"Dump" him because they had three top 4 LHD in Toews, Byram, and Girard. Now they only have two. He's not a luxury player any longer.

#9OA has FAR more value than a mid 2LD. I mean, can you name any ordinary 2LD's that were traded for top-10 picks?

This is a prime example of CF ignoring the context. Most roster players aren't traded for top 10 picks because teams with top 10 picks aren't looking to add immediate roster players. They have more issues than that and value the futures more. The contender needs effective roster players immediately making that pick less valuable to those team; hence why they trade futures at the deadline. The pick is more valuable to a rebuilding team and less valuable to a contender.

First of all, New Jersey clearly isn't a "contender". Secondly, if they wanted to trade the 9OA they could do a LOT better than Girard.

That's why Colorado would jump on this. They could flip the pick for a better player. Or keep it and sign a UFA like Hanifin.

NJD is a contender hopeful. They had a ton of injuries and bad goaltending. No team in the cap era is making the playoffs with so many injuries and bad goaltending. What player could flip the pick for that would improve their team? No doubt futures have POTENTIAL to be better than the roster player. They also have the potential go bust that you seem to ignore. And this is a weak draft too where outside of the top 5, any player could be depth quality at best. I could see Dubas considering it for Pettersson. But he's a rental due a significant cap increase that will make him more expensive than Girard. And he's three years older. Girard is a know entity for a top contender with cost control in his prime. He's not great, but they obviously don't need him to be great to win a SC either. There's more risk than you're accounting for from COL's perspective.

Edmonton got Ekholm for a late 1st + B prospect + Barrie. Talking about Petterson or Girard for 9OA is ludicrous.

Not sure what your point is. Other than way overvaluing this pick. The 9th overall in this weak upcoming draft is worth slightly less than what NSH got. Which makes sense based on Ekholm being a better LD, but more expensive and older than the other two comparables.

Deleted.

The draft isn't great but 9th overall is still worth a hell of a lot more than what Ekholm got imo. I think a deal built around 9th overall+whatever else is needed to balance for Jarry+Pettersson could make sense if pitt decides to tear it down

CF grossly overrates draft picks. Particularly in a weak draft where 50+% of the 1st rounders will absolutely be busts. 32% of 9th overall picks end up playing <100 NHL games. Reality is, IF the 9th overall turned into a player of Girard/Pettersson caliber, that is a win. Hence why contenders are willing to send futures for immediate roster players.
https://dobberprospects.com/2020/05/16/nhl-draft-pick-probabilities/

The problem you fail to consider is cap. Sure, picks don't always turn out. But when they do you get 3 years sub 1 million (this is valuable even if they're bottom pairing/4th line guys), and then 4 years of discounts on their RFA years.

Yes of course the hope is on the upside value of the pick. But the context of time frame is extremely relevant. A team like COL is a contender right now and might be declining by the time that prospect can even play in the NHL. Much less when the prospect fully develops into what Girard is right now. Pettersson took draft+6 before he hit his prime. That's not unusual especially for dmen. Not sure on what NJD is looking at for time frame. PIT can wait 3+ years for a prospect to develop as it makes sense. They couldn't do that years ago at their peak.