Edited Jul. 28, 2020 at 4:22 p.m.
The CBJ trade is neither fair nor realistic.
Columbus is a small market team, and they have constraints in competing with large market teams such as Boston, NYR, and Leafs when it comes to spending up at the top end of the cap.
They have managed their business very well over the last decade or so.
They have drafted and developed their own talent EXTREMELY WELL over the last 7-8 years.
They have found true NHL'ers in later rounds of the draft.
They have signed their players to decent contracts, and been willing to part with top end talent (Bob) to ensure not overpaying for players and keeping money available to support future contracts and protect against the occasional rogue offer sheet.
The last thing CBJ plans on doing is trading their very best top center & RD (probably in their 20 year history) AND very high draft picks for 1 impact player.
It is not going to happen.
They are going to continue doing what they have done, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and stick to their game plan.
Drafting and developing, and building a team of very good players that mesh well together, compete hard, and have depth of talent at each position throughout the organ-I-zation