level goal scorers then right? You compared Thompson to McDavid solely based on goals. Contradicting yourself once again

Which player is having the better individual season?

Player A:
(EVO)Even strength offense: 7
(EVD) Even strength defense: -2.9
( Off)Offense: 12
(Def) Defense: -3.8
(GAR) Goals above replacement: 8.7
(WAR) Wins above replacement: 1.4
(SPAR) Standing points above replacement: 2.8
Points/60 minutes: 4.41
5v5 points/60 minutes: 3.25

Player B:
(EVO) Even strength offense: 8.3
(EVD) Even strength defense: 1.8
(Off) Offense: 11.3
(Def) Defense: 1.2
(GAR) Goals above replacement: 14.2
(WAR) Wins above replacement: 2.4
(SPAR) Standing points above replacement: 4.6
Points/60 minutes: 3.82
5v5 points/60 minutes: 3.31

Last 82 team games:

1. McDavid 58
2. Tage 55
t-8 Horvat 48

And, I don't trust players who are UFAs to produce after they sign a deal. Plus I don't trust players that are 28 years old to replicate what they did in their 20s when their next contract is in their age 28-35 seasons.

That's not to dismiss Horvat. He's a good player. I'd just prefer Tage, due to his contract, age and potential.

Because we don't need to. We have tons of 1st and 2nd round picks and other good prospects coming up and tons of cap space.

How much has the most expensive rental ever cost? Not much.

Conveniently Pettersson and Thompson both have 100 points in their last 82 games. You know what separates them? Defensive play, Tage Thompson has none

Has none? Yet he is a +14. Hmm. Petterson is a +11.

Petterson 30TK 24 GV
Tage 24 18

Not sure what you mean.

And I'm not even arguing that one player is better than the other. Petey is a great player. I'd just prefer if they are nearly equal to have the player that has a lower cap hit, scores more goals, has more potential and is playing on at least a .500 team.

My argument is against this ludicrous trade package and the fact that VAN fans can't accept that this trade would make them a better team.

+/- is a poor stat because it lacks context. You could have just stepped on the ice when your team scores and you will be rewarded with a +1 even though you contributed nothing to the play. Conversely, you could make a TERRIBLE giveaway and then get off the ice when the other team scores and you will not get a -1. You see what I am saying? +/- is incredibly flawed because of this. It does not take into account actual play, and it is often dependant on the linemates. Also purely using takeaways and giveaways is simply showing your lack of knowledge, or resourcefullness. I suggest you look more into analytics as it shows how much of a liability Thompson is in the defensive zone. His even strength defense is -2.9 and his overall defense is -3.8 which means he is very bad defensively and costs the team goals against. Pettersson on the other hand is a positive in those categories showing that he actually helps prevents goals against. Pettersson is simply more well rounded. There is no argument that says otherwise until Thompson learns how to play some defense. I'll take the younger and more well rounded player who has a better track record in the NHL, and has similar potential

Simple dismal of reality. And how much of those stats are skewed in Petterson's favor playing against a weaker Western Conference? And I have heard over and over and over again from VAN fans how Demko is a top-5, elite goalie, so maybe that skews Petterson's stats too? Eh?

Have some fun and watch Tage. People are comparing him to Mario and not without reason. As I said, I like Petey's game. I'd just prefer Tage.

And the situations in BUF and VAN are completely different. We have Tage and Cozens (who is catching Pettersson as is).

I'm not really sure what is in VANs pipeline, but as far as I can tell, it isn't nearly as promising as BUFs. I'd love nothing more than a VAN-BUF SC Final in the next 1-4 years, though. I think BUF is more likely to hold up their end of the bargain, however. And that's mainly because we bit the bullet and traded Eichel (hint, hint).

Man if you are seriously going make that excuse, then that is pretty lame. Conversely, I can make the excuse saying that Pettersson has to play against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl more than any other team. Tage is obviously a very exciting player, however it is clear how many people are sleeping on Pettersson. Barely getting any recognition while he is on pace for over 100 points on a crappy team while playing good defense. Also is arguably one of the best players in the entire league at 5v5, and is on the most efficient point producers in the league

I don't think anyone is denying any of that. The fact of the matter is he is the #1C on a bad team.

And why anyone would expect him to fetch a return greater than any other player not named Lindros is ludicrous. Especially when he only has one year remaining on his contract.

Good luck with him. He's fun to watch. VAN is not.

McDavid used to be the 1C of a bad team. 1 player isn't going to carry a team. Can't blame Pettersson that the rest of the team sucks

Exactly. Not blaming him at all. Just saying he probably isn't part of your solution.

this is a lunacy take

Is it? Thompson is very bad defensively. No doubt he is spectacular, but he is more one dimensional, whereas Pettersson is more well rounded. They are comparable players. Thompson is slightly better offensively, but Pettersson is better overall