Werenski/Jones for Batherson

[Darkwing Puck]

Got my first trade offer of the offseason: give Drake Batherson for my choice of Zach Werenski or Seth Jones. League details are in my sig and my current "locked in" keepers are in bold.

My inclination to pull the trigger, but I've got a few misgivings/questions.

First, am I selling low on Batherson? He has the potential ramifications of the WJC investigation hanging over his head, though I'd be surprised if he wound up facing any kind of consequences that affect his NHL eligibility (if he even had anything to do with the whole affair). However, the additions of DeBrincat and Giroux could hurt him up to and including potentially pushing off the Sens PP1.

Second, if I do take the trade, this will basically max out my cap space which will make it difficult to add a goalie, which was my main objective for the offseason, and I feel like an upgrade in my goalie keepers is better than an upgrade in my D keepers. That said, I have no idea if I'll even be able to trade for a goalie, so I might be better off taking the upgrade I know I can get.

Finally - who do I target? Werenski is consistently ranked higher and benefits from playing on a better team, but is he going to be sufficiently better than Jones offensively to make up for Jones' edge in hits and blocks, which is the area where my keepers are going to be weakest?

[ross10019]

I don’t think i’d do it given your team makeup (very young emerging squad) and cap considerations - you have a nice future stud D corps with Bouchard, Dobson and Power (although i might consider keeping Drysdale instead of Power). And you’re thin on RW. If you do pull the trigger I’d go Werenski.

[stevegamer]

I'd see if I could work a deal where I give a D of that caliber for a goalie. See if anyone is interested in that sort of swap, and if they are, let them know that are a few D you might be able to acquire, and give them more than those 2 names, and say "guys like A,B,C,D".

If that works you can work a three-sided deal that helps you.

[niconasr]

Acquiring an older D doesn't seem to make sense for your team right now. As stevegamer said, see if a G can be flipped for one of those D and wait on an answer. I don't mind trading away Batherson. I feel his perceived value is still high and I'd rather sell a little early than a little late in his case.

[Darkwing Puck]

I had the same concerns about age, but Werenski is only 25, it's not like his career is winding down. Even Jones is only 27, though it feels like he should be a lot older.

(although i might consider keeping Drysdale instead of Power)

Can I ask why you'd keep Drysdale over Power? I have concerns about Power because he and Dahlin are both left shot defensemen, but Power seems like he has the potential to be a more complete player while Drysdale is pretty much offense only (< 1 block/game and about 0.5 hits/game).

[Darkwing Puck]

Just got a new offer from the other manager: Werenski for Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti. I like this a lot more. Ehlers is one of those guys with a ton of potential but he never quite manages to live up to it, he also makes more than Batherson, which helps balance out taking on Werenski's cap hit. Perfetti was probably going to be one of my keepers, but I have plenty of other options (Newhook, Rossi, Sillinger, Kaliyev), so I can afford to give him up.

[ross10019]

I had the same concerns about age, but Werenski is only 25, it's not like his career is winding down. Even Jones is only 27, though it feels like he should be a lot older.


Can I ask why you'd keep Drysdale over Power? I have concerns about Power because he and Dahlin are both left shot defensemen, but Power seems like he has the potential to be a more complete player while Drysdale is pretty much offense only (< 1 block/game and about 0.5 hits/game).

I think in his prime Drysdale is going to be way more than just an offense only guy, he's going to be a no 1 Dman in this league and even though he won't be a massive hits/PIMs guy, he'll contribute decently in blocks. Zelwegger might have a say in that, but Drysdale is so legit.

[tweetdrivr]

Just got a new offer from the other manager: Werenski for Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti. I like this a lot more. Ehlers is one of those guys with a ton of potential but he never quite manages to live up to it, he also makes more than Batherson, which helps balance out taking on Werenski's cap hit. Perfetti was probably going to be one of my keepers, but I have plenty of other options (Newhook, Rossi, Sillinger, Kaliyev), so I can afford to give him up.

This is a definite no for me. Not a good trade.

[Darkwing Puck]

Can I ask what you don't like about it?

[tweetdrivr]

Because Werenski isn’t that good. Perfetti is that good. Even Perfetti for Werenski would be a no for me. Ehlers is what he is - a 70+ pt winger in his prime at age 26. Werenski has Bean and Boqvist breathing down his neck. This would be a terrible trade.

[Darkwing Puck]

I don't see Bean or Boqvist as being major threats to Werenski, not when the Jackets are paying him $9.5 million a season and gave him a full no-trade clause. Maybe if one of them breaks out in a big way this season they'll look to trade Werenski before the NMC kicks in next year, but wherever he goes, Werenski should still be a top offensive option. Ehlers is expendable in my mind. I agree that giving up Perfetti is not ideal, but he's now offering to take Rossi instead.

[tweetdrivr]

How is Ehlers expandable?? He’s 26 and has flirted with PPG level play for the least 3 years and is at $6mil per. That’s about about as un-expendable as it gets. Go ahead and convince yourself Werenski is worth $9.5mil for two far better cheaper options, but do so at your own peril.

[ross10019]

I don't see Bean or Boqvist as being major threats to Werenski, not when the Jackets are paying him $9.5 million a season and gave him a full no-trade clause. Maybe if one of them breaks out in a big way this season they'll look to trade Werenski before the NMC kicks in next year, but wherever he goes, Werenski should still be a top offensive option. Ehlers is expendable in my mind. I agree that giving up Perfetti is not ideal, but he's now offering to take Rossi instead.

I don't understand this at all, and I agree with Tweetdrivr that this is a bad idea. But not because Werenski isn't good (he's real good), but rather because given your team and league makeup you are adding at a position where you don't need to, and subtracting from positions where you are thin.

Your league starts 4 D and 9F, actually 10F since your utility guy will always be a forward. That is a heavy emphasis on Fs relatively speaking. You have a great top 3 D, especially for a young team, Dobson, Bouchard and Power/Drysdale (whomever you keep) are going to be an excellent top 3 and you can fill in with more multicat/hits guys after that. Then at RW you only have Batherson and Ehlers - Batherson, he's great, but question marks around how WJC will affect him (I know others disagree, but I maintain this is an important consideration), and Ehlers,wow, even if he stays where he is right now that is a pretty damn valuable RW in your league, and if he finally gets PP1 time? Forget 70 points, think 85-90 threatening Connor numbers.

So, Werenski is a nice piece, but you don't need it with what you have, if anything I'd focus your trade efforts on bolstering C (only Aho and Hughes keepers) and RW (only 2 keepers).

[tweetdrivr]

And I didn’t say Werenski is bad. He’s good. But he’s not $9.5mil good nor is his situation.

[Darkwing Puck]

I also have Zegras and Perfetti at C plus Caufield and Jarvis (and Perfetti) at RW. I agree that Ehlers has a ton of potential, but he's never been able to realize it, partly because of how Winnipeg was deploying him, but lately also because of his inability to stay healthy. Though, now that I look at, Werenski is pretty fragile too. I'm starting to come around on this not being a good trade.