Dubas wouldn't let you off the line before getting the trade call in to the league

O'Reilly gets more, Barbashev+Accari get more, Tarasenko gets less

That Vegas return is terrible, man.



I was right with you until the end. Tossing back a 3rd is more than adequate balance to the deal.

I doubt the Rangers would see it that way

Heh. Have you ever met the Rangers? They're not good traders, and this would be one of their better deals value-wise. Setting that aside, a 1st, a one-round bump and like their 8th-9th best prospect is hardly expensive for one of the best playoff snipers in the league.

I approach these deals as trying to find something that's as fair as possible for both sides. I'm not assuming we can just consistently take advantage of other GMs just because they screwed up the Pavel Buchnevich trade. Doug Armstrong is the guy who made the Nick Leddy trade AND the Ryan O'Reilly trade. Things happen.

I think you underestimate how the Rangers view Robertson, and I think you overestimate how valuable Tarasenko will be at the deadline, especially if he works his NTC to pick his destination. I think it's far more likely to be a 1st and an okay prospect or young player, with conditions attached to whether he re-signs or not. Wingers aren't used what they used to be, even good ones who win stuff. I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised, but I can't see them giving up this much even if they are only moving down 15 spots or whatever.

The trade here is plenty fair for both sides. Robertson is about to be 22 and has yet to receive a call-up - he is an okay prospect with a moderate ceiling. Plus, LD is pretty stocked position for them these days.

Also, what do you think is the main difference between those two Army trades you mentioned? Leddy was a TDL deal and he overpaid, because everyone overpays at the deadline. In that light, one could argue the deal above should be about the bare minimum.

I'm saying that a GM who makes a bad trade is capable of making a good trade and vice versa, depending on the circumstances. And I disagree that everyone overpays at the deadline.

And I think that's especially true this year. There's a limited amount of buyers, a lot of teams trying to tank, and a lot of people valuing their firsts highly. I think Tarasenko is very very good but I also think objectively Tarasenko is probably the third most in demand winger on the market, and maybe like the fifth or sixth most in demand forward. I think the Blues get a lot for O'Reilly and for Barbashev, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the one the Blues take a bath on. Happy to be wrong, but that's my take.

You're welcome to disagree (and you obviously do) but it's Friday night for me and I'm clocking off work, have a good weekend.