It comes from eight assists in 32 games. It's that simple. People say "stats aren't everything..."
for an offensive defenseman, they are. He's skilled, for sure, and a case could be made that AV didn't give him enough but Ruff was also there. With a great debut in Phoenix two seasons ago... then 32-0-8... that's where the narrative is coming from... like John Moore (and the obligatory 3rd... sorry) lol... but really... and no love for him... 32-0-8 is heading toward bustdom for an offensive defenseman with questionable D.
As for the ankle, not what I meant--I think/hope he'll fully recover. But since you mention it, ANY injury depreciates trade value to an extent (probably more so for a questionable, young player) until he's 100% and performing well again.
So, for ME, that's where the narrative is coming from. I'm more confused that why, since Leetch, this team has had such awful luck finding that high-end offensive D-man, and yet everyone thinks we've found that in a young player who's given no reason to believe that in over a year.
He doesn't have much value right now BUT is definitely worth keeping if things go as we hope.