Edited Nov. 20, 2023 at 5:33 p.m.
Quoting: TrevorsZebras
I still think the UFA premium on Reinhart prices him at a far more manageable and fair level than Nylander. Unless Columbus added more than fair value to the Laine - Zegras option, I am iffy on that trade. Maybe its just attachment to the guys we already have, but I just think that Zegras has yet to hit his ceiling, where Laine at 25 is closer to his and if Z popped off and became a superstar with Columbus, I would be very upset. The forward depth would definitely be too deep and guys would have to get waived if we dont shed a few in a trade. In an ideal world, a few of them are smaller pieces as part of a deal to bring in a RHD (I will continue to plug Rasmus Andersson).
Laine has also scored 44 goals before, and the likelihood is Zegras never gets above the 30 goal mark, since he's a playmaker first. Put Laine on Carlson's wing and the dude could hit 50 goals in a season. Zegras can only hit 100 points in a season if he has someone to set up, and right now, Anaheim doesn't have enough scorers.
I think its attachment. Yes, Zegras probably would pop off with the wing talent that Columbus has, just as Laine could pop off playing on the wings with the center talent Anaheim has. They both have superstar skill, it's just a matter of putting them in positions to succeed. Does Anaheim have a position for Zegras to succeed? I don't know at this point.
I do agree that Columbus would add some, Zegras is hugely marketable, that would be massive to a small market franchise, and as a center he's more valuable than a winger, but it wouldn't be huge.
At the end of the day, I'd use Zegras as a trade piece to get one of the following. (Not necessarily straight up)
Pastranak
McAvoy
Jiricek
Laine
Dobson
Seider
Outside of that, we hang onto him.
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