Rafalski for Enstrom, Cogliano, and Ballard

This recent trade proposal came my way, here is the basic run down. I would acquire Rafalski for Enstrom, Ballard, and Cogliano.

My keeper league (max 4 years) is auction style with each team getting $270. Each team can protect 12 players but must roster 20 (12 Fwd, 6 Def, 2 Goalies) plus reserve. Defense categories are G,A,+/-.

Rafalski is expensive ($41) but carries obvious value. My defense already includes Burns, Weber, Rozsival and Ranger. This trade would shore up my defense and would contend for tops in the league.

Enstrom's value is only $1 but doesn't score goals and will have a terrible +/- but I would be losing $40 in the trade. There are some top d-men back in the draft - Pronger, Lidstrom, Green, and Gonchar I could go after but if history repeats itself they will go atleast $45 - $55.

Both Cogliano and Ballard would not make my top 12 protectable keepers.

My other keepers would be Perry, Cammallari, Semin, Riberio, Horcoff, Vermette, and Fleury.

This trade would leave me with half of my $270 to draft a top goalie, top forward, and the remaining amount to fill out my roster.

Any thoughts on this trade?

Awesome League set up, I really like the salary idea(easy to follow). I would make that trade if you don't plan on keeping anyone on that list, and I agree Enstrom is not going to have a good +/-. Rafalski + detroit for 4 years? Awesome.

To me, any move that puts you in contention is obvious. The fact that Cogs and Ballard are drops for you anyways makes this an Enstrom for Rafalski (a "DUH" move). It sounds like Rafalski's is actually a bargain compared to other top defenders.

Winners consolidate talent and that is what you are doing here. I make the move and don't look back.

I agree. Take it.

Just to clarify Rafalski is in his final year of his 4 year contract, while Enstrom is only going into his second. But as mentioned a trade that consolidates talent and puts you in contention is a worth while trade.

I'm not so sure about this being the right thing to do - it might be, but I have some questions to ask.

First of all is Rafalski worth $40 more than Enstrom in your league and I am not talking about cost but value to a team.

What else will $40 buy you at the auction and will that acquisition plus Enstrom be worth more in production than Rafalski alone? If you can buy something that in fact increases the value to greater than Rafalski alone then what you have left is the same $135 to buy one less player which means you should be more competitive in the auction.

There is talk of consolidation of talent here but I don't see that being the case because of the cost factor and that you are simply replacing a player of lower production with a player of higher production for a cost (Ballard and Cogliano have no consequence in the equation) - consolidation tends to refer to the concentrating of talent in fewer players at no additinal cost. What you have here is called buying an upgrade.

It might be right to do the deal, but I wonder.

Some great points Shoeless and I have been thinking about a few of them.

By keeping Enstrom and drafting another player similar to Rafalski status would definitely strengthen my team because of less one player to draft. And that would leave me with the same amount of money as if the trade was made. That being said Rafalski carries high value due to his three category status (G,A, +/-) compared to Enstrom's one (A). Getting a similar player of Raffies status would be difficult to get and cost $$$.

Also I'm not a fan of Atlanta and the direction there heading in. Could be a long couple of years for the Thrashers.

I have been going over this deal for a while now. Difficult decision.

Sure but you lose Rafalski at the end of the year anyway so essentially your keepers are not developed by this deal. I wonder if the addition of Hossa will change the equation on Rafalski and the fact that Kronwall stepped up big in the playoffs might not also create a discount on Rafalski.

Sure Rafalski's numbers are certainly that much better than Enstrom's but 38 points as a rookie on D tells me that this young guy has some long term value for the buck you have him at.

I am one of the folks that thinks that Enstrom is going to have a setbackk this year and won't reach the same numbers as he did last year. He's a one dimensional guy who will always have a fragile spot in the lineup (just my opinion).

If you think you have a real solid shot at winning the lelague this year then I think this is a great deal for you for the multicategory points you'll get out of Rafalski.

If you think your window is a little longer (2-3 years) then sticking with Enstrom and bidding on some other talent is likely a better way to go.