If Forsberg negotiations fall apart

No need for Pens to gut their team and future for rental.

Yes, there is. They need a second line wing to be competitive in the East. He’s the best available.

Poulin is a future third liner. Legare may never make the NHL. Pettersson has been healthy scratched and demoted to a third pairing role (and clearing his cap hit helps the team this summer). Kapanen has been bad

This is hardly gutting the team or its future. Late first round picks aren’t usually future stars. There’s a rebuild coming and none of this matters. The core is their mid 30’s. Winning now is what matters.

So if that’s all true why does Nashville make this trade

Because that’s what rentals go for. You almost never get good value for the player you give up. It’s always a late first, prospect taken in the first round, and roster players or whatever.

Pettersson has actually been good this year and could use a bigger role. Kapanen is a classic reclamation project t.

Forsberg shouldn't net more than Giroux got.