I think
@LOFIN and
@bleedblue94 argument that Kakko should have been worth a 2nd + a better piece than Borgen - or one that still had room to potentially improve, or at least was under team control and not months from UFA - is a fair assessment. Ideally, rather than a pick and Borgen level player, he should have been part of a change of scenery type deal for someone like Greig or Pinto (would anyone have been upset if we’d had to add a 3rd or given away Vesey to get Pinto?).
The report that there were more interested teams but they weren’t aware that Drury was itching to pull the trigger so fast, to me indicates that if he hadn’t been spiteful about Kakko’s comments and waited a week, he could have gotten a better return. If nothing else he could have said “Seattle’s offer is Borgen and a 3rd, what you got? Oh, Greig and a 3rd? Interesting… what about you, what’s your offer? Okay Seattle, Ottawa offered a better, younger player and a 3rd. If the piece is Borgen but you’ve gotta improve your pick”.
I mean, wtf do I know? Obviously nothing, but simultaneously, possibly just as much as Drury, evidently. Drury hasn’t really gotten a good return when he was the one selling a player on a single deal he’s made. It feels like any time he’s the one selling, he is in a rush to pull the trigger on the first offer that comes his way.