I don't know how true it is, but a friend of mine (who no longer works for the Penguins organization) said Jake wants a longer term deal if he signed elsewhere 7 year deal or a shorter term deal. Or if he signed with Pittsburgh 4-5 year deal. He thinks this is one reason why some may have been scared off at the thought he would try to go back to Pittsburgh if things different workout or feel right for a new team. Just more so his thoughts this morning.

Ponomarev can probably play 3 or 4c reliably now. That's also where his ceiling likely is.

Koivunen has 2nd line potential but he's not a good skater and may never get there.

Cruz Lucious is nothing.

I don't love losing two of those guys but I'm also really not mad about it. Gain Guentzel (who they think they can sign because he's good friends with Skjei) didn't lose any top prospects and didn't lose any cap space.

We knew it was going to be underwhelming but a conditional first and not one of their top 3 prospects is pretty embarrassing lol
- j.boyd919

I guess the thinking was to get players that can be on the roster right away, not picks/prospects? Bunting had a great season when he was Matthew's winger. Maybe they are hoping for the same with Bunting on Sid's wing? He is 28, has size, and has 2 years left ...

The Finn and the Russian can play bottom 6; I hear both are NHL-ready but are stuck in CAR jamlog of offensive players.

That's the only thing I can see Dubas was thinking ...

Ponomarev can probably play 3 or 4c reliably now. That's also where his ceiling likely is.

Koivunen has 2nd line potential but he's not a good skater and may never get there.

Cruz Lucious is nothing.

I don't love losing two of those guys but I'm also really not mad about it. Gain Guentzel (who they think they can sign because he's good friends with Skjei) didn't lose any top prospects and didn't lose any cap space.
- BINGO!

Thanks Bingo! For your input. I think most of us hate it because of the emotional attachment and not really knowing how it is to be a seller at the deadline. We wish you guys well and we will be rooting for you come playoff season (at least for 3 rounds haha)

Im sick to my stomach seeing what we got in return.
It's as if this deal was brokered by the Pirates front office.
It is similar to the deal that team got for Gerrit Cole.
Lets throw a bunch of mediocre prospects and the ever famous (MLB ready/NHL ready) player on the wall and see if anything sticks.
I expect this kind of deal from (then) Neal Huntington, and now Cherington and Nutting. I didnt expect it from Dubas.
The inevitable re-build just got 5 years longer.

Im sick to my stomach seeing what we got in return.
It's as if this deal was brokered by the Pirates front office.
It is similar to the deal that team got for Gerrit Cole.
Lets throw a bunch of mediocre prospects and the ever famous (MLB ready/NHL ready) player on the wall and see if anything sticks.
I expect this kind of deal from (then) Neal Huntington, and now Cherington and Nutting. I didnt expect it from Dubas.
The inevitable re-build just got 5 years longer.
- Amanion

Im actually starting to think that's Dubas' motto "see if it sticks" hahah

Can't wait to see Jake score the series clinching winner vs the Rags

I don't love it, I don't hate it. 3 roster-ready players, a 1/2rd pick, and a potential pick for a rental ... not sure what the expectations were, but it's not terrible.

My feeling is that CAR was the only viable partner and others (VAN, etc) pulled out. It's a buyer's market right now.

I don't love it, I don't hate it. 3 roster-ready players, a 1/2rd pick, and a potential pick for a rental ... not sure what the expectations were, but it's not terrible.
- chimpira

2 roster ready players.

Koivunen struggled with the speed of the AHL at 19-20, so it remains to be seen if he'll improve skating enough to be an NHLer. He's done well as a 20-21 year old in Finland, though so it's possible there's still something there.

I don't love it, I don't hate it. 3 roster-ready players, a 1/2rd pick, and a potential pick for a rental ... not sure what the expectations were, but it's not terrible.
- chimpira

All my friends at work outside of the Pittsburgh fans keep telling me that we got a steal of a deal. My flyers fan friend asked if Dubas brought a gun with him on negotiations lol because we got a steal. A few Toronto fans from work have been joking with me this morning that at least one of us could still enjoy Dubas and his amazing deals.

So I think it's more so an emotional thing for us as Pens fans. We are turning the page and going on to a new chapter and that sucks. I am wondering if he tries to deal Smith for another fiesty/grinding winger and he tries to switch up the makeup of the team a bit.

2 roster ready players.

Koivunen struggled with the speed of the AHL at 19-20, so it remains to be seen if he'll improve skating enough to be an NHLer. He's done well as a 20-21 year old in Finland, though so it's possible there's still something there.
- BINGO!

I think he will be fine:

I don't love it, I don't hate it. 3 roster-ready players, a 1/2rd pick, and a potential pick for a rental ... not sure what the expectations were, but it's not terrible.

My feeling is that CAR was the only viable partner and others (VAN, etc) pulled out. It's a buyer's market right now.
- chimpira

Pretty much it, all these years we've basically given up nothing for rentals, so we should know what to expect. Our next great players aren't coming from these trades, but our own when we suck. How it goes.

Wasn’t Ty smith playing well in WB? Why did they add for this return? Is smith really that far off from graves, poj, or ruh? Watch him thrive in car lol.

The deal was never going to be great waiting this long. Should have done this after Christmas.

I guess hopefully they bring Jake back in FA?

All my friends at work outside of the Pittsburgh fans keep telling me that we got a steal of a deal. My flyers fan friend asked if Dubas brought a gun with him on negotiations lol because we got a steal. A few Toronto fans from work have been joking with me this morning that at least one of us could still enjoy Dubas and his amazing deals.

So I think it's more so an emotional thing for us as Pens fans. We are turning the page and going on to a new chapter and that sucks. I am wondering if he tries to deal Smith for another fiesty/grinding winger and he tries to switch up the makeup of the team a bit.
- 123Kid

Do your friends drink s lot??

Do your friends drink s lot??
- hfc355

I don’t think the neurons are firing in your brain - Jake is a rental. Wrap your ahead around that concept, and go from there.

Wasn’t Ty smith playing well in WB? Why did they add for this return? Is smith really that far off from graves, poj, or ruh? Watch him thrive in car lol.

The deal was never going to be great waiting this long. Should have done this after Christmas.

I guess hopefully they bring Jake back in FA?
- sammy87

Ty Smith was playing well, but I think he was disappointed he wasn't being called up.

I want to start this off by saying I will probably be a Bunting fan. But has there ever been a worse return for a "top player available" going into a deadline like this?

We took back on a contract, got a teams 3 leftover prospects and what is likely a 45-60 overall pick. We also sent Ty Smith who I think can still be a real difference maker for a team looking for offense.

Lindholm brought back Kuzemenko, a 1st.
Buffalo got Byram for Middlestat.
Even Henrique got a 1st in return.
People were chirping the Hanafin return and he brought back a 1st &3rd.

This is way, way worse than I ever imagined and I was the one who set the bar super low on a return.

pens fans just have an over estimation of Guentzel’s value. He’s likely a 20 some goal scorer the rest of his career now. His next contract is going to be poopty after the next two seasons. He had a great run in Pittsburgh but it’s time to move on.

I want to start this off by saying I will probably be a Bunting fan. But has there ever been a worse return for a "top player available" going into a deadline like this?

We took back on a contract, got a teams 3 leftover prospects and what is likely a 45-60 overall pick. We also sent Ty Smith who I think can still be a real difference maker for a team looking for offense.

Lindholm brought back Kuzemenko, a 1st.
Buffalo got Byram for Middlestat.
Even Henrique got a 1st in return.
People were chirping the Hanafin return and he brought back a 1st &3rd.

This is way, way worse than I ever imagined and I was the one who set the bar super low on a return.
- MacPatty

Nah, like most fans you just greatly overvalue a late first round pick. If we traded Jake for 2 firsts and a second would you be happy? That'd just get you 3 prospects equivalent to these ones but 3 years later.

Nah, like most fans you just greatly overvalue a late first round pick. If we traded Jake for 2 firsts and a second would you be happy? That'd just get you 3 prospects equivalent to these ones but 3 years later.
- MickV

Yes I would be way happier if we got 2 firsts and a second. Because you can trade those picks for a really good player. We aren't getting any kind of return if we turn around and trade these prospects.

Ty Smith was playing well, but I think he was disappointed he wasn't being called up.
- 123Kid

So is Ty the best prospect of all that were moved?

Sounds like the Car guys are fringe nhlers at best?

Curious what van was offering. Wonder if dubas went for door #2 and chose poorly.

pens fans just have an over estimation of Guentzel’s value. He’s likely a 20 some goal scorer the rest of his career now. His next contract is going to be poopty after the next two seasons. He had a great run in Pittsburgh but it’s time to move on.
- Grinder47

He is still a good player but I agree he is going to slow down quickly as he ages. Also agree it was time to move on. Just wish we had a GM that could get one of the top 5 returns at a trade deadline where he has the most coveted asset.

If I were Sullivan, I would resign in the offseason. He will find a job with a contender. The Pittsburgh dream is over
- parmen

If the same effort shows up over the weekend as last night, he knows deep inside it’s over.

Wasn’t Ty smith playing well in WB? Why did they add for this return? Is smith really that far off from graves, poj, or ruh? Watch him thrive in car lol.

The deal was never going to be great waiting this long. Should have done this after Christmas.

I guess hopefully they bring Jake back in FA?
- sammy87

The word is that Ty Smith can’t play defense. Neither do Letang or EK65 on most nights. Young players don’t get a chance here. Unfortunately that’s going to have change.

Yes I would be way happier if we got 2 firsts and a second. Because you can trade those picks for a really good player. We aren't getting any kind of return if we turn around and trade these prospects.
- MacPatty

Trades for good current players aren't just picks, they always involve good prospects too, which are of more value than the pick. Draft picks outside the top 10-15 just aren't worth much, and everybody knows that these days.

The condition on the first turning into the Flyers' second takes it from a 31-32 to around 50, but there isn't much difference in value between 30 and 50.