The issue is whether Provorov - Ghost last year was for real or just one of those SSS situations that wasn't sustainable. Did teams watch film and adjust, like the Pens did in the playoffs when they shut down Ghost.
Ghost was a top PP QB until this year, when he lost his mojo. How much was him and how much was the talent on the PP, and how much of his struggles is a temporary glitch and how much is more aggressive PKs?
At ES, he's a good puck moving D-man who's become more defensively responsible but lacks both size and top end speed (he's got good but not great speed).
He is not "insanely valuable," he's a top four defenseman with limited upside. He's turning 26 in April, what you see is pretty much what you're gonna get the rest of his contract. Last year and a half:
1.00 pp/60 (35), 0.50 p1/60 (76), CF 50.83 (73), CFrel +1.56 (46), xGF 52.34 (53), xGFrel +2.42 (42)
PP 5.35 pp/60 (14), CF 54.91 (13)
Good solid numbers, but nothing special, 17th in Norris voting as a rookie, 10th last year, no votes 2 years ago or probably this year. He's better than he's looked this year, but not sure he'll ever surpass last season again.
If Fletcher wants to make major changes to a team that's been in an 8 year rut, he has to do more than just trade Simmonds and Raffl - he has to move players of value to get players of value. There are only three candidates unless you want to move top prospects, Voracek, JVR, and Ghost. None are irreplaceable.