glenngineer
Registered User
As for Turris, we gave up three really good assets to get him less than two years ago and would have to give up more assets to move him right now or eat enough of his salary that by the time you pay his replacement you have not really saved anything. Just not worth it.
Girard was one. Kamenev is questionable. I had to look up the last piece which was a second-round pick. As much as we all like Girard, he didn't have a future on the left side in Nashville with Josi and Ekholm. At the time of the deal, we received a number 2 center, which we sorely lacked. Last year was a disappointment for Turris but having cracked some ribs in my past, I can only imagine what he wasn't able to do conditioning-wise while out. He then comes back and breaks his foot, once again, limiting his conditioning.
Was last year a trend or an anomaly? We'll find out this year the answer to that question. In any deal, you have to give to get. At the time of the deal, we got the best player. Two years later, that's debatable. I have my questions about a 160-pound defenseman lasting in the NHL long term, even as shifty as Girard is.
Much like the Joey-Jones trade, we got the better player at the time the trade took place but many would agree Jones has eclipsed Joey's value. At the time, Jones did not have a future with Weber and Ellis ahead of him on the depth charts. This is the one trade I wish we could do over but I don't know if their GM would've gone for a Weber/Joey swap. If he had, we never make the move for Subban but we are in a better position long term with Jones and Josi at the helm of the d-corp.
Hindsight is an amazing thing and you can always second guess most deals. I think for the most part Poile does a good overall job with his player management. Does he make his share of mistakes, sure. Does he field a good hockey club year in and year out, I think he does.
All this to say, I think Josi gets a hair over $8, and Poile follows the Red Wing model of your Captain making the most money and everyone else falls in line behind him.