PIT is NOT moving their first this year

PIT is NOT moving their first this year

They are getting OTT own 2nd round pick in return. So the worst case scenario is PIT gains RFA Duclair and UFA Hainsey by dropping 7 spots in the draft. That's actually a pretty great deal.

Two guys PIT likely won't be able to resign, and you think PIT is a playoff team... Look at their roster, they're missing 3/4 of their team, 2 top 4 d men, Crosby, a few good forwards, and Murray isn't exactly playing good rn...

I'm not sure why you'd say that can't resign Duclair. They drop to 13 roster spots in July with $22M in cap space. It's not like they need to keep everyone and Duclair would be a great fit. Obviously if they aren't looking like a playoff team by FEB they wouldn't make this move - that's a given. But Pittsburgh seems to find a way...

wow way way to much for JesseP, a 3rd at best gets him.

My thinking is DeMelo is a piece that would really improve EDM's chances in the playoffs and that he'll want to long of a term for Ottawa to sign him, so he's gone anyway. No way a 3rd rd pick does it. But perhaps you're right and the SINGLE 2nd round pick should be enough. This is all under the condition that a deal with Puljujarvi is negotiated in advance; ideally a one year contract in the $1M - $1.2M range.
I WILL ADJUST IT.

DeMelo has been OTT best Dman this season always good corsi and makes the player he plays with on ice better, no way he is leaving unless he wants to go, teams are offering nothing close to a 2nd + p[layer/prospect for JP or EDM would have moved him by now, remember EDm ask was a 2nd and a prospect/player for JP, no way OTT offering a 2nd and their best Dman for what is for now, a bust prospect.

DeMelo is 26 so even 5-6 year deal is fine./quote]

I like DeMelo. And I think Ottawa moved him away from Chabot (which clearly worked) in order to bring down his UFA asking price. I really can't imagine him taking a hometown discount or NOT wanting to test the market, but even if he wants to stay I'm not sure OTT will want to give him a 5-6 year deal. We have Zaitsev for 4 more seasons and Jaros (who played decently last season), Thomson (already playing against men) and Bernard-Docker (having a great year) will all be pushing for spots next season or the season after. OTT might be better to slightly overpay another Hainsey type guy for a year to bridge the gap than committing to another long term D man who might end up blocking the kids.