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

[OswaldBates]

sorry keeping posting the guy who was a HUGE Bylsma backer really doesn't move the needle

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I don't think you should be volleying shots at the messenger when you hear something about a player you don't like. It's never a good idea to be "besmirching" a player in your organization. That's never good for anyone. We see that from time to time around the league and while it's fun to watch from the sidelines, you don't want to be reading that inside your own organization. If he didn't get invited over, there could very well be a reason for it. Just because you like Hallander (and don't get me wrong, I did too) doesn't mean you can assign malice any time a journo or scout says there's an issue with the kid.

Say he didn't get traded and he stays in Sweden and it comes out that he didn't get invited over here because of his skating and the org's general belief that he wouldn't make the NHL. Would that make it better or worse?

As I outlined earlier, these critiques have a habit of being an issue only after a player is dealt, and selectively. All we heard after we drafted Poulin and Legare was how skating issues in prospects weren't such a big deal and could be overcome. And Hallander was never considered to have as significant skating issues as a prospect like Legare.

 

[Icarium]

Can we stop trading for players based on familiarity? Who are we getting back next, Deryk Engelland? Kapanen isn't bad, mind you, but maybe we need to broaden our horizons a bit and stop focusing on players drafted by us or by JR when he was in Carolina.

 

[Gurglesons]

we already lack shooting talent in the top 6...I would have liked a much better goal scorer for that price...

I can't agree with this. We have three forwards in our top six that couple potentially put up 30 goals. Who is better than that?

 

[Empoleon8771]

One thing I've learned from hockey fans is that I'm becoming more and more anti-analytics because of how many people I see misusing analytics in my opinion

If a good, but flawed, tool is used while people aren't acknowledging the flaws, that just makes the tool substantially less good.

 

[OswaldBates]

Can we stop trading for players based on familiarity? Who are we getting back next, Deryk Engelland? Kapanen isn't bad, mind you, but maybe we need to broaden our horizons a bit and stop focusing on players drafted by us or by JR when he was in Carolina.

OK how bout trading ffor a guy they have never ever seen before? would that be better ?

 

[MrBrightside]

It's entertaining watching Empoleon talk himself into this trade in real time during the course of this thread.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

& I think the Pens Scouts saw him a lot more than Jesse did too SO I think give some weight to their opinion or NO?

This has nothing to do with the Pens scouts.

Rutherford doesn't require their stamp of approval before making a dumb decision, which he's proving quite adept at lately.

 

[JRS91]

Yes, because the alternative of being the Minnesota Wild is so much better than bottoming out and hoping you get high draft picks.

Face it, the right way to prioritize this team is to go all-in now and them bottom out after Crosby and Malkin retire. This team isn't winning a damn thing after Crosby and Malkin leave, trying to plan for the future when the best case scenario for the future is "painful mediocrity" doesn't make any sense.

You're absolutely right, this team isn't winning anything after Crosby and Malkin retire because we've traded our past 3 first round picks, soon to be 4.

There has to be a point where you have to consider a rebuild. If this was 3 years ago, I'd be fine with it. You don't go all-in when your chances of winning are dwindling every year to be left with nothing but dirt. It's not the worst trade ever, it's not an absolute franchise killer, it's just dumb. It's piling on what is already a mismanagement of assets to try and go "all-in" every year only to get raw-dogged in the first round. I absolutely hope I'm wrong, but I think this is going to be a trade we're talking about a lot in 5 years.

 

[JackFr]

One thing I've learned from hockey fans is that I'm becoming more and more anti-analytics because of how many people I see misusing analytics in my opinion

I'm feeling the same way about just leaning entirely on points at the expense of absolutely everything else.

 

[OswaldBates]

This has nothing to do with the Pens scouts.

Rutherford doesn't require their stamp of approval before making a dumb decision, which he's proving quite adept at lately.

OH sure you keep that opinion chief

 

[Turin]

It has been repeatedly shown that a player's prime is actually when they're around 23.

I hate this trade from an analytical perspective (obviously), but I don't like the "eye test" fit either. Kapanen is speedy and has an above-average shot, but he is dumb as bricks. He hands and brain just cannot keep up with his feet, and it's gonna drive Sid absolutely nuts if they play together.

Its usually 23 for stars. It’s not 23 for players like Kapanen.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

It's entertaining watching Empoleon talk himself into this trade in real time during the course of this thread.

And out of Rodrigues being an asset of any consequence, apparently.

 

[Empoleon8771]

You're absolutely right, this team isn't winning anything after Crosby and Malkin retire because we've traded our past 3 first round picks, soon to be 4.

There has to be a point where you have to consider a rebuild. If this was 3 years ago, I'd be fine with it. You don't go all-in when your chances of winning are dwindling every year to be left with nothing but dirt. It's not the worst trade ever, it's not an absolute franchise killer, it's just dumb. It's piling on what is already a mismanagement of assets to try and go "all-in" every year only to get raw-dogged in the first round. I absolutely hope I'm wrong, but I think this is going to be a trade we're talking about a lot in 5 years.

You're overrating the living shit out of draft picks.

This team isn't going to be good after Crosby and Malkin unless they get multiple Giroux like hits with those picks. The MIGHT have been good after Crosby and Malkin retired, but they probably wouldn't because scoring a Giroux caliber talent with that caliber of pick is an awesome haul.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

OH sure you keep that opinion chief

Thank u for ur blessing

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Tbf, they wanted Bjugstad to play top 6 RW and McCann to LW - and we also thought we were losing a forward last summer.



Top 10 PK last year.



Nah. 50-50 on the player become as good or better, and most of those guys are in the NHL by D+2.

If we look from 13-18 for the last couple decades i doubt 50% are better. Im willing to be proven wrong on that point but id be willing to drop a small bet on it.

And if the do reach D+2 theyre certainly not finished products.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

I wish JR looked at the 15th overall like it could've been another Barzal. Haven't been excited about a Pens draft pick since like Beau Bennet and Simon Despres

 

[JayfromNB1219]

I feel like the only way this deal can be fine is if Lindgren is better than what I'm expecting from him. To me, he doesn't seem like much. But if he's a good RD prospect, I can stomach this deal. It's a little overpayment from JR if Lindgren is a good prospect.

He was stalling with us, I wouldn't expect a ton if WE were willing to deal a D-man (our D is absolutely atrocious) that being said we will miss Kappy hopefully he finds his head playing with the vets you guys have on your team. Dude is scary fast and with someone like Crosby or Malkin with him he really could end up being a steal for you guys (win now) but he never worked with Tavares or Matthews...Tunnel vision problems

 

[Gurglesons]

One thing I've learned from hockey fans is that I'm becoming more and more anti-analytics because of how many people I see misusing analytics in my opinion

If a good, but flawed, tool is used while people aren't acknowledging the flaws, that just makes the tool substantially less good.

You realize that these aren't fans you are arguing with. These are individuals that are getting paid by major sports organizations to combine video and analytics into digestible segments for you.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Kapanen the player is a good, to great pickup for us, imo.

Kapanen the player for the 15th overall pick in a super deep draft, while we're 2 years away from a serious rebuild, WITH one of our better forward prospects--is complete, hot, stinky, slimy f***ing garbage. The JR blue plate special.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It's entertaining watching Empoleon talk himself into this trade in real time during the course of this thread.

The trade still sucks, you're not going to hear a disagreement from me on that

And out of Rodrigues being an asset of any consequence, apparently.

I can't believe you are this dense, but our past interactions make me think you are.

Rodrigues isn't an "asset" any more than ZAR is. He's a depth forward that's ideally in the press box when everyone is healthy. Losing him is basically losing nothing.

 

[OswaldBates]

Thank u for ur blessing

think that Mario, Burkle & Morehouse Said to JR Ahhh f*** it do whatever you want

 

[JackFr]

I have watched countless hours of Kapanen playing (I live in Toronto with a Leafs fan). He is all tools no toolbox. His hockey IQ is extremely low relative to his speed, and it's what's held him back from being a proper top six forward. I do not think he's a good fit with Crosby or Malkin.

 

[T1K]

Nope. Kappy's big issue is he lacks finish.

Hagelin put up 15+ goals early on in his career too.

It seems like Kappy has more zip on his shot compared to Hags, but otherwise it’s a fair comparison. A lot of people are bagging this trade, but I think Kapanen is a good player. Would have preferred to pay up for Nylander, but I’m not mad about this assuming other trades are in the works.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

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.

Kahun has been pacing the same as Vrana in his first couple of years, and had the makes of "our" Vrana.