Like your idea but I wouldn't trade our current pick to bump down, especially that far. Keep our current pick and find other ways to acquire another 1st rounder if possible and that makes sense.
- AEL_Fox
You could make the trade conditional on if the players you would draft at our spot ( say it is #9) is still on the board. But know that your trade partner might also back out and this could be the case if your trade partner team has other pre arranged conditional trades lined up.
You can see one line of thinking with GM's is: 1). I have little wiggle room to sign a free agent even if I release or send one of my players long term injury. Even to AHL if possible; .my player might then become easier to trade
2).Even though I can maybe gain a tad salary cap relief from the above, I need to bring in a top player at "x" position. I weaken one position to strengthen another when I trade one of my too players. Therefore if I can get someone from the Entry Draft. What does it take to move up to #9 or #7 or is it worth to drop a couple slots?
Could be a buyers market to demand much to get the higher pick. Yes wiz points out a lot of players in later round one will play NHL. But do your scouts feel strongly that those in later round one could be top line or top defense pair The difference makers. How much faith do you have in your scouts?
LATE ADD: wiz says there is good value beyond the early picks. But as in trading for the team that winds up with the best player, you have a known good quality vs guesswork with unproven players either in NHL or still developing. Should try to keep higher choices. Teams with weak depth can look at it the other way. We should keep our pick not trade down.
