Hall for Larsson was not a solid move.
Lucic was a solid move
Lucking into Pully was another in a long line of luck moves.
It's like posters on this site decide to throw context out the window whenever they want to discuss anything.
Chia was put into this position from the get-go and likely had a mandate to his hiring that he was responsible in improving this team. Knowing this, the Hall trade almost 100% would have been a committee decision between ownership, scouts, and management. So fact is, it was calculated.
That being said, just like the last few years under MacTerrible and Tambo, there were unwilling to trade what it took to shore up the defense. It got to the point where it become a huge problem. Combined with the premium on young talented defenseman and the Oilers desperate need for D it was a bad combination and the price only rose. Old management banked on the price reducing but it never did.
Chia walks into this situation and takes a good look at the team. Hall was originally drafted to lead the Oilers. Unfortunately, with McDavid our fortunes totally changed. We now have to decide who we want to build this team around. Wasting the ELC's and cheap years of Hall, RNH and Eberle by not surrounding them with the talent to succeed was a terrible mistake. But to make that mistake again with McDavid would be unforgivable.
Hall was the odd man out. To me, I saw it was either Hall or McDavid. Chia said he had been watching Larsson for a long time and he was their guy. In my opinion, offering up Hall for Larsson came out of nowhere. It was Chia who made the calculated move and it was Shero who was forced to make a rushed decision. Good or bad, yet to be seen but it was shrewd on Chia's part. A true salesman and Chia got his man and Larsson wasn't even available. Young, high performing D with an incredible contract who is projected to be a solid top 2 defenseman.
Dealt from a position of strength and not only that but ENSURED that he had a much better suited replacement waiting in the wings with Lucic. Incredible management and sense of timing. I have a high respect for Chia and his ability to get. ****. done.
The surface dwellers and simple minded opponents to this trade will point to the contract length or that Hall is all of a sudden a top LW when not even 6 months ago he was chopped liver and not even in the top 20 on some lists. Don't buy it. It was much fairer then anyone is giving Chia credit for.
You can't leave out Lucic or Poolparty in your little equation there, Beerfish, because one doesn't happen without the other.