[Discussion] Which of our prospects would you trade for back end help?

[VegasCanuck]

This is just my opinion, but with our focus on drafting the best player available when we pick, (which is exactly what it should be), we are really overstocked at forward and a little weak on immediate players who could step into the NHL on defense.

So, with all the miscellaneous proposals flying around about, let's trade this guy or this guy, I thought I'd put it differently.

Which of our prospects would you move for help on defense?

I'm not proposing that we move one of these guys for an aging defenseman, I'm suggesting that we try and balance our prospect pool by moving a good young forward for a good young defenseman of relatively equal talent level.

Feel free to speculate who you think would be adequate trade value for our prospect.

Also feel free to tell me that I'm full of S#^@ and that our defense prospect pool is just fine and doesn't need any help!

Let the polling begin!

[I.Am.Ironman]

Depends entirely on the quality of prospect comiing back. I voted Jensen because I feel that trading him is in balance with a).who I don't want to give up and b.) giving up quality to get quality in return

Gaunce is my #2 but Jensen nets a better return at this point. I think Gaunce has more to grow before we either trade him or give him a shot, trading him at this point seems pre mature unless someone overpays which I see as unlikely. He is looking as if he is going to have a big year in the AHL so I say lets tread water on him and see what happens

[VegasCanuck]

Personally, I picked Gaunce as I think he is the most expendable of our prospects. I think he will have a really good career with us, but we have lots of depth coming up in the system at center. It would be easy to suggest Jensen, but we don't have a lot of depth on Right Wing right now in our prospect pool.

[one-x]

Depends how Vey does this year. If he's underwhelming you can always deal him, but you might not get a good return.

[Rick Grimes]

I've had a feeling he's a bust from day 1; Brendan Gaunce. Therefore I believe he's the most expendable, but, he's still only a late 1st rounder. It would take more to to acquire any reliable defenseman in the league right now - look at the trouble Detroit has had for example.

[RUPERTKBD]

None of them.

This team is not a contender and trading away prospects to shore up a supposed weakness on defense is a waste of an asset, IMO.

[smithers joe]

i say let's keep our prospects and continue to build our future's cupboard.....if your going to trade someone, trade kassian.....

[VegasCanuck]

Personally, I picked Gaunce as I think he is the most expendable of our prospects. I think he will have a really good career with us, but we have lots of depth coming up in the system at center. It would be easy to suggest Jensen, but we don't have a lot of depth on Right Wing right now in our prospect pool.

I think Gaunce has really good potential, but I also agree with Sutter that his top end is 3C. That said, if he can become a solid 3C in the NHL from where we picked, pretty happy with that!

[VegasCanuck]

i say let's keep our prospects and continue to build our future's cupboard.....if your going to trade someone, trade kassian.....

Kassian is just coming into the age where power forwards really evolve. I wouldn't move him unless it was a pretty good deal on the table.

[Chalky]

I wouldn't trade any prospects for back end help. The addition of stud Dman will not change the outcome on a team that with limited secondary scoring. I would consider a trade for a 2nd line center or top 6 scoring, but for a Dman? I'd rather keep the prospects.

[RonMexico]

I wouldn't trade any of them. I don't see anything wrong on the back end yet. I think you are looking for something that isn't there.

The draft philosophy of BPA is not always the best idea. Sometimes you do need to draft a need. If you feel that you don't need the BPA, you best be trading down. Why overload the system with players you can't use just because of some outdated draft philosophy?

[Spitfire_Spiky]

Going with Gaunce on this one. As mentioned above we have lots of depth at center, he plays a great 200 foot game and is shutdown type player much like Horvat. With that in mind his chance of making the club diminish. Right now the return on him would not be worth the trade but if he has a good year in the AHL he could be used to get a decent back end porspect

[VegasCanuck]

I wouldn't trade any of them. I don't see anything wrong on the back end yet. I think you are looking for something that isn't there.

The draft philosophy of BPA is not always the best idea. Sometimes you do need to draft a need. If you feel that you don't need the BPA, you best be trading down. Why overload the system with players you can't use just because of some outdated draft philosophy?

We're doing okay at the moment on defense, but past Corrado, I don't see many guys who can safely step into the lineup on the back end when injuries mount (and they always do).

[elvis15]

It's less about who we want to give up and more about who the other team we're trying to trade with wants. CDC can try and decide all day who we want to give up and it won't make any difference if the other team has that type of prospect in spades.

[Armada]

I want Oleksiak

[48MPHSlapShot]

Gaunce. We're pretty solid as far as potential 2nd, 3rd and 4th line center prospects go. Gaunce is expandable, and you'd probably get a decent return for him.

[timberz21]

Jensen, at 22 is at the crossroad seems ready to make the NHL jump, but we don't really have/won't make the room for him and seems like he wont really get a shot at top 6 soon. Gaunce is better bottom 6 prospect too and a longer term project than Jensen.

[Warhippy]

As it stands, mallett, Corrado, Blomstrand, ugggh...Gaunce. But the return has to be that RHD capable of being the PMD we need.

[canucklehead44]

1st choice McCann (prospects have the most value closest to their draft date, unless they break out later). 2nd choice Jensen, 3rd choice tie between Shinkaruk/Gaunce.

[Bang Bang Boogie]

Jensen would net us the biggest return, however he need him for scoring depth. Gaunce is probably our most expendable asset.