Originally Posted by fantasyhockeygeek

I find it lazy when someone approaches me and says "I want Player X what would it take to get him?". You're the one who wants him, you tell me what you'd offer.

As of yet, I have no motivation to make a deal. Usually people approach you about your stud players.

I think it's much more sensible to approach someone and say "Hey, I'm thinking about making you an offer for Player X, and it would really help me out in pulling together something compelling for you if you'd give me an idea of where you'd like to improve your roster in terms of positions, categories, needs, whatever -- with a better understanding of what you're after I think I'll be able to make you a better offer."

That's reasonable to me. But "I want Malkin, what does it take" leaves me responding with "making my team better".

I make a lot of trades. I find most GMs focus on optimizing player value; that's not my approach. I'm a "set the strategy and move pieces accordingly" kind of guy. I'm happy to "lose" deals if it makes my team better, and it's possible to do that a lot more of the time than people realize.