That would be the end of Trotz as GM lol.

Why would we interrupt our rebuild by trading away two of our top 6 forwards who are in place for the rest of the decade?

What are you talking about, there's one valuable piece in there the rest are third and fourth line pieces, or picks that become 3rd and 4th line pieces, for two young top 6 forwards? This is throwing **** at the wall and hoping something sticks.

There’s nothing remotely realistic going on here

4 forward who can all play right now and four picks is a huge return in any trade.

Let’s be real. Thats an incredibly generous description for 3 forwards that top out on the 3rd line and a prospect that hasn’t yet played an NHL game. The offer is basically Kemell, 22OA, a late 2nd, and then a presumably late 1st and 2nd in ‘25.

I think his point of throwing things at the wall is that it’s just dropping random pieces into a trade like it’s chel without actually considering the other team’s needs. ANA is looking to come out of a rebuild. This is how a team nose dives into starting a rebuild (and very poorly at that)

3 forwards who are in the lineup every night and one of their very best prospects plus 4 picks is a heck of a return. Terry is a good winger and I think he has a lot to offer a better team but Zegras simply is not worth the hype. The kid has to show he can be a consistent scoring threat and so far he hasn’t.

You haven’t convincingly addressed a single argument to be honest.

Argument 1: These players outside of Kemell are effectively worthless to ANA.
That argument 100% stands. Your point did nothing to change the fact that these “NHLers” averaged 7-8 for 15 points and a -7. There are better UFA options available not to mention ANA doesn’t lack for bottom 6 (in this case bottom line) players/prospects. Nearly worthless players that are a dime a dozen

Argument 2: Not enough value here
This argument stands, though is more subject to argument because player value is subjective. Use Puckpedia to make it simple
Zegras was drafted 9OA and in pretty much any redraft is higher. Let’s go with 8th OA value despite the fact that pick value alone includes bust risk and development time that aren’t applicable, so this is conservative.
Zegras (Puckpedia 8thOA) = 39.3
Terry (hard to pinpoint, but relatively similar to Zegras. Let’s assume 10% less than Z) = 35.4
ANA value = 74.7
‘24 1st (Puckpedia 22OA) = 16.9
‘24 2nd (Puckpedia 55OA) = 4.2
‘25 1st (Puckpedia 22OA minus 20% for being a year out) = 13.5
‘25 2nd (same as above for 2nds) = 3.4
Kemell (we’ll be generous and boost him from 17OA to 14OA Puckpedia) = 26.5
Nashville value = 64.5

Argument 3: This entire trade does the opposite of what ANA is looking to do, which is exit a rebuild
This argument 100% stands. A 22OA won’t play a meaningful game for the Ducks for like 4 years. 5 years for the ‘24 2nd and ‘25 1st, and 6 for the ‘25 2nd if they make it at all. Kemell didn’t top 50 AHL points. Meanwhile ANA loses 2 of their most productive forwards. It’s honestly laughably poor at addressing team needs

I’m confused as to how Anaheim plans on exiting a rebuild? I haven’t seen a single move that indicates that’s their goal?

One small hint that shows it’s their goal was the GM Pat Verbeek outright saying that in his end-of-season interview:
‘I want to start to make a push, a strong push to where we're competing and we're in the conversation and making the playoffs next year’

Offseason plans have been outright stated as well. Which he noted will very likely be added through FA:
1. Top 6 RW
2. Top 4 RHD
3. Bottom 6 addition(s) for greater production, speed, and grit

Am I saying it’s realistic we’re in a playoff spot next year? Not even a little bit. But it’s 100% the team’s intent to exit the rebuild. This trade reeeally ain’t it amigo

Then what Zegras trade exits a rebuild? Also teams always say one thing and do another. The Pens are always talking about contending to make Sid happy but then we did the right thing in trading Jake. Verbeek I’m sure knows you can’t sell tickets if you’re in a forever rebuild.

Not many, which is why Verbeek isn’t shopping Zegras. Lebrun called out the rumor for what it was months ago. Based on 3 sources, Verbeek had never brought up Zegras in a single trade discussion. All that led to the rumors were that other GMs had called him about Zegras and he listened to what they had to say before turning them down.

The only thing I could think of would be a positional swap, particularly if Verbeek really fancied yet another LHC in the draft at 3OA (Lindstrom). Then maybe someone like Jiricek could make sense

That may be true, but Verbeek has followed his word pretty well so far. His targets this offseason are the 3 things I mentioned above, let’s see how he keeps to that word