Quoting: CapFriendlysFinest
Understand what you're saying. My point was the UFA pool this year isn't great and the UFA LHDs are likely going to demand a huge amount of dollars between different teams. There is a good chance the Ducks don't get one of those guys for the top 4 on the left hand side. This deal takes the pressure off the ducks, more so if they sign him to an extension as I view him as the best LHD from anyone in the UFA. He plays well until all the kids are ready to take over in a couple of years and then Flower or him can drop down.
I get that, but the acquisition cost, especially for only one guaranteed year, is far too high for where we are. As has been mentioned, if there isn't a UFA option avaliable, there are cap strapped teams that we can take advantage of, like how we got Kulikov last season. The player we bring in won't be Hanafins caliber if we go that route, but we will still have Luneau and our 2 2nds.
Money this season is not a problem if the UFAs demand AAV, and Hanafin is going to be due a large raise as well, so we're only saving money this season. We can also outbid LA for Gavrikov who has already gotten to experience Southern California.
A team might give up 3 2nds for Hanafin, but it's a team in win now mode and needs a sub 5 million top 4 D. We might give up a Boston 2nd that we have and that's about it.
Besides, top 4 RHD is the big organizational need.