I'd make that deal if I'm the Pens

That’s probably about the extent of what the Wild do at the deadline, though I’m guessing they’d keep Duhaime for depth and not ask for retention since they have Spurgeon’s LTIR pool to work with.

Straight up, yes. I don't think I'm adding the 3rd.

Yeah, it’s a pretty awful deal for Buffalo.

Why?

How? This is probably a slight overpay on the Pens, but I'm ok with overpaying for potential in this scenario. Krebs is gonna have no where to rise with your center situation.

My thought process revolves around his play as of late and the cap hit. That AAV of $5M is kinda high for what has amounted to lower middle-six production on the wing. PIT is also getting a restricted free agent in return while giving up a 2025 UFA. Perhaps retaining a couple million (give or take) would eliminate that third-round pick?

If Pens send Smith to Buffalo for the sole purpose of Buffalo flipping him, I’d be down.

idk krebs is playing some solid hockey now. Not the worst idea to play it out the rest of the year see if it holds up.

First 2 deals are alright.

Pens deal is awful.

why?

Trading Krebs who looks very solid as a young 4C for a washed up winger doesn't help us at all.

You may say Krebs is not getting any better in Buffalo, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t. Rielly Smith would’ve been a good addition to Buffalo two or three years ago, but not now. He has nothing left to give anyone, especially not this team, and that cap hit forget it. If he can’t do anything in Pittsburgh, what makes you think he’s gonna help Buffalo? Send him to a team like San Jose that probably needs his contract to hit the cap floor.

Huberdeau, Meier, Bertuzzi... sometimes good players are poor fits on certain teams/systems.

And he probably wouldn’t fit into Buffalo’s system any better than he is fitting into Pittsburgh’s. We are getting the same production out of Okposo right now for half the money. If you’re going to get anything value from him in a trade you have to eat half the contract, which probably defeats the purpose of trading him.

No, we won't have to,.