Pens decline

Here's my thoughts:

-I'm fine with the value on the Rangers trade, but if they move Chytil, and then lose Strome in FA because they can't afford him, they've got absolutely nothing down the middle after Zibanejad. That's a bad spot to put yourself in with your window just opening (Assuming Lehk gets something closer to $3-4 mil in arb). Doesn't seem like a good move for the Rangers, as it absolutely affects their decreasing cap space moving forward. Yes, the Rags would benefit from adding a LD, but moving out a C doesn't seem like a bright move (IMO)
-Meh on Kulak, why not.
-Meh on Paquette, Wideman and Dauphin, pretty inconsequential trades.
-I absolutely do not like the Nashville move for the Preds. They don't play the type of system that Drouin would *potentially* thrive in. They have a lineup full of players that play strong, 2 way hockey.
-Can't see someone saving you from Hoffman without you taking back a similar not good contract.

That's fine, he's a depth rental who could go to any playoff team.

No thx on Chiiarot..... he is definitely not worth a top prospect 1 for 1.
Bad deal for NY.

-Fair point on the C situation in NY, although I don't see Lehk getting much more than he is now unless he agrees to sign long term.
-Rumour is Nashville is making calls on Drouin, how true those are I'm not sure but I do understand them looking into a playmaker, they are not exactly a high scoring team.
-Hoffman is more of a fingers crossed situation that a team takes a chance on a proven goal scorer even if he hasn't looked great this year.

And yet another Chiarot hater...

Yeah, the thing about the Preds is that they're successful *Because* of the style they play-low scoring, sure, but also not playing a playmaker who is a black hole when he's outside of the offensive end.



I mean, hater or not, he's not really wrong...Chiarot isn't as good as Habs fans think, and he's not as bad as a lot of people say, but realistically he's absolutely not worth a 1st round pick. There are 2-3 teams where he'd actually be an upgrade on the top 4, and with Gio/Lindholm/Whoever else likely being available, he's not even the best option available. That being said, I have Chytil and Kravtsov both valued around 2nd round picks, which makes the Rangers trade at least reasonably palatable (aside from the hole at C that it creates).