We can argue which ones they bought low on.... I'd leave Reinhart off that list...
Reinhart and Montour were from Buffalo... and players that went on to be much better, like everyone who leaves there. Forsling from the same type of thing, but in Chicago. Verhaeghe that nobody wanted.. and they got lucky. Bennett of course, just couldn't get it going offensively in Calgary, good trade there.
But this does highlight, find guys who have potential, that isn't being realized elsewhere. When you do that, you are going to hit, and going to miss at times. These are calculated gambles.
I wanted Weegar, before he put up big points in Florida, and they got good.
I wanted Peeke, and to me it's looking like he's coming around well for Boston, and is an 18 minute a game guy.
I wanted Comtois... looks like I was wrong there.
I wanted Shane Wright last year, and that was right.
I wanted McBain before he took off.
I am talking about Krebs now. Heck I'd do Cozens too... (that cap hit would be difficult though)
How many times did I suggest Kappo Kakko was actually going to be good, and would be a great third liner? 19 points in 27 games for Seattle now. Our friend
@thusk said this about Kakko -->
Who care where Kakko will be in 5 year??? he will probably already being in his 3 or 4 team in 5 year, those kind of player are pretty easy to find on market, Puljujarvi is a pretty good exemple. It seems our friend
@thusk was wrong about Kakko.... I didn't suggest we trade for him, given our needs are more D and C..
What's matter for the leafs is right now...
Buffalo has proven time and again, that their players can be so much better when they leave that org... and your example is perfect for that. That's a team I'd be scouting hard.
I think Florida did a good job, I think Washington got lucky. I've always thought it's better to trade for younger guys, with control or term, and hope and work to develop untapped upside.
For forwards, I'm still in the camp of find someone younger, with cost control, who isn't meeting expectations in their current situation, and hope they grow here. Krebs, Zegras, Cozens, McTavish... I'm sure there are other names out there, C's that are young, with contracts for some time, or control.... like you say, it's what Florida did... Washington.. I don't really want to give them credit for luck, but it's the same strategy. But, Buffalo, Anaheim.. bad teams not developing players right... it's been a proven way to get contributing players.
@LeafSteel you posted, while I was creating this post... I think we basically agree..
