It's a horrendously bad trade. As bad as the hagelin trade.
- Lundqvist79
That Hagelin trade was bad due to every possible reason not even including Emerson Etem in key in return.
Sather knew ahead that Hagelin was seeking bigger money, and was of urgent importance to them for the defensive roles and speed he brought. They could have shed cap space elsewhere, and satisfied him just for one more season, & work on an extended deal at that point. In fact, Hags had stated that back then through a source in his native homeland known as "Svenska Fans", (I believe spelling wise), in which I also recall him saying that he expected to play at least a few more seasons with the Rangers, but didn't expect that he would last his entire career here".
I still believe that with his buddies in Zucc, and back then here, Brassard as well, that he would have been happy re-signing for about +/- $3M for that one more year at that time. The Ducks were desperate to pay him that $4M per year to lock him up longer term, but that plan changed quickly in January of that same season due to no fault of his play which improved their penalty killing.