I don't understand why the Penguins make that trade.

Centre depth + upgrading a draft pick since their prospect pool is one of the weakest in the league

Also allows Carter and Rodriguez to stay in the top six with or without Crosby and Malkin there while Dickinson and Blueger bolster the bottom six. I may not be a Penguins fan, but that's the idea I came up with to try and accommodate their roster

McGinn was signed for his defensive play and I can't see them moving him in a trade like this.

What's the point of keeping him though? It's starting to look like the Pens days of contending are coming to a close. Is he there to mentor somebody else on the roster?

Lyubushkin & OEL back together again huh

I figured it could be on the table, so I put it out there

Because while YOU may think the contending days are coming to end, ownership believes they can still contend. There are no plans, at least for the next few years, to go into any form of a rebuild.

Hopefully ownership has made the right call, after three consecutive first round exits that is

I guess we'll find out.

I mean sure, they have Crosby for several more years, but as great as he is, I don't think he's a point per game player anymore. Hopefully keeping Malkin around a little while longer isn't too expensive, his play REALLY seems to have dropped off. Still got Guentzel and Kapanen, which is good. Should probably find a way to move on from Zucker, and I dunno that they are going to bother bringing Rust back. I get the impression Teddy Blueger is part of the Pens long-term plans, maybe they let Ashton-Reese walk. Maybe Rodriguez sticks around because he's such a good fit

Some of this is very untrue.

1) Malkin's play has not dropped off. Last year was an injury-ridden season and he didn't condition due to covid and still put up just under a point per game. He'll probably be rusty for a bit when he comes back, but he'll find his legs. The fact he produced on one leg is testament enough.

2) Sid is still a point per game player if not more once he finally warms up. Surgery kept him from working out an entire summer with no pre-season then gets covid keeping him out longer. He's coming back around.

3) Zucker I can see them trying to move if they can.

4) Blueger is in the long term plans.

5) I do think they let ZAR walk.

There's actually also a couple of very solid young players coming up for us in O'Connor and Puustinen. The Pens may not be a top contender, but they'll be a playoff team for a while.

Mmm, well, you'd know better than me, but I must admit I'm surprised management hasn't been more aggressive about trying to move Zucker

There's only so much you can do. Hextall has been adamant about a few things: Pens will not add any sweeteners as incentives to take our players, and our 1st and 2nd round picks are off limits.

At this point in Zucker's career he's definitely overpaid, but he's still been playing some great hockey this year despite not filling the net. His contract is just a tough one considering the cap stayed static. My guess is they find a way to move him after this season.

Why would Edmonton want to downgrade? This makes no sense for the Oilers. Declined.

I'm sorry, but are you calling Halak a downgrade over Koskinen?

Yeah, that's a reasonable assessment for management to make. I wouldn't suggest adding a sweetener to unload Zucker, as I like you do not view him as a negative asset, just an asset with not a lot of trade value

Yes, I just did. Amazing, huh? Maybe it has something to do with Koskinen's best-in-league 12-2-0 record, or the fact that his .914 save percentage is better than Halak's. Either way, Koskinen is the better goalie and it's not particularly close at the moment.

Are you considering the team in which Koskinen is playing in front of? If so, then you should know that the rest of the league does not think very highly of him. While Halak is regarded as a very respectable back-up goaltender

Did I consider the team in front of Koskinen? You mean the team that is bottom-6 for shots allowed? The team that is missing 5 of its top 7 defensemen? Yeah, I considered it.

And IDGAF what fans think of a player, I care about results. Koskinen is getting fantastic results and won't be moved for a downgrade.