For an NHL general manager, having a stockpile of prospects is akin to a gambler having a huge pile of chips.
The second part of the equation is that the gambler or the house is 100 percent certain of how much each chip is worth. Sure, you want to keep the good prospects for your team. But at the same time, you want to have enough good prospects that you can use some to get players who are good now.
But so many variables go into prospect development that trading a prospect who looks like they might have potential has to feel like throwing a grenade into a room and closing the door.