Im sure you have noticed this, but I am seeing so many comments online about what we gave up in the Lindholm trade.
“I cant believe they gave a 1st plus everything else” ETC
For some reason, most commenters are weighing 1st round picks to other 1st rounds. The fact that the Canucks 1st will likely be at the very end of the round makes the pick a 2nd pretty much.
1st round draft picks lose significant value after the 10th-15th spot. Im sure this is known by most, but wanted to mention it for those who didn’t know.
Further reading
[Examining the value of NHL Draft picks – Sound Of Hockey](https://soundofhockey.com/2022/06/06/examining-the-value-of-nhl-draft-picks/)
[What is the true value of a bottom-16 first round pick? (cheeringthelogo.ca)](https://cheeringthelogo.ca/2022/12/08/playoffs-teams-1st-round-picks-the-trends/)
by Darb2k
9 Comments
Have you considered that the 1st round pick we gave up might turn into an Elias Lindholm someday? /s
The Flames absolutely got more value in this trade. But this is still the right move for Van. This is the best chance for a Cup in over a decade and there is no guarantee we are close to this position next year. Going all in is the right play, even if we get upset in the first round.
I will say this, we gave up too much if they consider Kuzmenko not a cap dump.
and how high you are on Hunter.
If Lindholm fits in and preforms like he did the two season before this its a win/win.
I think our system and talent on our team will help him a lot compared to the state the flames were in.
One of the talking heads said last night that there is a significant drop-off in talent after the top 20-22 picks.
This could also be viewed as a high second rounder
Assuming we finish 1st in the NHL, which is very possible, the absolute best pick we’d be giving up is 28th overall
Fans looked at the volume of assets given up, but I really like this for Van.
– Kuzmenko was a distressed asset and Van needed to send out salary. Theres value to Van in moving off of Kuzmenko.
– 2024 1st Rounder will be a very late pick, low likelihood of becoming a meaningful NHL’er.
– Hunter B was trending well, but I still had him outside of Vans top-5 prospects.
– Jurmo is probably a really nice kid
– A conditional 4th rounder is whatever.
Im really not losing sleep over any of those pieces. Feels like a win win for both sides.
Kuzmenko is the highest upside piece in this deal.
Cup > pick
There’s no need to downplay the value of our 1st rounder. CGY can use that pick themselves or package it for something else. They are in rebuild mode. It’s a significant piece, but was necessary to complete a trade for one of the top UFA centres. Fans need to be okay with giving up value for value that will help the team today.
After a big trade, there are always fans that justify it by saying the pieces we gave up aren’t that valuable. It’s natural. But no way the other team accepts the offer unless it makes sense for them too. It was fair. Rutherford got his guy and we are the deepest team heading into the playoffs, for now.