Kasperi Kapanen (Aberg/J Lindgren) Traded to Pittsburgh (15OV/Hallander/E Rod/Warf to Toronto)

[OswaldBates]

He is. Metrics are good, has great Speed.

certainly better than ZAR.

did you actually say he is better than ZAR?? 1st iI think ZAR sucks & Rodrigues is Not better

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I just want to say this trade is everything I hoped the Pens wouldn't do this off-season:

Gut the prospect pool for a player who doesn't actually fix their glaring problems.

 

[Darren McCord]

I feel like this deal is going to be remembered like the Tanev signing, universally panned as an awful move by JR at the time only for people to fall in love with the player once they see him.

I think it will only get worse. He made rust replaceable and JR has an itchy finger

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'm really trying to see Kap thriving in this team's top six but I'm just not able to convince myself. He had some great kicks at the can in Toronto with some awfully talented players and just never looked the part.

Kapanen is a very north-south player, he's pretty similar to Zucker. Considering how good Zucker has looked here, I'm not worried about Kapanen fitting at all.

I think people really need to try to separate the player from the trade. The trade sucked because JR way overpaid, but I definitely think Kapanen is going to be a good top-6 forward here.

 

[EVGENIMERLIN]

I like Kap and think he can be good here. I hate this trade though. Overpayment city per usual when JR has his heart set on someone

 

[PensandCaps]

OHHHHHHHHH Metric Hahahahaha & is a Moron

Erod had a 25 point season in 17-18 in 48 games.

then a 29 point season in 18-19

I mean that's a useful NHL player. thats thats solid 4th line production.

 

[ncm7772]

We played Aberg in the 2017 cup finals. I think he scored against us. But he sucks other than that.

Yep. Saw that goal LIP, filthy goal. But yeah, he ain't done nothin' else.

Aberg scored a pretty sweet goal against us in the '17 SCF, JR probably saw that and it stuck in his mind. Cause he sure hasn't done f*** all else in his career.

Sweet goal, but absolutely correct. And it WAS Maatta who he walked, so.................

 

[Turin]

The only solace I take from the situation is the fact that the 2021 draft is going to be a clusterf***. I expect that little meaningful hockey will be played this winter, and that will make next year's draft a total crap shoot. Even the "boring, safe pick" route is dangerous because players likely won't have had a chance to truly show what they can do in what traditionally would be their most meaningful year of hockey. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more than the usual number of first-round busts and more late-round steals.

Of course, this all presumes that there will be an NHL. If covid prevents the league from packing arenas with fans for two consecutive years, this league will go bankrupt, and none of this will matter.

Good point. The country is ready to break apart anyway, so the Pens might actually have just one or two shots at this, along with anybody else

 

[dogthateats]

If Kapanen has that value what is Rust worth?

 

[xlm34]

Do we think he’ll fit at all with Crosby or Malkin since that seems to be where he’ll be playing? If his big weakness is that he lacks creativity or hockey sense, then him in the top 6 won’t last long.

Then where does that leave us? Fingers crossed this works out but man...just not the kind of trade I was expecting.

 

[PensandCaps]

did you actually say he is better than ZAR?? 1st iI think ZAR sucks & Rodrigues is Not better

Oh easily better. ZAR can't skate like that nor has he put up the offensive stats that Erod did.

 

[EpiPen]

We should be targeting defense not more speedy wingers. We need better defense.

 

[Turin]

Okay now Rust, Murray, JJ for Gaudreau

 

[PensandCaps]

If Kapanen has that value what is Rust worth?

Well they traded Kahun for garbage. who had a better year than Kap.

So maybe they trade rust for a 3rd.

 

[cvrle1]

Kahun was on Malkin’s wing when he was traded.

Fair, but it wasnt because Sullivan suddenly started to like him and trust him, but because he had no choice due to all the injuries. Desperate times, desperate measures sort of a thing. Maybe he was showcasing him for a trade as well, cause you know getting Sheary back would have taken a lot more. Surprised JR didnt throw in 1st round pick with Kahun

 

[Gurglesons]

Do we think he’ll fit at all with Crosby or Malkin since that seems to be where he’ll be playing? If his big weakness is that he lacks creativity or hockey sense, then him in the top 6 won’t last long.

Then where does that leave us? Fingers crossed this works out but man...just not the kind of trade I was expecting.

Worst case scenario he becomes a replacement for Hornqvist on L3.

 

[mrzeigler]

And then there's the uncertainty surrounding when the NHL will even play a regular season game next year. Our core has, at best, two calendar years left in them as contenders. If, as is very possible, we lose at least one of those years, trading away the future to "win now" will really suck ass if we can't even get our aging stars on the ice to play during the "now" window that JR is trying to extend.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Kapanen is a very north-south player, he's pretty similar to Zucker. Considering how good Zucker has looked here, I'm not worried about Kapanen fitting at all.

I think people really need to try to separate the player from the trade. The trade sucked because JR way overpaid, but I definitely think Kapanen is going to be a good top-6 forward here.

I personally think we already have more than enough tunnel-visioned, try-hard, all-wheels-no-finish top six options that play a straight north south game and offer very little creativity or specialized offensive skills. But I suppose we'll see. Kap had some flashes in Toronto here and there in the role expected, here. Maybe he can fulfill that promise. But it seems a steep price to pay just to find out.

Also side note but man it's getting pretty obvious and cringe that JR nearly HAS to have some kind of personal connection to his trade targets.

 

[Pancakes]

Kapanen is a very north-south player, he's pretty similar to Zucker. Considering how good Zucker has looked here, I'm not worried about Kapanen fitting at all.

I think people really need to try to separate the player from the trade. The trade sucked because JR way overpaid, but I definitely think Kapanen is going to be a good top-6 forward here.

Even if he just ends up being a 20 goal guy who drives the success of the third line and helps on the PK, I'm still okay with that. That would be a lot of value to add.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I hope Kapanen kills it with Sid and Jake or Sid and Zucker. I don't think he will, because I think he's a bit too squirrelly when it comes to sustained impact and production, but I hope he does.

I can't wait to see what this clown has in store for the rest of the off-season. I'm past being angry, I'm genuinely curious to see what other kind of crap he's got in mind. Sky's the limit to this dude's weird madness.

 

[OswaldBates]

I don't really give a shit about anything in this deal other than the 15th overall, Hallander (who I'm not even that high on, but he is one of our best prospects), and Kapanen. Everything else is inconsequential rubbish. E-Rod doesn't matter, but I'd have liked him in the lineup over ZAR. Warsofsky doesn't matter. Lindgren doesn't matter. Aberg doesn't matter.

PSSSSSSST the Player that they would have drafted wouldn't have played for them for 2-3 years Minimum

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

If Kapanen has that value what is Rust worth?

Not what we payed for Kapanen, because the only GM who would make that kind of deal is our GM, sadly.

 

[Peat]

If Murray and JJ are packaged to bring a 2nd and 4th or something do you feel a bit better?

Not really. It's deckchair shuffling.

Lol 2 of those assets were nothing.

JR overpaid, but saying "he gave up 4 assets" is dumb. Just say "he gave up a 1st and good prospect".

Cap space is definitely an asset right now.

In three to four years, though. In three to four years Crosby and Malkin are probably just about done as elite players, and this core is about done as a contender. That 15th OA could turn into a young Erik Karlsson at that point and it wouldn't even matter, would it?

I'm fine with an approach of win now, deal with the fallout later. We all know the bottom is going to fall out on this team and that the end is not far off. But I'm fine with going for one last cup with this core while we still can.

Nyet my dude. Out of the last eight 15OAs, half of them made their NHL debuts at D+2. 15OA isn't a gamble on three to four years, it's a gamble on a swift turnaround - which you trade if it doesn't look swift enough.

And even if we think it's going to be 3-4 years and we should be throwing all futures at win next year? Don't throw them at Kapanen.

 

[ColePens]

Okay now Rust, Murray, JJ for Gaudreau

I remember watching Johnny Hockey when he was in Pittsburgh for that college hockey tourney. Dude was so unreal I remember telling my dad he was going to be a star. Everyone on the ice knew who to go to but he was so shifty.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Positives:
- YOUTH! 24 years old and can really skate. If nothing else that makes us more exciting to watch
- Always think of him as a smaller guy, but he's not. 6 foot 1, 195lbs. Haven't watched him much, but expecting him to be able to take a little punishment without getting stripped.
- No significant injuries the last 2 years. Played almost all the games. Don't undervalue that after last year...
- Even-strength production pretty respectable in last 2 seasons, in mostly a 3rd line role: 70 points in 147 games
- Effective PK'er who is a scoring threat
- Minimal PIMs
- Price tag is alright. 3.2 mil for 3 years.
- Our offense isn't as good as people think. We were 10th overall in the league. Good but not amazing. So bolstering the RW is not unwelcome.

Negatives:
- 15th overall is a heavy price for a good 3rd liner. Hopefully that picks turns out to be a flop.
- Kapanen is streaky as hell, by all accounts. Disappears on you.
- Has shot accuracy problems. Remind you of anyone?
- Not happy with losing Hallander as well
- Aberg is a nothing player. Throw-in.
- Can't help but think we could have used the 1st more effectively. Used it in a package with Murray or to get rid of Johnson...or maybe something bigger like a Letang trade.