Quoting: Billy12Bob
It's a strategically bad deal for Detroit. We'd be giving up 4 top line/pair players to get one and we're a rebuilding team and rebuilding teams accrue prospects and picks they don't trade them away.
Wallinder is performing 50% better than Edvinsson did last year. Kasper is playing second line centre in the third best league in the world this year and the 1st in the deepest draft in a long time will turn into another top prospect. Söderblom is fantastic at protecting the puck and has fantastic hands and will be a top-9 player in a few years, Berglund will not be signed.
What the going rate is for a top centre like Elias is is irrelevant to whether this is a good deal for Detroit or not. What matters is that Detroit needs those players and pick a hell of a lot more than they need Pettersson.
First off, I said the 1st round needs to be protected, or change to a 2nd. Second, I said to remove Soderbloom from the trade and put Ras or Veleno in. Please re-read my post.
As far as the rebuild, how long can it go? Yzerman already is steering towards the end of rebuilding. Asset accumulation is nearing the end. Kasper is fine and dandy, but have you actually seen him play? He is a slim chance at 1C, he is a sure shot 2C/3C. Elias is a 1C, today, no doubt. Kasper won't be productive in the NHL for at least 2 years after this one; his game is measured but unspectacular. Wallinder is for sure an intriguing prospect, but he may not translate to the NHL. Wallinder has made a lot of progress in the last 2 years since getting snubbed by the national team, but top pairing he is not; lots more to work on. Wallinder is 2 years older than Edvinsson, I'd expect him to perform better.
I have no idea where you get 4 top line players from. If any one of Wallinder, Kasper, or Soderblom is top 6F or top 4D, it is a win. The chances of all 3 is really, really low. Soderblom has played in the NHL and thanks to his size, he has shown he can be bottom 6 at least. There is talent there, but how that translates over time and how good can he be, I have no idea.
Basically, you have a top line C for 3 potential top half of the roster players. If all 3 hit where they project, Detroit still got the best player in the deal and you can chalk it up to a good trade for everyone. If any or all of the 3 prospects go off and become superstars, well, at least Detroit still got the 1C they needed. If Larkin signs again, that is grwat 1-2 down the middle. If he doesn't sign back on, there is your insurance to keep the momentum moving forward. This team is set to compete in 2 years.