TRADE ALERT HSK/CGY

[Erik Summers 451]

 Helsinki Titans Receive:
 
C Hiroshi Okada
 
 
 Calgary Wranglers Receive:
 
RW Gary Tarantino
S73 HSK 2nd
 

 

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Analysis

When analyzing any trade, I think there are three important aspects to consider, the market, the price, and the return. The biggest story as we approach the trade deadline this season has been the market. When looking at other blockbuster trades, teams have been paying exorbitant prices to “get their guy”. We have also seen that most trades aren’t just happening as an exchange of players for picks. This is because most teams are struggling to stay under the cap at the moment and have to move contracts to make room for the new players. So, with that market in mind, let's take a look at what each team got out of the deal.
 
Helsinki was the clear “buyer” here, acquiring a proven player coming off a solid sophomore season who seems to be experiencing a bit of a regression this season. However, the Titans have struggled offensively all season, so it is clear that they were in need of someone with the potential of Hiroshi Okada. I think the bigger question is what did Calgary get out of the deal? 
 
Calgary is among the frontrunners to be the cup favourite at the moment, so it is hard to imagine that they are selling off pieces to build for the future. Their time to win is now. In that light, my first thought about this trade was that it was a simple cap dump. Calgary has another trade lined up that was just waiting for the cap space to open up to close the deal. Then I saw that they retained more than a third of Okada’s salary, freeing up just $250,000 in cap space. Maybe that is all they needed, but that doesn’t seem likely. What about the player they received? Gary Tarantino might pan out as a solid bottom-six forward, but he has had an incredibly rough rookie season so far. But maybe the leadership in Calgary believes that it was just the fit in Helsinki that was holding Tarantino back. Finally, there is the pick. Early second round picks hold some amount of value, but late-seconds are risky. So which is it likely to be? Well, Helsinki is theoretically at the low point of their rebuild/retool and will be back on the upswing next season. Will they be cup favourites? Probably not, but a deep playoff run is certainly possible, which makes this pick rather risky.
 
So, considering the market, it seems like the Titans got a bargain, but there is one big question that will likely determine who this trade is remembered. How does Okada slot into the Helsinki roster? Currently a centre, Hiroshi would certainly find himself third in the depth chart at the position on the Titans. However, with a change to left-wing, he could find himself on the top line. Receiving passes from players like Ben Hafkey, Brian Strong, Erik Draven, or Kronos Bailey could make a big difference in returning Okada to his form from last season.

Get-to-Know the Players

Hiroshi Okada

After his first twenty-two games with the Ottawa Lynx, Hiroshi Okada looked like a big gamble even for a VHLM team. Because of that, he ended up falling to the third round, going 25th overall to the Philadelphia Reapers. That gamble paid off big time as he put up ninety-eight points in the following season. Now proven, he went 9th overall to the Calgary Wranglers who had very successful drafts in S69 and S70 with the likes of RJ Jubis, Kris Rice, and Mikko Lahtinen. Now a leader on a very young roster, Okada had a successful sophomore season with thirty-eight points. He now appears to be in a bit of a slump, but there is still great potential for this player.
 
Gary Tarantino

Long-time VHLMer, Gary Tarantino found great success, playing for two championship-winning teams. After a rough start with the San Diego Marlins, he was drafted by the Saskatoon Wild super team that won the S69 cup. The following season he was traded to the Minnesota Storm and helped lead them on their cup run as well. The only knock against Gary is that his development has been slow, but it has been consistent, so there is good potential for the future. He hasn’t seen a ton of ice time on the third line in his rookie season, so it will be exciting to watch the player he becomes as he gets more opportunities to prove himself.
 

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Players Mentioned: @enigmatic, @Quik, @McLovin, @Wheaties, @Garrett, @Jbeezy76, @Jubis, @Ricer13, @Beketov

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by Erik Summers

[Big Mac 310]

12 hours ago, Erik Summers said:

I think the bigger question is what did Calgary get out of the deal? 

As someone who’s in the Calgary LR I can say it was a both team won affair. There was no way Okada would resign with us this following offseason and he let us all know. It’s better to get something out of nothing then to get nothing. If that made any sense.