Quoting: SLAFSQUATCH
I understand why you wrote it, but Z is not proven or a star. His contract would reflect it. As it turns out, Ducks management had their reservations as well.
Habs point of view, his improvements have been steady and exponential. Sky is the limit as he looks more and more like a dominant player.
We though the same thing about Nick Ritchie, and truthfully, that's more what Slaf looks like at the moment. Iginla and the likes of dominant power forwards like him had much larger impacts when they first entered the league. Slaf is on pace for what, 28-30 points this season? Z put up 60+ his freshman and sophomore years. Sky may be the limit, but showing up on the scoreboard to prove why the team went off the board to grab you 1OA needs to happen.
As to Z, he's also still improving. His play away from the puck this season is night and day different than in past seasons, and he's a pretty safe bet for 80-90 point seasons in his prime. If you are Anaheim's front office, and you look at this trade proposal, you don't take it unless Montreal adds a hell of a sweetener.
Slaf will be an NHL player with a lengthy career, of that I have no doubt, but right now it's not clear at all if he's going to be a top line star, or a good middle six piece.