Pittsburgh didn't have the cap space for him.

DAL wants Pettersson, not Jake, and we can't afford to trade Pettersson... our D falls apart without him... also I'm meh on Vrana... if rust is out for the year and we have the space why not but idk

My offer for Pettersson is Vanacek+1st+2nd/Bahl

Other lower end prospects and picks could be on the table to get it over the finish line.

McLeod fits our roster and timeline just too well to move I think. 25 year old quality bottom 6C, faceoff man, and PK guy. Fits with the speed of the team.

In the real market I don't think he'd be valued at more than a 2nd+3rd, but at least for me I'd need a ton to sell him.

Would need to find a new home for Vanecek elsewhere even if the rest of the package was good enough for Pettersson. They wouldn't want that additional 3.4M spent on goaltending even if it was for the year (assuming they are still looking to compete at the time of the trade), definitely not with an additional year of term.

It would be based on them not completing AND Dougie coming back during the season.

Bahl+Vanacek: 4.5 mill
Pettersson+Ned:5.5

Needs to be salary in salary out, and I imagine they'd rather have vanacek as a backup then retain on pettersson for 2 years. I'm sure you could find a home for Vanacek after this year.

If dougie is out until playoffs we can keep vanacek tho.

Even next year though, that would be extra work that could cost them an asset as well depending on how urgent they need to move him. I would imagine though that they do look to re-sign Guentzel or a another top 6 forward if Reinhart or Nylander become UFAs but also replace Pettersson with another top 4 D.

On Jersey's side of things, even if Dougie was out for the regular season, I don't think they add Pettersson (or a defender with term) without moving out Vanecek (or someone else) to make the cap work for next year. It would just be on Fitz to figure that one out, but perhaps he does take his chances. I don't see another GM, especially Dubas, looking to unnecessarily take on a problem, got to think that's the main reason why Chychrun didn't end up becoming a King last year. I would imagine there would be other teams interested in Pettersson if the Pens were looking to move him.