Trading the 7th overall pick for an average player like Berglund just screams desperation to be a little better in the present.
It's trades like that that keep you in Atlanta Thrasher territory.
Yeah, and drafting in the top 10 for 4 years straight while failing to address holes on the team has kept us in Edmonton Oilers territory (which is FAR worse than Thrahsers/Jets) territory.
I'm certainly not saying that Berglund is the answer as there are likely a couple better options out there, but if MacT were to turn down an offer like that, I'd be pissed. You don't turn down an established young player that addresses some team needs to roll the dice on a 7th overall pick that is likely 2-3 years away from the league or making an impact with this team.
Acquiring Berglund also lets you move Gagner for defensive help. Say he could land you a guy like Kulikov or Gardiner+. I'll take Berglund and an Dman over Gagner and a crapshoot.
Folks here are far too enamoured with draft picks. Picks are great, but if you've got a choice between a solid, established NHL talent and gambling on a pick, you take the former. Which is exactly why STL wouldnt pull the trigger on a deal like that.