I'm saying it's mean spirited because you keep ignoring the fact your original statement said you see no path to the Preds being contenders during his contract. I've shown you a path, is it optimistic? Yeah, but not impossible or even that unlikely.

I think they bottom out this trade deadline. I understand there's a normal progression but teams always break that trend. The Ranger and the Kings the most recent examples. They both had 1-2 down years out of the playoffs and are now contending again.

Of the prospects I've named 3 are in the AHL at 21 or under and performing admirably including leading their team to a 15 game win streak. And again you gave the percentage of 20-25% hit on picks or prospects. Following your math some of these guys will be on the roster and contributing. So yeah a mix of vets and young guns.

And you introduced the value conversation in the last paragraph of your earlier post to quote:

"From a risk mitigation standpoint, I would think that Trotz can absolutely see a scenario where ROR takes a step back, as do the predators, and that deal becomes something that can be moved for neutral value at best. If I'm Boston, I would most a first and a good prospect for him."

I think a team like Colorado who has been searching for a 2C at a reasonable price tag would strongly consider throwing a 1st and a prospect at minimum to get ROR. Or Toronto who tried to sign him in the offseason. Make a post on here asking what teams would give for ROR and I think you'd find a lot of teams view him as more than a 3C and the fact that he's on the powerplay and getting all those minutes doesn't hurt his value. He also kills penalties. Even in a diminished role he can contribute where needed. guys like O'Reilly aren't always being brought in to score. He's brought in for stability and all of the many things he does in the locker room and on the ice. He's a winner. Teams trade for guys like him because of his pedigree and history

Okay since you like questions.
What would you think the bruins fair offer could be for a team’s top center that is a recent playoff MVP, known leader, great defensively, and signed to only 4.5 mil for three more years ?

recent? it was 5 years ago. his age started with a 2 back then.

I've thoroughly gone over why i think folks are cherry picking that "top line center stuff," feel free to go back and read it.

I think a first and a B prospect would give Trotz a very tough decision.

a couple things: I was being nice when i said optimistic. what i meant was it was a real stretch. that's being nice too. i think it's bonkers to see nashville contending in the next three seasons. They're short on top of the lineup talent, and i just don't see where that's coming from. If they had this same roster and were in the running for Celibrini, honestly I would feel better about their chances.

again, that 20-25% hit rate on prospects is pretty optimistic.

Regarding the risk mitigation part - teams don't just look at this year. teams are always looking ahead. ROR on a one-year deal right now is getting an absolute haul. signed until he's 36 on a four year deal? I just don't think the value is the same because of the risk. The league sees guys at this age fall off a cliff all the time, and four years is a risk. It's a risk for teams taking him on as he might be $4.5M in dead cap in a hurry. I think holding him is a risk for Nashville as what might be a first round pick + this deadline could be a, "you need to pay us to take that deal on," a year from now. Ignoring that possibility for a forward in his mid-30s is naive.

I think there's been some sort of misconception with Preds fans on this thread, and I don't really know how it came about because I've chosen my words carefully. It's not like I'm saying, "the preds HAVE to trade this guy." Rather, I think if the playoffs are out of reach and someone comes along with a good offer including draft capital and a prospect that strengthens the predators ability to ice a well rounded competitive team 3-5 years from now, while wiping out the risk of that contract, I certainly think it's something Trotz has to consider.