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

[Pens x]

This. It’s really not bad. You can’t expect to win every trade. And people on here were WAY too high on Hallander.

15 OA or not, this team is not going to be competing in four years. So, why not try to push as hard as we can right now, and then make sure that when we suck, we SUCK (and aren’t caught in mediocrity for a decade like so many teams)?

The team seems high on Poulin, so I expect Hornqvist to be traded.

Zucker-Crosby-Kapanen/Poulin
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Lafferty-McCann-Poulin/Kapanen
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Even with no other changes made, that could be a really good forward group.

That third line is putrid

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think KK has a higher IQ than Rust... and Rust has learned how to play with Crosby and Malkin.

So there is a positive thought I can give out.

I think it's much easier to play with Geno than it is to play with Sid. Sid's entirely rigid in his style, and doesn't really adapt or change for anyone. Geno's worked with a multitude of different types of players throughout his career. But then you've got Rust being stapled to Geno's RW, and with good reason.

I don't see how this means McCann's gone for certain. I mean, cap-wise, probably, but I didn't really expect McCann to stick around before. McCann plays LW primarily when he's not being forced to masquerade as a center, so positionally, I don't think this Kapanen deal really does anything to change McCann's status. I think he was gone already, but again, the cap implications essentially cemented it.

Unless we're planning on moving Hornqvist or Rust, the former I wouldn't mind, though I don't think the latter brings back anything of significant enough value.

 

[JRS91]

I came here to see the always-measured reaction to the Pens trades and I was not disappointed. Right or wrong, the Pens obviously like Kasperi better than a lot of us and some in the analytics community. At this point, JR—after two cups—has every right to burn this franchise to the ground. Show some respect everyone.

Yeah that super intelligent analytics team that signed Jack Johnson, an analytics nightmare.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I always really enjoy the complaining about the complaining takes. Super constructive and always timely.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Kapanen has a 1.9 5v5 points/60 in both of his last 2 years with the Leafs (surprised they were equal, but they are). If you are looking at stats that say he was "below replacement level" last year, I'm just chalking those stats up to being shitty quality.

 

[Sideline]

I like Kapanen. I think the price tag here was steep. I would have soon attached the 1st to JJ to get him off the roster.

 

[Jesse]

Man I actually like Hallander ahah I thought he'd be our next Staal. But I do find it weird that this is JUST coming out like @BlindWillyMcHurt said

I wrote this in 2018: Marshall: Filip Hallander was worth the trade

This tweet is from 2019:

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

If this deal means McCann is gone.. then I suddenly like this deal a lot more.

McCann, Bjug, JJ, Horny, 1 of the 2 goalies all kinds of moves to be done in the next few weeks.
However I don't really trust JR anymore going forward....

 

[Jules Winnfield]

Christ this team needed a top tier 3C than another winger.

I like Kapanen but not our first or second need. Terrible use of assets.

When you are in Joffrey Lannister mode you do dumb shit like this.

 

[Jesse]

Kapanen has a 1.9 5v5 points/60 in both of his last 2 years with the Leafs (surprised they were equal, but they are). If you are looking at stats that say he was "below replacement level" last year, I'm just chalking those stats up to being shitty quality.

Do you think shots and scoring chances are shitty quality?

 

[Mario_is_BACK!!]

They might not even keep one of the assets from this stupid deal.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Do you think shots and scoring chances are shitty quality?

If you're only using them to evaluate players and completely ignoring production, yes.

Kapanen has produced at top-6 levels in both of his full seasons in the NHL. He had fine analytics in one of those years and bad analytics in the other year. Production still counts, no matter what analytics supporters want to believe. And I'm a massive supporter of analytics.

 

[chethejet]

I have to believe GMJR will make more moves and recapture picks with Murray and McCann. I also think Kap has McCann's money only he fits the RW RS winger that gives Rust less exposure where he maximizes his play. Pens wore down at RW with Rust exposure and had to play Sherry there. Get picks back and I do think Pens have to see if Bjugs is back and healthy and O'Connor is the physical LW 3rd line guy who has scoring ability as well.

 

[Gurglesons]

They might not even keep one of the assets from this stupid deal.

Eh. I think that is the Rodrigues for Aberg part. Both won't be qualified.

To be honest, RFA qualifications are going to be a wasteland this year.

 

[Jesse]

If you're only using them to evaluate players and completely ignoring production, yes.

Kapanen has produced at top-6 levels in both of his full seasons in the NHL. He had fine analytics in one of those years and bad analytics in the other year. Production still counts, no matter what analytics supporters want to believe. And I'm a massive supporter of analytics.

That sounds like it would be as bad as only looking at production and ignoring everything else.

 

[Empoleon8771]

That sounds like it would be as bad as only looking at production and ignoring everything else.

So you're admitting that saying he has been below replacement level in 3 of 4 years is bad?

McCurdy called Kapanen a good 3rd liner earlier today, and I'm willing to agree with that:

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I think it's much easier to play with Geno than it is to play with Sid. Sid's entirely rigid in his style, and doesn't really adapt or change for anyone. Geno's worked with a multitude of different types of players throughout his career. But then you've got Rust being stapled to Geno's RW, and with good reason.

I don't see how this means McCann's gone for certain. I mean, cap-wise, probably, but I didn't really expect McCann to stick around before. McCann plays LW primarily when he's not being forced to masquerade as a center, so positionally, I don't think this Kapanen deal really does anything to change McCann's status. I think he was gone already, but again, the cap implications essentially cemented it.

Unless we're planning on moving Hornqvist or Rust, the former I wouldn't mind, though I don't think the latter brings back anything of significant enough value.

I can't stand McCann, so I don't care what logic anyone uses to say this trade means he's gone... I just want him gone.

I probably can't be anymore transparent than that.

 

[JRS91]

There's a chance, that a 15th round draft pick doesn't pan out.

There's also a chance Kapanen plays with Crosby and does very well. There's always that chance. However, when your franchise players are 33 and 34 years old and the window is closing, and you have a 15th overall pick in a very talented draft year, you decide "Nope, I'm going all in". Rutheford is repeating what he did in Carolina.

I appreciate the work he did in 2015-2017, but after the 2017 season, it's been downhill. This is the icing on the cake. You're trading a 1st round pick, 15th overall and some prospects for a 15-20 goal scorer. Aberg and Lindgren could be decent players, who knows? It just looks terrible on paper right now. This isn't like the Hornqvist trade where people were flipping out about trading Neal, this is the Reaves trade all over again. You have an asset that you need and you trade it away for something you don't. The Penguins don't need more RW. They need prospects. A future.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

So basically...

Kapanen for 1st
Hallander for Lindgren
Rodriguez for Aberg

Just seems so fair.

Kapanen is a 40+ point RW that could jump up with some PP time. It fits our window and needs. But i guess 15oa has some unlikely potential to be a grand slam.

Lindgren sound like an interesting PMD thats also right handed. Hallander has a cult following here but isnt anything more than a solid prospect.

the others...meh

 

[sovietsanta87]

I mean they also thought JJ was worth 3.2 million.

traded Sundqvist for garbage

They also thought John Marino could play defense. We could do this all day

 

[Snooki Stackhouse]

Being a scout in the penguins org must be an absolutely demoralizing experience. Hope those guys have hobbies, because they can't be deriving any job satisfaction.

I like Kapanen but this is too much. Jesus can we just draft players and develop them? I'm all for big splashy acquisitions when they involve someone like Hossa or Kessel, but these Zucker, Brassard, Kapanen deals are f***ing killing me.

 

[Ugene Magic]

I see this as getting a guy you can plug right into the roster. Get a 3c and I'll be good to go as far as moves go. Murray/Jarry out to fix that or get picks back to help later.

This is only the start.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Honestly this makes the Kahun trade even dumber, too. Unless I'm missing something?

Kap is a better player than Kahun but like... by how much? Seems like you just kinda shat a bunch of assets only to end up a half a foot further along than you started.

 

[Gurglesons]

There's a chance, that a 15th round draft pick doesn't pan out.

There's also a chance Kapanen plays with Crosby and does very well. There's always that chance. However, when your franchise players are 33 and 34 years old and the window is closing, and you have a 15th overall pick in a very talented draft year, you decide "Nope, I'm going all in". Rutheford is repeating what he did in Carolina.

I appreciate the work he did in 2015-2017, but after the 2017 season, it's been downhill. This is the icing on the cake. You're trading a 1st round pick, 15th overall and some prospects for a 15-20 goal scorer. Aberg and Lindgren could be decent players, who knows? It just looks terrible on paper right now. This isn't like the Hornqvist trade where people were flipping out about trading Neal, this is the Reaves trade all over again. You have an asset that you need and you trade it away for something you don't. The Penguins don't need more RW. They need prospects. A future.

I think if you look at it like we are trading the 1st for a positional need and Hallander for a positional prospect. It's not as bad as we initially thought. Still a bad trade, but maybe a fit.

 

[JRS91]

I think if you look at it like we are trading the 1st for a positional need and Hallander for a positional prospect. It's not as bad as we initially thought. Still a bad trade, but maybe a fit.

We don't need a 15-20 goal RW, we literally already have 3 of them.