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BIG TRADE BIG RETURN (big risk) |
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Ryan O'Reilly's trade was the blockbuster trade of the summer that took a back seat to Tavares signing with Toronto and Karlsson going to SJS among other things. I'm not trying to say that no one noticed ROR leaving BUF for STL, it was a monster trade, here are the details:
Blues get:
Ryan O'Reilly
Sabres get:
2019 1st
2021 2nd
Tage Thompson
Patrik Berglund
Vladimir Sobotka
Most said at that time that it was a 'hockey trade'. My interpretation was that it was a fair deal for both sides. ROR was on-the-outs with the Sabres and most felt that getting the Blues to pay his $7.5M July 1 roster bonus was the icing on the cake that made this trade all worth it for BUF.
This 'over-payment' by the Blues was all worth it as they raised the Cup last week. They also have ROR's services for a few more years at a reasonable $7.5M per year. Compared to how free agents are going to get paid this off season, he is a steal.
So, why don't we see more of these BIG trades in the NHL?
Most teams like guys on their roster and tend to overvalue their worth. The view from the front office and the fan's seat in the stands usually paints a much prettier picture for their own guys in comparison to other team's players.
A blockbuster trade means blue chip pieces have to go the other way too. No team is going to give you their star player for little or nothing. The Kings sent 3 first round draft picks and $15M to Edmonton for Gretzky. Eric Lindros netted the then Nordiques 6 players (Peter Forsberg was one of them), 2 first round drafts picks and $15M in cash. These types of trades either leave holes in the current NHL roster or deplete future development as prospects and draft picks are traded away.
It rarely turns out well for the team acquiring the star. Neither Gretzky nor Lindros won a Cup. They both played for a Cup with the team they were traded to, but failed to win it. There is a long list of star players that are part of big trades that never work out. Joe Thornton comes to mind as well.
Sometimes it does work out for teams. Ray Bourque and Partick Roy won a Cup in Colorado, Brett Hull won a Cup in Dallas (although not a trade, he signed as a free agent) and in the NBA this season Kawhi Leonard was traded from the Spurs to the Raptors (so it goes across sports as well).
Does Gretzky or Lindros not winning a championship mean those trades didn't work out for LAK or PHI? Gretzky made west coast hockey relevant and Lindros brought excitement and winning spirit back to the Flyers. While ROR took the ultimate prize back to STL, Gretzky and Lindros did have a huge impact on hockey in their cities.
So, again I ask, why don't we see more of these blockbuster trades. GMs aren't swinging for the fences, they are making calculated moves rather than trying to hit one out of the park.
In an off-season that is going to be dominated by big free agent signings, who could land the big trade that may make the greatest impact.
I would put a huge bulls-eye on these players:
Johnny Gaudreau, has 3 years left at $6.75M
Nathan MacKinnon, has 4 years left at $6.3M
Cam Atkinson, has 6 years left at $5.875M
Dylan Larkin, has 4 years left at $6.1M
Aleksander Barkov, has 3 years left at $5.9M
Claude Giroux, has 3 years left at $8.275M
Mark Scheifele, has 5 years left at $6.125M
What would each or any of these players cost? Multiple high round draft picks, NHL roster players and prospect(s).
If I'm the CBJ general manager here is what I would offer for ANY of these players (excluding Cam of course):
1st Round Pick in 2020
1st Round Pick in 2022
Choice of a defenseman not named Werenski or Jones*
Choice of a forward not named Atkinson*
*If you pick an NHL roster forward the defenseman would need to be a prospect and vice versa.
As CBJ GM I'll take Mark Scheifele and send draft picks and Josh Anderson (or Texier) and Nutivaara (or Gavrikov) back to WIN for example.
Is that a 'hockey trade'? How would both fan bases respond?
Propose this year's blockbuster...
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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