Talking to people I didn’t realize Niskanen fell off a cliff this year in terms of performance and production. Definitely explains the outrage. A year ago this trade should be good.
- Victoro311

I never thought he was that great when he was here. Had a good year in Pitt and a good year in Wash....won some cups...got overpaid. He's a mid pairing guy nobody will remember.

Gudas is a Ufa after this year
Nisky has 2 years left
- j.boyd919

Ok.

Wilson and Gudas on same team....gross haha.

Talking to people I didn’t realize Niskanen fell off a cliff this year in terms of performance and production. Definitely explains the outrage. A year ago this trade should be good.
- Victoro311

I don’t think he’s really fallen off a cliff per se. He put up 25 points last year. His season average over the last 5 years is around 30 points. Caps paid him big after that 40+ season here and then never really saw that number again, although he did hit 39 the one year... 4 out of his 5 seasons were closer to 30.

I feel like somewhere Grinder47 is wondering why JR didn't trade Schultz for Gudas after seeing this trade.

I think trading to a division rival is mostly a fan made up thing. Teams trade within the division all the time.

Also.. Gudas is actually a solid defenseman when he’s not pulling dirty poop.
- j.boyd919

I don't think teams salary dump in there division though to fill a rival's key need. Guess they feel Niskanen is done.

And I agree, Gudas is goo for a third pairing, crease clearing defenseman. Just seems like they should be getting more for a guy who has been a good top 4 right for a while.

I feel like somewhere Grinder47 is wondering why JR didn't trade Schultz for Gudas after seeing this trade.
- Rinosaur

Flyers fan in my office told me he’d do Schultz for Ghost straight up. Sign me up!

Flyers fan in my office told me he’d do Schultz for Ghost straight up. Sign me up!
- Victoro311

Am I the only one who thinks Ghost is way overrated? Not saying I wouldn't make that trade obviously, but still...

Am I the only one who thinks Ghost is way overrated? Not saying I wouldn't make that trade obviously, but still...
- Rinosaur

Yep.

I don't think teams salary dump in there division though to fill a rival's key need. Guess they feel Niskanen is done.

And I agree, Gudas is goo for a third pairing, crease clearing defenseman. Just seems like they should be getting more for a guy who has been a good top 4 right for a while.
- Tojo.

They got just over 3 mill in cap space from the trade, plus no obligation past this season. They were really tight against the cap too. I like the trade for Washington. Gudas isn't horrible.

Am I the only one who thinks Ghost is way overrated? Not saying I wouldn't make that trade obviously, but still...
- Rinosaur

Probably. The guy is good and at a really reasonable cap hit.

Flyers fan in my office told me he’d do Schultz for Ghost straight up. Sign me up!
- Victoro311

I'd love to add Ghost, think he's a great buy low candidate with a good contract. No idea how we get Philly to send him here though.

I feel like somewhere Grinder47 is wondering why JR didn't trade Schultz for Gudas after seeing this trade.
- Rinosaur

Honestly I would do Gudbranson for Gudas.

They got just over 3 mill in cap space from the trade, plus no obligation past this season. They were really tight against the cap too. I like the trade for Washington. Gudas isn't horrible.
- burgh4life87

I understand why they did it and I like Gudas, but he's not a top 4 guy like Niskanen and has only one year. Just feels to me like Philly should add a pick or prospect, but if Niskanen really is in decline then I guess this works.

Yep.
- j.boyd919

Hahaha well ok. Good talk.

Hahaha well ok. Good talk.
- Rinosaur

He’s good but definitely overrated due to his breakout scoring streak.

Honestly I would do Gudbranson for Gudas.
- Grinder47

Me too.

Me too.
- j.boyd919

Gudas does everything Gudbranson does physically with a better upside. Ideally it would be JJ for him but that’s unrealistic

Yeah you're right on Rust, they can find a cheaper middle 6 wing if they have to. And I obviously agree on Maatta that they can find a cheaper player to do what he does.

ZAR shows flashes, but I agree I'd rather play him on the 4th line and give him his shot higher up when injuries hit. There isn't anyone behind him that's ready yet I'd even say that about, although there's some promise with the incoming forwards.
- Tojo.

Do you really think they can find a better player/deal than Rust? I think he is the best contract we have (other than superstars), he can produce(35ish pts) up and down line up. Not the most skilled with the puck, but that is literally the only downside to him. Better version of hagelin. Fast, great a retrieving the puck, great pk, loves to block shots, great forechecker. Where do you a player like him, for less, that another team is willing to give up?

Do you really think they can find a better player/deal than Rust? I think he is the best contract we have (other than superstars), he can produce(35ish pts) up and down line up. Not the most skilled with the puck, but that is literally the only downside to him. Better version of hagelin. Fast, great a retrieving the puck, great pk, loves to block shots, great forechecker. Where do you a player like him, for less, that another team is willing to give up?
- joecool2931

I think he's worth his salary, but not a bargain (points are inflated because of Crosby). I like Rust quite a bit, but he's on my list, and rumored on the Pens list, of guys they might have to cut for cap reasons.

EDIT- BTW, trading Rust for a cheaper forward isn't a move I'm pushing, I was just agreeing it can be done.

Do you really think they can find a better player/deal than Rust? I think he is the best contract we have (other than superstars), he can produce(35ish pts) up and down line up. Not the most skilled with the puck, but that is literally the only downside to him. Better version of hagelin. Fast, great a retrieving the puck, great pk, loves to block shots, great forechecker. Where do you a player like him, for less, that another team is willing to give up?
- joecool2931

Could move rust just to clear cap space and Blueger could fill his role. If we sign a 4 c at a reasonable price.

This offseason’s gonna suck if Grinder keeps having reasonable takes.

I think he's worth his salary, but not a bargain (points are inflated because of Crosby). I like Rust quite a bit, but he's on my list, and rumored on the Pens list, of guys they might have to cut for cap reasons.

EDIT- BTW, trading Rust for a cheaper forward isn't a move I'm pushing, I was just agreeing it can be done.
- Tojo.

Yea, it'd be a real shame if JR did that.

Yea, it'd be a real shame if JR did that.
- joecool2931

You always have to be willing to trade away your supporting cast players on mid level contracts, but Rust isn’t high on my list of guys to ship out. I think he brings a lot of what we need more of. Obviously I have my biases with him, but I don’t think there’s a huge opportunity to get better by shipping him out.

I think he's worth his salary, but not a bargain (points are inflated because of Crosby). I like Rust quite a bit, but he's on my list, and rumored on the Pens list, of guys they might have to cut for cap reasons.

EDIT- BTW, trading Rust for a cheaper forward isn't a move I'm pushing, I was just agreeing it can be done.
- Tojo.

He played a large majority of his minutes in a 1st line role this season and underwhelmed. I would not be shocked to see him moved. He definitely has value as a middle 6 guy to a team in need.

He played a large majority of his minutes in a 1st line role this season and underwhelmed. I would not be shocked to see him moved. He definitely has value as a middle 6 guy to a team in need.
- burgh4life87

If there's a good hockey trade to be made that's a different story. I'm at least calling Minnesota to see if Rust + a prospect (and it might need to be someone like Addison) gets Zucker.

But Rust's speed, ability to play any wing in any line, and PK ability are all nice so I wouldn't be actively shopping him.