This is wild. Granlund will be the highest producing UFA C (available) this deadline. I agree he’s not worth a 1st but you think the winning offer will be a AAAA player in Steeves who passed through waivers, a 25 year old tweener in Holmberg, and a 22 year old RD who’s a long shot to be an NHL regular. SJ also can’t retain so you’d have to send picks to a 3rd team.
I imagine a Granlund trade will look like the Tanev trade last year (2nd+B prospect).
Seattle is going to accept an overpaid 4C and either a undersized, underproducing 23 year old or a project 24 year old that was acquired for a 6th last year for a playoff warrior 3C.
A Gourde trade also probably resembles the Tanev trade last year.
You might be right, but I’m laying out what I’d offer and hoping it’s competitive. We’re in a position where we don’t need to overpay for modest TDL upgrades. The key is knowing our limits rather than outbidding desperate teams.
Granlund, Gourde, and Domi have comparable production over the past three years. Domi is the cheapest, but Granlund’s been the most productive this season—helped by over 21 minutes a night and 3+ on the PP. Adjust his even-strength production to Domi’s minutes, and he’s scoring at a similar rate. Gourde’s also comparable, plus he adds PK and defensive value.
We have to evaluate how these players fit in our lineup: what minutes they’ll play, who they bump, and the real net gain they bring. Is 18 games of Granlund (plus playoffs) worth three young, cost-controlled players? Steeves, for example, is NHL-ready but stuck behind our depth. Someone else may outbid us, and I’d be fine offering a 2nd and a B prospect, but my proposal feels stronger. I forgot SJ had no remaining retention slots. I’d throw in a 4th to solve it.
For Gourde, he’s a bottom-six C and pending UFA. He has two Cups, but that means little to Seattle if they’re out. They might value a cheaper replacement for the next couple of years plus another asset. Our picks may not carry the same weight as others, but I don’t think my offers are far off from fair value.
Ultimately, we need to set our price and not buckle to their asking price.