Thorner

Bolded is definitely possible. I’d say likely. Thinking about it, almost assuredly: my bias is definitely to lean towards thinking that’s where the prioritization is, based on the fact otherwise would represent a change of what we have seen up until this point. Or, at least up until this season. I still think their internal expectation was playoffs this season, but there are some who argue otherwise. The idea that Adams thinks Byram represents an upgrade on Casey for next season outright is certainly a plausible (and preferable) one. So I suppose *that’s* what I’m actually looking for to be the case. I was simply drawn to expecting otherwise

They can, yup. Also doesn’t appear to be linear given Byram’s trajectory this far Would an appropriate return for Malkin in his prime be one relative to his production or relative to his designation as 2C?

Isn’t this just semantics? I don’t care if Casey is the 14th C if he’s our best forward If he’s producing the most Doesn’t actual result supersede frivolous arbitrary line designation?

Bo Burnham Bob Burnquist Andrew Bynum Bo Byram

@Hankim sort of searching for arguments here detailing why Byram will improve our team for next season relative to Casey, to make me feel better, so if you’ve got one, I’d in seriousness love to hear it No, he’s our 1C right now Edit: was

“In another, more accurate, way: Barney is the winner” Casey was our 1C currently

Great post my leaning here is it’s more about the long term where this deal is concerned f

@Hank what’s the X for here? The bit about KA having a choice, or the bit about our trades prioritizing the future? So it’s not the guy ranked #12, it’s the guys who might rank, at all, in a few years, that make our current best producer “expendable” got it

Krebs has made Mitts expendable? Out of our 12 main forwards, the guy who ranks 12th in points makes the guy ranked #1 expendable? Even if he did, doesn’t that make player #11 expendable sooner than the guy who’s now #2? Can’t wrap my head around this

Yes, we can still make the playoffs this year

Right, but you are getting into trouble here now (with me lol) because you yourself argued otherwise. I read all your posts. You are the “we don’t need surgery” guy we just needs tweaks. So how can I put faith in your well-laid out arguments if they, nonetheless, appear to be positions you’ve taken purely to take them, but not in line with your original stance?

Thanks. If KA believes the deal helps us next season, he absolutely needs to pull the trigger The roster will need to be capable of making the playoffs sans health if we’ve built a worthy roster at all

Fair. If true, if KA would candidly tell you the trade likely represents a slight deficit next year but a better prognostication long term, in that scenario I abjectly hate the trade

Purple elephant

I’m not asking you to. I’m not asking you to be pessimistic. There’s an arguable position wherein one says, well, this makes our team likely a bit worse next season, but likely better long term. I hate it, but it’s there. It doesn’t need to be “to avoid a payday”. This is a good faith discussion

We can simply wait and judge based on the results, that part is easy enough my question is a different one: does KA, in his heart of hearts, in your estimation, think he’s making the team better next season, through this move, and it’s corresponding? I know you can’t know the answer but what do you think. Do you think KA is making the deal to facilitate an improved team next season? Or long term?

Of course. My question is, does the deal in KA’s mind help facilitate a better team next season? Or does it help facilitate a better team down the line I only care about the former. Literally Don’t schouch the messenger

That’s why I prefer to operate based on achieving a goal next season. An eye to results. It creates a scenario where we need not fear either. We didn’t need to commit long term this summer to Casey The tragedy would be pencilling Krebs into 3C next year based on his finish and not the season as a whole

This is exactly it. Team building. We are at that point. It’s not about the long term cap or long term success or this guy’s potential. What does it do for the team, right now. Is the likelihood we make the playoffs next season greater, or lesser, because of this deal? It’s the only factor that matters to me, the solitary bit that is not noise I think, for me, I would need to hear KA say he THINKS the deal makes us better, next season. Not merely a possibility. He would say he definitely feels like he won the trade, right? That’s the implication of making the trade at all. Like we can start there, right? Or he wouldn’t have made it. So he thinks the trade will make us better. Would he say he feels the most likely scenario is that Byram is better than Casey NEXT year? Would he say he thinks it’s a toss up who improves the team more next season? Would he say he thinks it’s slightly more likely Mittelstadt represents the better player next season, but he likes the long term projection? To me, the first 2 are fine The third option would be unacceptable Basically, the only part of his evaluation I care about is who he thinks will be better NEXT year If Adams think it will improve the team next season, he needs to make it because he needs to fail or succeed by a true installation of his plan. It’s the only way it can be fairly judged. I want him to make that move If Adams made the deal because he think it’s short term pain for long term gain, I absolutely hate it and don’t need to see anything more

He might still lead our forwards in scoring by seasons end

Right on time given my quoted post below, Something to sink our teeth into ^ So you would say you find it a reasonable likelihood that, in KA’s reckoning, this improves the team next season?

Question: As mentioned, I can definitely see the talent with Byram. From a team building standpoint I find it confusing. But, for someone/those more confident than me in this trade ending up beneficial: Do you see the trade potentially improving the team as soon as next season? Would you argue that is likely? Or is that more best case scenario, with your likely estimation being we see net improvement further down the line? What say you? I’m open to the idea Byram could end up the better player but it literally only matters, for me, if it can happen for next season

I mean, they are 2.5 years apart. If you keep Casey yes you have the better player now, and maybe Byram’s improvement gets him back to what he was. But why isn’t Casey being afforded that same likelihood? If I had to guess who was more likely to improve, I’d go with Casey, given trajectory Also I don’t really agree with the Tuch comp. Casey is younger, and also Tuch was in the midst of a career outlier season. Casey’s saw a progression and back to back 60 point seasons