This would be a great deal for Pits in my mind. Get a 1st + another asset. I am also quite high on Kuzmenko. He could still help them compete and can potentially flourish on a new team. They could possibly sell Kuzmenko next year at the deadline also.

Kuzmenko has negative value at this point. He's a salary move in this deal, which I understand, but you'd have to add more take on a gamble player. Not a ton more, but there would need to be tweaking.

Seems like alot to pay for a rental.IMHO.

I honestly see Kuzmenko being a very worthwhile gamble for Pits for this year and next. If Pits can get another 3rd or something, then all the power to them. But I actually like this for them. Considering this also wouldn't hamper them from making the playoffs this year either.

How much do you think it costs to get a 40G forward rental? Plus, Kuzmenko has negative value, so this is a risky trade for the Pens.

I know YOU do as a VAN fan lol, but in reality it's a gamble for the Pens. Could he flourish with the Pens? Sure, but regardless it's a gamble and what if he's even worse with us? We may not get anything for him.

Pens would likely pass on this deal and just retain instead of taking on a risky player with term.

Regardless, I think the likelihood of a Guentzel trade is getting lower and lower with the Pens now finally putting things together.

You are right.Jakes a great player.My point is can we afford him.Hes gonna get paid next year i just dont think it will be by the Canucks.IMHO.

I am a Leafs fan... I was viewing this trade from an outsiders perspective.

Oh, probably not, but just saying teams who get serious about contending spend these kind of assets for players like Jake. I mean lesser players have gone for similar returns to this. Now, if I was VAN would I make this deal? I don't know. VAN doesn't have much of a scoring issue right now, so do they need to go for a player on the level of Jake or look more to bolster the bottom six?

Regardless the Pens aren't packing it in. Even if we have to move Jake, Dubas isn't starting the rebuild next year and taking on a risky player with term will only hamper his ability to replace Jake and further improve the team, so no, it's not a good move for the Pens.

It's more likely that if Dubas is forced to move Jake, there will be retention vs. taking on a subpar player with term. At least one making $5M+

The upgrade over Kuzmenko is well worth it

I still consider Kuzy as a top 6 guy. he can easily be a 60 point guy. So I view this trade as collecting a 1st, a young asset and keeping their window open for 1 more year.

I was thinking abt adding in a 3rd or a 4th but thought it wasn't too consequential . But you are 100% right abt Kuz, hes purely in here for cap reasons, but at the same time i think a move to Pittsburgh could help get him back on track

Well he's not a top six guy, so...

I obviously have to concede it's possible he can turn it around, but again, it's a risk and with risk comes tax. I think if you swap out Pod with Hoglander, this deal becomes more realistic, or you add on a 2nd. If Kuz didn't have term this would be a different story, but realize that Dubas will look to improve this team next year, not rebuild and adding a $5.5M risk hampers that ability.

Too rich in my opinion.

It seems like a bad trade TBH.
I rather have Pittsburgh keep Guentzel.
Trading him would be a big mistake.

Fair enough, it is heavy price to pay

Van will NOT do this trade not giving up a 1st very short sited