Quoting: AFOX10900
Oh, I thought you were using hindsight, yeah at the time Tatar was practically a cap dump lol, POJ just has not been good in the AHL this year, oh and even if he does develop skill wise he's still like 150 lbs (at 6'2'' calling him a twig would be generous) i really don't see much more than bottom pair upside for him, Almari>, and Suzuki>first imo, and Bellerive is basically a nothing spec, he might be a fourth liner in a few years
he's been as good as any of the players on PIT AHL team which is completly depleted of talent .
Remember he's an Offensive D making the jump to Pro and will need a little time .
Given MTL has Francis Boullion a short undersized D known for his insane strength and a ability to battle hard.
Byron comes over and trains with FB his first summer after the trade and has a career year becoming a 5'9 player who can hit with the best of them .
i watched his brother play here and he might have been 10-15 pounds heavier and he's done just fine as a less talented/celebrated prospect.
he's a far better skater then his brother with his biggest issue being his ability to get out of the NZ at the pro level . (due to lack of size as you pointed out )
as time goes on he'll get bigger and find a way to make it work .
Suzuki and 2nd isnt better then POJ and a 1st .
Suzuki when traded his GM said '' he's a fine player i just dont see him in the NHL for 2-3 years which doesnt fit our timeline ''
Context matters and until this year Suzuki was a prospect we ranked under Kotkanemi and Poehling who's since surpassed them .
IF VGK knew the success that was to be had by the pieces they undervalued i doubt they trade for Pacioretty despite him being a great fit there .
Regardless the point still stands POJ , JB and a 1st for 1 year of Tatar with no obligation to re-sign is market value .
i mean DET only got a 1st , 2nd and 3rd because VGK wanted him off the table for PIT and BOS who were in on him but bowed out after VGK offer.
right now we're getting a better package for a player who;s a Ufa in a year then DET did . (Veleno was the only piece to pan out thus far )