haohmaru
boomshakalaka
I don't think its "hating" on Lias. If he goes on to the career that you suggest, assuming those point totals are with decent linemates, it is far from a home run for a 7th pick. 40-50 point players aren't that hard to come by in the NHL. A good portion of the fan base wants to ship out a 40-50 point shutdown C on a 70 point pace this year. The return would more than likely be a mid 1st round pick and a prospect. Given the uncertainty of the draft, why do it?
This team isn't contending for at least a couple of years, at which point they can shed the salary for Hank, Staal and Shatty. Keeping young, talented players is a the smart move.
I'll disagree - my point wasn't the 40-50 point player, it's the 2nd line guy that puts up those numbers for a decade that's the key to the "home run".
And, as far as Hayes goes, I've echoed what your implying above - I don't see what's going to come back, guaranteed, that's going to be as good as what we've already got. Hayes is young and you have to keep some core pieces around. I don't care for the "lazy" comments about just about any NHL'er not named Zherdev - it's impossible to be a top 500 player in the world and be "lazy". I'd rather keep Hayes at this point.