Quoting: MoSeider53
First off Rust doesn't waive his NMC for Winnipeg, He's 31 making 5 x $5,125,000 you're not getting no 2nd for Rust. That contract will be bad before it's over.
Pickering is a 6'4" LHD that Winnipeg doesn't need, They need RHD not LHD.
And calling DeSmith a good backup is a royal joke, Detroit only lit him up for 12 goals this year. He's a less than average backup.
The 2023 1st round pick 14th overall is the only decent piece in the whole trade.
Rust 5v5 had the 12th most expected goals in the NHL. He was bad on the PP but great on the PK and great 5v5. Nearly all of his advanced stats for the last 4 years have been fantastic. He is criminally under rated.
I would agree with the lack of need for Pickering
DeSmith had a WAR of 0.5, placing him 30th in the NHL.
Among guys with a comparable amount of games, he was better than: Demko, Luukkonen, Anderson, Talbot, Campbell, Thompson, Grubauer, Mrazek, Merslikens, and Quick.
The list of guys with better WAR in a comparable amount if games: Swayman, Copley, Samsonov, Korpisalso, Gustavsson, and Montembeault
By what metric was he not a fine backup goalie?