JGP isn't worth all of that.

ZAR is putting up fantastic defensive numbers on that line with Tanev and Blueger. They are used to shut down top lines. There is no reason to replace hm with Clifford.

Well he is worth the first with the way he's played. And Bjugstad is a maybe as a reclamation project, could just be a cap dump for Ottawa.

Don’t think that’s enough for the kings! Clifford is a beast. He would be a huge add for any playoff team. You notice him every game. Good on the boards, great forecheck, plays hard, plays rough, doesn’t take dumb penalties, chips in some offense. He’s a heart and soul player. You light a house on fire he’ll be the first one to kick the door in. When Rinaldo elbowed Prokhorkin Clifford fought him during a tv timeout. You could see Pro thank him after. He’s that kinda a guy. Brings the team together. Gms are notorious for paying high prices at the deadline for that kinda character player

I'd MAYBE remove the 5th going to Ottawa or have Ottawa add a 6th or 7th, BUT otherwise it seems fair to me. Pageau is a solid face off guy who can contribute at 5-on-5 and is elite on the PK. Right now Blueger is the pivot taking most of the face-offs for PIT while shorthanded and his win % is 39.1. That's going to bite you in the playoffs for sure. And honestly, Nick Bjugstad is good, but not good enough. He has a 4.1 cap hit next season and an actual salary of $5.25M. The PENS are much better off shipping him and spending that kind of money elsewhere. Hell, his cap vs salary might even make Melnyk say no to the deal. But IMO, this is a fair deal for both teams.

can we just stop with this idea that Jugs is a cap dump. He put up really solid numbers for the Penguins last year.
And JGP is not worth all of that. Hell teams don't even want to give up 1sts. The draft is one of the deepest in years. They have all seen the analytics on how trading 1sts for rentals is a bad investment. It rarely works. This simply is not the 90s or 00 or even the 10s anymore.
Teams are learning from past mistakes.
On top of it, he's had one solid year his whole career. Go look at ever other year. He's over there in Ottawa getting more opportunity than ever before, not because of his play but because of the weak roster.
On a team where someone has to score something. None of his numbers actually add up with his career stats are more reasonable values on him.
So yeah, He's not worth all of that. Maybe a 2nd. That's what I'd give for him. To say he's worth a 1st and 2 guys who would be immediate roster players for Ottawa is a joke.

From a Kings fan perspective, I like the trade.

Pageau will get more than a 2nd rounder for sure. If it's not from PIT it'll be someone else and PIT will regret it if they play him. RE: BJUGSTAD. he would for sure be a roster player in Ottawa. They'll need the cap hit and some veteran guys. On a team like Pittsburgh, who next season have almost $24M looked in 3 forwards, NO goalie signed, and 3 D men needing new contracts... not ideal to keep a guy making $4.1M and got 26 points last season. Dominik Simon got you more points last season and he cost you $750k. Is Bjugstad a decent player, sure, is he worth what PIT is paying him TO PIT? Not at all.

Thank you. very much I don't think I could've vocalized it better

I think you are kidding yourself both on his worth and your valuation of the penguins. No one would ever confuse Simon for Bjugstad.
Nor is their signing their goalies an issue and the idea that they have to sign 3 defensemen is kind of funny. Schultz is moving on, everyone knows that and MP and Riikola are both RFA and Riikola is a 7th guy he's not expensive.
But make no mistake. JGP is not worth 2 roster players and a 1st. You are high in thinking that.

I've already discussed WHY Pittsburgh is much better off without Bjugstad next season, but let's do it your way. Pretend you decide to trade Bjugstad on his own. Here is what GMs are looking at: a 28 year old pivot who, over his last 74 games, has averaged .36 points per game and a not so great face-off win percentage. He turns 28 in July and comes with next to NO playoff experience. What is he worth? How many team are leaping to take on his 4.1M cap hit, and salary of $5.25M for a year when there'll be guys like Spezza, Soderberg, Ennis, Brassard available for half (or less) that price. Just because he's a roster player, doesn't mean he has trade value.

sure, and gudbranson costs a 1st to move........
just because you don't want to recognize value, doesn't mean it's not there.

I've backed up my argument with stats and factual cap concerns, you seem to be more of "you must be high if you think blah blah blah" kind of talker. Been fun chatting. Good luck in the playoffs.

JPG isn't who the Pens are going to target and not for that package. It would be the Brassard mistake all over again except Brassard had a career resume of putting up decent numbers. JPG may be a decent 3rd line center but you are paying top center price for him when he isn't a top center. It would be far wiser to use those assets for a winger and see how Bjugstad plays on his return.

The Kings trade make no sense besides dumping Galchenyuk. JJ has been playing well this season and there is no reason to split up the Blueger, ZAR tanev line.
Forbort has also been battling a serious back issues and hasn't been able to play almost all year and still hasn't been healthy enough to practice as of yesterday per ROb Blake.