Edited Jun. 27, 2021 at 8:39 p.m.
Marino, Poulin, Rust is a lot for Tkachuk. And I’m a huge Tkachuk fan!! I would be ok with Guentzel and a 1st. Or Guentzel and Pouiln
But trading Rust and Marino, and Poulin and a 2nd is a lot.
Marino is 1st or 2nd pairing RHD. Plays 20 plus minutes a night. Signed long term to a good contract. Plays the Point on the Pens 2nd PP unit. He’s being groomed to take over for Letang and does play the 1st pairing RHD and Point on the 1st PP when Letang is injured. He plays the PK too.
Rust has scored a PPG the last 2 seasons. Of course people are gonna say Rust is a product of Sid but Sid has had a lot of wingers, like Sprong, Dominick Simon, C.Sheary, Beau Bennet and none of them produced even close to Rust.
And Poulin should play a similar role to Tkachuk. Of course he’s not Tkachuk. But he’s 6’2, 215 pound Power Forward, that is a playmaker, goal scorer, Very Physical and plays a good 200 foot game.
He’s not just a top 6 or bust either. He can start on the 3rd line of need be and move up to a top 6. He’s big enough, physical enough and good enough defensively to play on a legit NHL 3rd line.
I would rather Guentzel and a 1st than Marino, Rust, Poulin and a 2nd. Especially this years 2nd round pick too. This years draft is super deep.