When was the last time a player like Meier was available at the deadline? I am genuinely curious. First line, 40+ goal scorer, regular NHLer in their prime without any NTC/NMC contingencies, looking to sign a long term extension with a club. I bet you won’t find anyone with all of these boxes checked unless you go back to the 90s. (I am ready to be fully wrong with this lol).
Point is, it is laughable to consider prospects “untouchable.“ It’s just a negotiation tactic. Realistically there are zero prospects “off the table” when an elite player with all of the above attributes is available and your team is making a cup run. This overvaluation of prospects is wild. I say the same thing about the Sharks top prospects too. Not that I’m saying trade your prospects for current top players but to have them completely off the table is silly