That is a terrible trade for the Pens. Absolutely ludicrous.

Zucker is a better player than Rakell and POJ is never going to matter.

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POJ is fine. What have you seen that supports the fact that he is a locker room cancer?

Terrible for PIT. Rakell is a good player and POJ is fine. You could probably get Zucker for a second plus a mid round pick. No need to send a young d-man, a good right wing who is better than Zucker, and a first for Zucker.

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While I'm not saying he is really good, he isn't a cancer and you could probably get a mid round pick for him

The first rounder is to move a contract. Rakell does nothing better than Zucker.

To move what contract? POJ has a cheap deal and Rakell's deal is by no means bad

Moving 4 years of Rakell for a 1st isn’t a bad deal when we need space and can use it to make a better team.

Rakells numbers this year (5v5 against forwards with 66+ min) and ranking in the NHL and on the Pens. I'll also include Zuckers numbers (same scenario but I'll put his numbers as if he were on the Pens).

Rakell Expected Goals: 2.5, 65th in NHL, 4th on Pens
Zucker Expected Goals: 0.9, 351st on NHL, 13th on Pens
Rakell Points / 60: 0.75, 8th on Pens
Zucker Point / 60: 0, ....
Rakell Corsi: 59%, 2nd on Pens
Zucker corsi: 49%, would be 16th on Pens

Zucker is in every way been terrible this year and Rakell has been really good but unable to finish.

So this is either a troll post or you were one of the people who were calling for Petterson to be traded for a 5th two years ago and Rust to get traded for a 6th last year. Rakell is a very good top 6 guy.

He does everything better than Zucker. Zucker has been hurt and has 0 points in 6 games. PASS

Whos a locker room cancer?

Look at the numbers from last year when Zucker was literally on a line with Rakell. Who cares about October?

Did you pay any attention last season? Zucker was awesome for this team. Rakell has regressed.

Don't think we'd have to give up this much in that trade. Honestly think a 2nd or 3rd would do

Last year? When Rakell was 21st in the NHL in expected goals? 5th on the Pens in points per 60? 2nd on the Pens in Corsi?

Now, to your credit, Zucker was better in every category last year but you mentioned Rakell has regressed. He has only regressed in finishing. All other stats he looks as good as last year.

Expected Goals per 60 last year: 0.99
So far this year: 0.93

Zucker was healthy last year and looked great. He was hurt the previous two years and looked bad. Guess who is hurt again? Zucker, they guy you want.

Any way you slice it, this is a terrible trade.

Finishing is what matters when you’re supposed to be a goal scorer! Corsi is an absolutely useless stat in general. Zucker is already back from injury too. It’s November, nothing really matters yet.

4 years at 5M isn’t awful unless you’re a team that’s trying to “win now” and has no cap space.

Agreed. What are your thoughts on Lawson Crouse as a possible replacement. I think a power forward would benefit the top 6 a ton.

Sure. Rust was 18th in expected goals per 60 and 172nd in goals per 60 last year. This year he is 4th and 28th, respectively. Should they have traded low on him last year as well? He has an equally long contract with the same cap hit.

I honestly don't see a want, need, or reason to trade Rakell.

Just ignore that guy lol. He keeps making alternate accounts solely to bash POJ but never gives any valid reason why

Yeah but throwing in that 1st round pick makes it a very bad trade for the Pens. If you remove that you at least have an argument that it's a good trade

I’d obviously like to not lose a 1st but does it matter when the organization clearly doesn’t care about the future as long as 87 is around?