20 year old putting up .8 ppg in the AHL is ridiculous and he scored two points in two games in NHL this year. How can you think he only has bottom 6 potential??
Like I said, he is "alright", but he isnt a guy like Nadeau, Morrow, Unger Sorum, or hell even Mukhanov. He'll be a solid complimentary center, but when you have Sidney Crosby and Evgenii Malkin, he wont be receiving a ton of ice time. He's going to be an alright guy but shouldnt have been a needle mover in this deal. He's a jack of all trades, master of none type of guy IMO
I don't think this is as bad as people online are immediately saying. Pono looks very promising
He is alright at everything but exceeds at nothing. Lucius is alright, but he isnt a good skater whatsoever and he physicality is non existent. Koivunen is the "big name" here. He is a good playmaker / scoring threat, but his absence doesnt even put a dent in Carolina's system
They have been in trouble all year. They need to admit that it is time to blow everything up with the current core and rebuild the entire team. They aren’t doing anything anymore no matter how good Crosby is still playing.
I'm amazed by all the people claiming a low 1st would have been better than 3x2nd + Bunting.
It's not a homerun, but since Pittsburgh has NO prospect pool, I understand why Dubas went for a lot more quantity of a slightly less quality, plus a replacement top 6 winger still under contract for 2 1/4 seasons.
Carolina wins simply because they’re getting an elite winger. Now to break this down:
Positives: Two young forwards on ELCs who look like they could be in our lineup at some point next season is exactly what we wanted. We didn’t want Dman. We don’t need Dman. We have a ton of money tied up there and limited ice time for a kid. Outside of Yager we have NOTHING up front and these two immediately become the next best forward prospects. I’m uncertain on Chaz Lucius but the numbers don’t look too shabby so far for a college player.
Bad: A conditional 1st? Come on that should have been a no no. We should have a first out of this deal straight up. Bunting also is an overpaid mediocre player that Dubas has some weird thing for. We do not need these “scrappy Leafs”. That crap can stay with Treliving.
Not getting a guaranteed 1st is absolutely terrible considering this alleged bidding war. Unless these prospects are the second coming of McJesus, I don't get it. Not an expert but I don't believe any of those are their best.
My first two thoughts:
1. Dubas tried to pressure teams into better offers by putting an early deadline on a deal and it backfired, reducing the competition.
2. Are GMs finally regaining their sanity and pushing back against rental prices?
With so many teams going all in the last couple of seasons and multiple GMs being faced with serious pick/prospect shortages, maybe the analysts are getting through with data about just how effective deadline additions are and what acceptable risk is with respect to cost/benefit.
Bad negotiating, buyer's market, or paradigm shift?
What a great trade for CAR. Guentzel is a perfect fit there, they needed that cluch performer and that natural goal scorer. Waddell masterclass without having to give up neither one of there top prospect too.
I think it's good for PIT too honestly but they need to re-tool because those are the last few years of Crosby. The pens situation will be so interesting there seems to be a lot of conflicted things there.