The free agent pool is sufficiently thinned that value is hard to find, and the Pittsburgh Penguins roster is so overstuffed that even if a useable piece remained available, neither team nor player would have an interest in further overcrowding.
The prices on the trade market have undergone a sizable, if not cataclysmic, shift from what we once knew as fair to exorbitant hauls including top-10 draft picks, top prospects, and multiples of them.
This summer, there has been plenty for media and armchair GMs across the continent to chew on. So, would you like to play a game?
Penguins GM’ing
1. Would you trade Harrison Brunicke and perhaps a second or third-round pick to the Seattle Kraken for Shane Wright?
PHN Answer: No. Not before or after signing Tommy Novak to a three-year extension. PHN’s view is that Brunicke is going to be a solid NHL defenseman soon, and he has an above-average offensive upside, which will be quite valuable for a long time.
PHN thinks Wright’s game could be a good fit with the Penguins but not at that price.
2. Would you have traded Ben Kindel, two No. 1 picks, and Rickard Rakell to the Dallas Stars for Jason Robertson? Or three first-round picks and Rutger McGroarty for Robertson?
PHN Answer: Again, no.
The second offer is close to what Dallas accepted from the Seattle Kraken for Robertson, which was reported to be three first-rounders and a “young player,” but wasn’t the previous top pick Jake O’Brien. However, PHN’s view is that the Penguins have a good chance of getting higher picks in coming seasons, and they have good chances of getting high value with the picks that could have been traded away for Robertson. Patience is necessary.
3. Would you have done all of: Re-sign Evgeni Malkin, keep Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell?
PHN Answer: PHN would have cleared space. Especially in light of the Ville Koivunen contract, Malkin’s deal becomes a clog. For all of the talk about Malkin not blocking any players, that is specifically true, but in an abstract way it took away a spot for other players to grow into. The Penguins have McGroarty, Koivunen, Avery Hayes, and newly acquired forwards Hendrix Lapierre and Nick Robertson.
With Malkin in the fold, it makes sense to keep both Rust and Rakell. It’s one philosophy, one package. However, PHN sees potential in Lapierre, Robertson, and the group. That’s what a rebuild looks like, and one, two, or more could find NHL success and be part of the future rather than fighting for lineup scraps.
4. Would you trade Erik Karlsson for a lottery-protected first-round pick?
PHN answer: Ouch. It would be a hard decision for several reasons, and perhaps one not made until mid-season, but … yes, maybe. As brilliant as Karlsson was last season and talented as he is, unless Karlsson is willing to sign an extension, he isn’t part of the future. That sort of trade and return would be more beneficial for the organization in the long run than pursuing a playoff berth that comes without the realistic hope of a Stanley Cup.
A new contract is the big caveat. If he’s willing to sign, then a later first-rounder isn’t worth it. The situation is that it doesn’t seem there is a big market for Karlsson, partly because of his no-trade clause, and extending him would have benefits to keeping the team competitive. However, unless Karlsson is willing to sign a deal that is agreeable to both sides, then keeping him would be forfeiting assets necessary for a rebuild.
5. Would you trade Sidney Crosby if it meant receiving multiple first-round picks in return?
Five questions, four no answers. Unless Crosby requests it, keeping him is important. PHN has evolved on this issue as the portrait of a rebuild comes into focus. A leader, a standard-bearer of Crosby’s caliber, is important not just for winning to accelerate the growth of young players, but to keep the rebuild on the rails. Without proper leadership, locker rooms and organizations can quickly become a rudderless mess.
What say you?
Tags: erik karlsson Penguins Trade Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby
Categorized:Penguins Trade Talk