Yea, this isn't NHL23 where you can just scam other GMs with bad trades repeatedly until you get the roster you want. Players that we really, really want are also valued very, very highly.
So you're telling me that my go-to trade tactic from NHL2001 where you first trade your 78 overall player for 80 overall, then to 82, then to 84 etc. doesn't work?!?