jkibler wrote:
Dont you think that the sabres found something in this guy that turned them off??? why WOULD they let go a prospect of his caliber ?? I am not saying the sabres won the trade, as a matter of fact i hated the trade. i was looking forward to kassian being an important part of the team for years to come, but some on this board seem to think it was a slam dunk that the canucks came out better. looks like a pretty even trade to me, except the fact that the sabres gave away they desperately need in toughness....when he decides to play tough
I don't hear or read where anyone really thinks the Canucks won this trade in any slam dunk, at all. We are well aware of what we gave up. What I read, and what I believe, is that Kassian fills a void on the team that Cody could not ever fill. I also believe he fills a role moving forward that Cody would never ever fill. In Hodgson you get a potential 2nd line centre who can, if he reaches his potential, get 50-60 assists a year and 15-20 goals. But you also get the warts of average defence and little or no muscle. Those aside I think everyone who has watched Cody feels he is a very good pick up for the Sabres and more along the lines of what you need now.
Cody was not going to replace Sedin or Kesler now or for the next 3-4 years. He is not 3rd line material. He is not 4th line material. He cannot adapt to play wing. So what we had is a player with tons of potential who is not versatile enough for what we need as a contender. Whether Kassian provides some of that only time will tell.
No one believes he will replace Cody's offensive potential. I think that is clear that most believe Cody is a better offensive player. Just like few believe that kassian this year will reach his potential. The hope is he will develop and become more part of the core down the road. My hope for this year is he provides what we have missed on the 4th line for several years. Not a goon or simply a fighter but muscle and energy. If he can do that this year on a consistent basis then he helps us immensely in the playoffs.
As many have said, when you have a team built like the canucks there was little chance that Cody would see the ice time in the playoffs to be a difference maker for us. But to read into that that people think we won a trade slam dunk is being silly. In fact I haven't seen one comment to that effect. Reactions are polarized and mixed. This was a hockey trade that addressed needs both teams had and in Cody you get a great young kid with a ton of potential. But so do we.