Man would I love Keller in the black and gold. Toews on the other hand, HARD pass. That 4.5 million can be spent much better. I don’t even think Toews will make that much IF he decides to still play.

That’s not the price point to get him. The picks are there but you don’t dump Granlund in a trade to get a star.

Don't think Pittsburgh has enough assets to get Keller lol

ARZ has basically said they want quality over quantity, the only way I see it working is if it's a 3 team trade where they package 12(?) and 14 for whatever the highest pick they can and the pens add even more value (highly unlikely)

I'm going off the fact that I would give 9+17+a B prospect for him.

Most trades for a star do involve some form of cap dump

Yeah, that feels realistic

As a 3rd line center he would be fine. He was asked to carry his team with ok players and his 5v5 numbers were brutal as a result.

He commonly played with Raddysh and Kurashev who had 13 and 8 expected goals, respectively. They also had Corsi values of 46% and 43%.

Compare that to Keller (15 xgoals and 49% corsi) and Rust (21 xgoals and 53% corsi), and I bet you see a better player.

Towes also had good numbers on the PP.

He might be a steal for 4MM of you give him better linemates and less pressure to be "the guy"

But that's just my opinion.

I think Ari can flip Granlund (by retaining some salary) and get a 3rd for him at the deadline.

That deal is way more than a third in value away from being interesting, even if everyone believed that (and I don't).

You think Det would trade 9 and 17 and a prospect? I don’t think they're one guy away and I think they would agree. Keller is great on a great contract but he was still incredibly lucky last year (12 goals above expected).

Maybe the above bid would be surpassed, but this is likely the most the Pens would offer.

Keller would be a guarantee fix to our hole at top wing. On a good contract too.
He was also on a horrible Coyotes team getting 90 points. Playing on a somewhat competent team, he still gets 90 points.

He does but will a 90 point guy make Det a playoff team? Maybe. I think they're still too into their rebuild to trade two premium (top 15) picks.

Still, maybe they would...

So you think Keller would get more than 14 overall, a pick likely in the 20s, and two 3rds? Maybe, but I don't think he gets much more than that. If he were a center, maybe.

Maybe not next year, but we wouldn't be getting him for just next year.

I can see your point, and I agree there is an argument there. I just don't know if Det would pull the trigger on that move. We will likely never find out.

What would you think of 9OA+17OA+Hanas (B-/C+)+3rd

Personally, I think they have a lot of picks already, and they'd be looking for a blue chip D plus. There's no way Detroit should trade Edvinsson and nine, but I think that they'd want Edvinsson plus. And Detroit will say Defensemen are more important than wingers. They'd be right, but Keller is also a star winger and Edvinsson is just a (very good) prospect. So I doubt a deal happens. I don't think enough of the D this year to put #9 in that category.

Keller is under team control for several years. Even if he demands a trade the team is going to look for a stud young D plus back. They have so many picks, another three early picks would be nice, but they need near NHL-ready bluechip defensemen. They don't need a bunch of picks in the 20 range. I guess Keller could hold out, but I imagine otherwise they'll sit on him until they get a deal they like-- like they did when they finally traded a year and a half of Chych for #12 and two seconds.

Understandable. I get why they'd want an A prospect rather than even more picks -- you gotta start winning some time.

Hopefully they can just keep him...

They will keep him and waste his prime years before trading him for little return. As Ari does.

As opposed to trading him in his prime for two mid-first-rounders and a cap dump? Tragic.

I think you found the word that sums up Ari. Tragic.

They might be the worst franchise in the sport. That said, they appear to be smartly building their farm. It is likely they will have multiple guys ready for the NHL in 3ish years. Keller would be a great asset to have for those young guys. But, if multiple Ari picks fall flat, it could be closer to 5 years, at which point Keller might be out.

Still, if you think Keller is going to get a better return than a mid 1st in a great draft, a mid to low 1st, and a pair of 3rds, you keep dreaming. 😉