Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
You are right that prospect evaluation does differ from person to person. And you are welcome to your opinions on them even if they are against the general consensus (ie Poirier), as am I. Though I think you are misrepresenting my opinion on Lohrei. I think he could develop into a 2nd line caliber defenseman but I don't see the 1st pair caliber in him. I think he definitely has the potential to become a 2nd pairing defenseman. If I thought his ceiling was 3rd pair only I wouldn't have interest in Calgary acquiring him. Calling him bad while also wanting him would be a contradiction.
Pending UFA's on selling teams, especially good pending UFA's in their prime don't often make it to free agency because the team that trades for them doesn't want to lose them after spending so much to get them. Generally if a team trades for a pending UFA they do everything in their power to keep that player (ie Vegas trading Smith to keep Barbie). However that isn't always true as Boston didn't keep Bertuzzi last year but it was widely reported they tried to. I expect Matt Duchene for example to hit free agency but I think Florida will find a way to keep Sam Reinhart. I think Lindholm is going to end up signing an extension with Vancouver but I think Carolina ends up loosing at least 2 of Teravainen, Skjei, and Pesce. I think Matt Roy will be on a different team next year but I think they may try and add Saros or a similar goalie.
Consensus in scouting world varies. I love Dom Tiano’s stuff on OHL even though he can be overbearing at times. He’s also knowledgeable and a pretty nice guy in person. I miss Bob McKenzie’s detailed scouting reports. I think Wheeler watches players more than once and respect his opinion. I’ve seen him in the stands at OHL games in more than one location.
Can’t stand Pronman. He watches players once and has a bad rep among the scouting types I’ve met. I don’t like consolidators who take others opinions and pretends they are his own. I’ve read scouting reports where they would have been more accurate if they swapped two players.
I do generally favor the Hockey Writers over the Athletic.
Ultimately if I were Sweeney, I would offer Grz, a 2025 first, a 2026 second, and their choice of any two prospects not named Lohrei, Lysell, or Poitras for Hanifin with retention to get him to the same salary as Grz.
Ultimately, Calgary may be able to get better than that. If that’s the case, so be it. To be fair, I could see that being better than a realistic offer for him. I don’t see Dallas or Detroit giving up the prospects that are popularly included by AGM types with a first rounder