This was in ej hradek's blog two days ago:
Shrewd NHL executives don't understand why Atlanta felt the need to give up its second first-round pick (acquired from the Devils in the Kovalchuk trade) and last year's second-round selection, Jeremy Morin, in last week's multi-asset deal to acquire Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and prospect Akim Aliu. "Didn't they know the Hawks had to move those guys?" one puzzled team exec asked.
Buoyed by his ability to get significant return despite having little or no leverage, Chicago GM Stan Bowman hasn't been shy about asking for top young players in return for versatile winger Kris Versteeg. One GM, baffled by a trade query concerning Versteeg, said, "You wouldn't believe who he asked for." While Bowman wouldn't mind moving Versteeg as part of his continuing effort to create cap space, he'll likely have to scale back his asking price. That or make another call to Atlanta.
The more I think about that trade, the more i come to the conclusion that Dudley is a complete idiot. First, no good gm would give up anything of value for either Aliu, Eager or Sopel (especially since Sops is overpaid). Those kind of guys will be on the sale rack tomorrow. Thus, in exchange for Buff, we got a 1st round pick, a 2d round pick, and Jeremy Morin (who many say would be picked in the 1st round if the 2009 draft were held today). So really we got two first rounders and a second rounder. That kind of theft should be punishable by a prison sentence. I still can't figure out what is more likely: Buff ends up in San Jose at the trade deadline, or Buff ends up in Vancouver. Right now, that's anybody's guess.
-5Minutes
