To NYIslander: Daniel Tjarnqvist, Duvie Westcott, Ilja Bryzgalov, Pat Rissmiller, Tom Poti, Bjorn Melin, Karri Ramo, Tom Gilbert
To Boston: Chris Pronger, Doug Murray, Jocelyn Thibault, Ken Klee, Wade Brookbank, Denis Istomin, Viktor Dovgan
Joe dude, what are you doing man? you're destroying your team! You said you wouldnt move michalek because you paid to much for him. Now you deal him for this? Unreal...
Well its the age old questions.. whats better.. top end talent or depth?
Wolski and Michalek are having great seasons and both have 40 points in 52 (michalek) and 55 (wolski) games.
Weiss is still improving and is having his best season yet (30 points in 50 games) Koivu too is having a breakout season with 36 points in 57 games Umberger has taken a step back but the whole team has taken a step back and he still has 11 goals so far Fritsche is also having his best season yet with 25 points Perezhogin is a contributor in Montreal who plays a decent 2-way game and has loads of skill.
Basically 2 guys for 5 who can play in the NHL and contribute.. almost 2 entire lines there.. yea the two best players went the other way but i don't think its as bad as some say.
Depth is easy to trade for or sign during free agency. Top end talent is not. That's why you never trade top end talent for depth unless you absolutely have to.
Wolski and Michalek are nicely on their way to being ppg players, how you could trade them both for that package is mind boggling.
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To NYIslander: Daniel Tjarnqvist, Duvie Westcott, Ilja Bryzgalov, Pat Rissmiller, Tom Poti, Bjorn Melin, Karri Ramo, Tom Gilbert
To Boston: Chris Pronger, Doug Murray, Jocelyn Thibault, Ken Klee, Wade Brookbank, Denis Istomin, Viktor Dovgan
Wow, mixed emotions from my fellow gm's. I can see Columbus and Buffalo's point on top end talent and fully understand the reprecussions of my actions. Your right I swore I wouldnt deal the two of them as I had similiar offers previously from every team in the league some more than others and some about 7 times a day (Atlanta) but I wont mention any names. I do have tons of great young depth already, that was my original gameplan, but how could I toss away 5 good youngsters for basically 2. The RE-trade value was too good to turn down. I orginally said NO on this deal but thought about it long and hard for 3 hrs and finally came to the table with San Jose. I love Koivu and the other 4 are having solid seasons with great upside. The way my team is layed out right now, i'm not sure who I'm going to have slated on all four lines yet but I know I have more than enough of exactly what I want.
I've already redealt Weiss for Zigomanis, Rismiller and Grebeshkov. Once I lay out who's going to be playing where, all the remaining young talent will be packaged up for young mid 70's guys, who will sit on the top 2 lines. Dont worry boys there is a gameplan here, always has been. It may take me about 200 deals to get there as it always does in all my leagues but I get there, and my team is always the envy of the league. Thanks NYI for the compliment, your right it wasnt an easy decision to make but I made it and I stand by it, and I know my team will be much better off for it in the long run. The expensive vets I have on my team are not part of my gameplan but only there to fulfill the salary cap requirement. I always build my teams up so I can field two full teams worth of young talent then start packaging and building for a good young pro team. Its all just a matter of time. All the guys I have will all rerate nicely in the low 70's and instantly winning me all the deals I've previously made. San Jose has done a similiar job with his team and can afford to lose out a little on that deal because he already has a solid young team and michalek/wolski will be slated for less playing time.
Dont worry boys i'm not offended I have big shoulders and believe in what I'm doing with my team and love doing it. Only good things for my boys in blue from here on out and looking forward to next season bigtime. Good luck in the playoffs boys, save me a spot for next year. -Joe NYRGM
