Confirmed Trade: [CAR/PIT] Jake Guentzel (25% retained), Ty Smith for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, 2024 cond. 1st, 2024 cond. 5th

[DavidpauseReinbacher]

Which team in history has traded their best prospects for a rental? NHL fans don't even know their own league lol.

 

[AslanRH]

It's good for the org's prospect depth. I just wish the most valuable piece weren't the sacrificial lamb, if you will. Two solid prospects, but man. No 1st is crazy to me. It's a conditional 2nd more than anything.

agree, would have been harder to lock down that 1st outright though when it could end up anywhere below 16.

 

[Kairi Zaide]

The prospects we gave up could easily outplay Morrow and Blake. Two of them are second rounders themselves that have either lived up to or exceeded their draft position.

Definitely. I think Morrow and Blake are safer, but it's all playing with probabilities. It's probably Lucius that I'm less convinced of, as he hasn't really improved production wise in the NCAA and he isn't the best skater out there apparently. Koivunen is a less sexy name than Morrow and Blake, but he has really good production for his age in the SM - it's just a matter of whether it will translate or not, as we know it's always a question mark. Could definitely see him realistically being a middle 6er based on what I'm reading about him and his production.

 

[The Great Weal]

Those are 3 pretty solid prospects, nothing to scoff at. No guaranteed 1st is a bit disappointing though.

 

[bert]

Pretty cheap price to dump an overpaid 2023 Free Agent on a multiple year contract in addition to acquiring Guentzel

So sad, you pump Buntings tires for years then this trash. Defend Dubas to no end then rip on him.

The return is pretty good for a UFA way more than Ottawa got for Stone, Duchene etc.

 

[The don godfather]

That finn center and russian center look very promising. Excellent trade by dubas.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I've been a Dubas defender for years too.

Getting harder and harder...

 

[Xirik]

Thats a lot to Give up for Ty Smith but I believe he will put the Canes over the top.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Yeah, I’m calling it now: At least one of those prospects will come back to bite Carolina in the ass a few years down the line. My money is on Pono, but any of the 3 have a good shot.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Have to wonder if Guentzel’s 12 team no trade list played a role in the lackluster return?

Or that Dubas refused talks with Guentzel ahead of the trade?

 

[DavidpauseReinbacher]

I'll take being wrong about a trade on a message board over letting a multi-millionaire who doesn't know I exist live in my head rent free. literally your only contribution to any of these discussions was to harass Pens fans because their GM is Kyle Dubas.

This. People who think they know more than people in the league that they profess to love. Wonder why FSG didn't hire some of these arm chair fatties instead of Dubas. Must be a good con artist.. some people miserable because they got stuck with the man with the only fat bastard burrito black card Brad Treliving

 

[sxvnert]

No guaranteed 1st or top prospect. Just a giveaway. Classic dubas

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

What Carolina packaged feels like our equivalent of Klimovich, Bains and Mynio

Maybe other teams had comparable offers. Dubas wanted his boy Bunting

 

[bert]

Those are 3 pretty solid prospects, nothing to scoff at. No guaranteed 1st is a bit disappointing though.

+ Bunting who is a good player for a UFA. This board just wants to hate, no one actually wants to have a real conversation anymore. I mean it is lots of bitter leaf fans so I guess it polutes this thread.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Koivunen is the real interesting prospect in this deal for the Pens, but seems like his skating is not the best which is always an issue. I just don't get how you don't at least get a guaranteed 1st/better quality prospects for Guentzel.

 

[BCNate]

No guaranteed 1st or top prospect. Just a giveaway. Classic dubas

None of the prospects are even former firsts either.
Some bidding war.

 

[Petes2424]

Beyond underwhelming return when you take into consideration what Pittsburgh fans were expecting. Pretty normal fwiw. Fans get all wound up and then reality strikes. It’s not a bad return. Pretty predictable, hopeful prospects, Pens fans are all googling right now…

It’s always this way with the prospects guys. Every single time with UFA trades. Think it’s safe to now say, absolutely none of the players other teams supposedly offered, were true. They didn’t get a 1st either. They got a couple of solid prospects, 2 of which are quite a ways away, and one who’s about ready, who may or may not make a dent in the league.

Nothing special. Certainly no prospects like Othmann, Morrow, or even Brisson, or even Blake, etc. Then, not even a guaranteed 1st, with a pretty heavy “if” attached to it.

Looks like Dubas played analytics with young prospects, playing in different leagues, against different types of talent again.

You just don’t get guarantees when dealing away UFAs. You get crapshoots. That’s what they got.

 

[Forge]

Surprised that so many people dislike or are underwhelmed with the return

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Must be nice to draft well like the Canes to have a pool this deep to grab players at the deadline.

 

[bleedgreen]

Definitely. I think Morrow and Blake are safer, but it's all playing with probabilities. It's probably Lucius that I'm less convinced of, as he hasn't really improved production wise in the NCAA and he isn't the best skater out there apparently. Koivunen is a less sexy name than Morrow and Blake, but he has really good production for his age in the SM - it's just a matter of whether it will translate or not, as we know it's always a question mark. Could definitely see him realistically being a middle 6er based on what I'm reading about him and his production.

This is seriously one of the biggest returns I think I’ve ever seen for a rental. There haven’t even been any talks about an extension. People dogging this don’t know squat about prospects. I can’t think of a comparable to this at all.

 

[mouser]

A lot of pieces including decent B/C prospects going to the Penguins.

Still feels like an underwhelming return to me for Guentzel.

 

[Scotianhab]

Has any top 3 prospect been traded for any rental? I’m no Pens or Canes fan but I think both teams did well. Theoretically Jake could have just left at the end of the year and the Pens would have got nothing.

 

[SensFactor]

Teams loading up around the league. It's going to be a heck of a playoffs this year.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

This trade took an extra 36 hours to finalize because Dubas was firm on getting that conditional 5th. What a negotiator.

The way this trade was constructed has me thinking Kyle put his foot in his mouth again during negotiations.

“I bet Jake gets you guys to the SCF!”

Canes brass: “Do you now?”

 

[DS7]

Maybe other teams had comparable offers. Dubas wanted his boy Bunting

Yep fair, I will also admit I'm not very knowledgable about the Carolina prospect pool, you could get some gems from them.