TradeCentre - Wheeling for Auston

We have a trade to announce.

Good thing too, because the trade deadline was looking pretty damn boring. I remember the days when the Randy League would get a fist full of trades; Safari was obviously known for pulling the trigger, but Dick Burns was also traditionally in the mix of it, and Burgundy and Sitch also answered the phone routinely. However, this year has been slim pickings, with Safari and Sitch instigating the only material trade offers.

With that, there's one trade to announce, and it's between Sitch and Safari.

SAFARI TRADES: Blake Wheeler, 2017 second round draft pick

SITCH TRADES: Auston Matthews, 2017 ninth round draft pick

"I wanted Matthews," said Safari in a press conference shortly after the trade was announced. "In fact, I even picked him in the Draft. I made the choice to drop him mid-season and realized thereafter that it was a mistake. I reached out to Sitch several times during the year for a trade to get Matthews back on my roster, and we were able to hash something out just before the deadline.

"There was talk of swapping Matthews for Laine, but then Laine got a concussion which essentially canned that proposal," Safari continued. "So for a long while there was nothing."

Asked why the deal ultimately went through, Sitch responded, "I made it very clear from the beginning that I didn't like the way I drafted this year. I am - and continue to be - amazed with the performance of my team. If you had asked me three months ago what I'd be doing around the deadline, I would have said that I'd probably be a seller and rebuilding for next season. Well, I'm not doing that now with the performance I've seen. I have eyes on the Title Belt, but I also know that the best course of action is to plan for now and the future.

"Safari came to me with several trades throughout the year, but I was just unsure about it. I kept thinking about the future and draft picks. Then, he came to me with this trade which included a second round pick in next year's draft. For a producer like Matthews, I thought the draft pick was in exchange was very fair, so we made it happen."

But what do the professionals think? Let's bring in the panel for discussion:

LeBrun: This is an --

"I fucking LUVVVVV Pierre LeBrun!" screamed Burgundy.

LrBrun:... Thank you? OK, back to it. This is an absolute win for Safari. Why do you play fantasy hockey? To win (!) of course. Getting Matthews, who's not only an incredible young talent, but also playing on a highly motivated, well-coached, playoff hungry team exudes production down the stretch. With Safari being on Sitch's tail, I think Matthews will help close the gap and propel Safari into first. While Wheeler is a good player in return, he's not in the same talent pool as Matthews, and I don't think this trade really helps Sitch this year. And seriously, if you had a shot at winning this year, wouldn't you do everything in your power to make it happen? I think Sitch thought about the future a bit too much on this one; he's planning for the future and sacrificing the present. Winner: SAFARI.

McGuire: Fairi points, LeBrun, but I'm not convinced this is an absolute win for Safari. When I evaluate this trade, I'm looking not just at the transaction, but everything that has lead up to the transaction, and what may play out post the transaction. And here's what I gather:

• Sitch picked up a free agent (Matthews) which has transformed into a second round pick. Safari is likely to finish in the top three this year, so that's a high second round pick, too. That's an incredible return-on-investment. Assuming Safari keeps Ovechkin as his Keeper, that means Matthews will be available in next year's draft, and it's possible he could still be available in the second round for selection.
• Sitch is low on RW games played and Wheeler is a RW, meaning he'll be able to catch up in that department. Wheeler may not be the same caliber of Matthews (3.50 PPGP), but he's decent in his own right (3.10 PPGP).
• With Stamkos projected to return mid-March, Sitch is going to be top-heavy at the C position. While he loses Matthews, Sitch will have Stamkos (4.40 PPGP prior to injury) to fill in the gap. Having an elite power forward fill in for Matthews is pretty darn sweet.
• So, based on these points, I say: Winner: SITCH.

An incredibly close call. Thank you both.

"What are your thoughts on the trade, Commissioner?" asked Burgundy.

Hmmm... tough call. Both LeBrun and McGuire have made valid arguments, and it'd be hard to go against either of their opinions. However, I'm going to go with LeBrun, and say Winner: SAFARI, but with a HUGE asterisk. I'm saying this based on the law of certainty - Safari got a player that is elite and healthy, whereas it's entirely probable that Sitch gets screwed should Stamkos not return (or perform poorly upon returning). I'd take an elite player in mid-season form over an elite player returning from injury any day.

So there you have it: Safari wins 2-1 in this trade assessment.

"2-1... that's my bedroom ratio," winked Dick Burns.

Wise words, Dick.