Not surprising that he's taken a step back in production. The whole team has. He showed some instances last year where he could be more than a complimentary piece. Years from now, I'm not sure he's more than a complimentary piece.
Hagel was mentioned earlier. Hagel was making $1.5 million when traded. He had another year at $1.5 million as well. We're taking, again, about Lafreniere's value when he's signed to a contract that will pay him $7.45 million per starting next year. It's that next deal that's going to reduce his value.
Hagel and two 4th round picks Taylor Raddysh (who they let walk), Katchouk (claimed by Sens and in the minors), a conditional first (they used on Moore), and a first (Boisvert). Tampa was throwing capital around left and right while in win-now mode. It cost them two scrubs, a conditional first, and another first for a player with significant cost control. For any sort of comparable, a trade of Lafreniere would have had to have happened before his next deal was signed.
Who's in win-now mode that can swallow the pending cap hit of Lafreniere?
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