I think your point is a very good one, if not a little sad one.
Full disclosure FWIW — assuming it was mandatory that we had to trade Miller (and I was not "down with that" idea), I was nevertheless immediately pleased with what we got in the trade, based on what I''d seen of Namestnikov previously, which was not much. To this day I am wondering how much was Miller traded because of AV's ass-hattery or because of Miller's ass-hattery? And how much does the ass-hattery matter considering how well Miller contributed in the playoffs on the Tampa top line? But that's grit and tenacity lost and we have to move on.
But after his initial goal scoring in the first game or two, it seemed like Namestnikov fell off a cliff; a really disappointing finish to the season compared with Spooner.
But I did my little bit of research and I reopened my mind to the possibility that we are getting a player with some good upside. I just hope the players around him are talented enough and flourish, too.
Your point about him becoming an asset to be flipped. I'm sure it's true, I just hate-hate-hate looking at things that sanguinely before we've even had dance around the ballroom. But it is what it is and, of course, you are right, that it is most likely the reality down the road apiece.
I guess I have to remember to get unsentimental and remember hockey is a business and I better beware of getting attached to some players, even if I wind up taking a liking to them.
That said, I read your article on Blueshirt Banter I think, in which you opined that NHL's free agency system is broken. The article was more centered on something else, and that seemed to be a side-theme, but I hope you will do a soup-to-nuts piece here on why you think it's broken and what can be done to fix it. I can't put my finger on the provisions of the NHL byelaws that are "fekking it up" specifically, but when I see so many players of youthful value becoming RFAs, and so few of them ever actually moving, I get cranky cranky cranky. It's like that sliver of hope is a mirage.