GoJetsGo
Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 1,144
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Hearing a lot of mixed opinions here so here's my take on this trade:
At face value, Chicago wins fairly handily. To get multiple 1sts and 2 solid prospects for a guy who they picked up for free just a few years ago and will (probably) not become a true top line talent is great value and really good way to kickstart the rebuild. Best case scenario for them, one or both of Raddysh and Katchouk become Hagel type players for them and the 1st rounders are the icing on the cake.
From Tampa's perspective, although this is a massive price to pay, they're exactly the type of team that can afford it. Guys like Tkachouk and Raddysh are basically a dime a dozen for them, and although their prospect pool is on the poorer end, they've got a knack for drafting in the later rounds and can probably weather the storm of the lost 1st rounders. They also get another couple 4ths to take some shots at the dartboard with which can help them out.
More importantly, Hagel himself is a perfect player for them. Just as I mentioned they're the type of team that can afford the acquisition cost, they're exactly the type of team that can take advantage of Brandon Hagel's value. They're getting a 23 year old who can play in their middle six, fill Blake Coleman's shoes, and might still have some untapped upside, and most importantly, is cost controlled at 1.5 million for the next three years. He's a quality player that fits seamlessly into their salary cap picture, and that's exactly what they need in a trade acquisition. A lot of people seem to be forgetting that they're getting this guy for two more playoff runs after this one at that price tag. That's where the value comes from.
I also think that this trade may have been calculated in that having Hagel would soften the blow of an Alex Killorn trade this offseason. They're going to need the cap space to hold on to Palat, and he's probably the guy with the most value that they can feasibly replace. If they know they can get one of those two 1sts back for Killorn in the offseason, I think that makes it a lot easier to make this deal.