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

[PensandCaps]

You were very clear that they stopped being the Pittsburgh Penguins when Crosby returned and that Malkin got sent back to second fiddle status.

As I said, IF the top 6 pairs are Zucker-Kap and Jake-Rust, then it makes a lot more sense. I think Geno would work with either, which will be convenient since we know best case what Sully will do.

EDIT: I still think a lot of the problem is (a) systemic and (b) due to a lack of transition help from the blueline (Johnson kills any attempts to push play, and I'm not sure Pets didn't regress a bit last year in this regard).

I mean this team is still very capable of being very good. Their 5v5 metrics with JJ off the ice is top notch, if they can just get rid of him and find a 3C, even one like 2017 Riley Sheahan, they will be pretty good.

Also they gotta make a gameplan on that PP, like pick either Malkin or Sid to be the focal point.

You watch Colorado and it looks like they know what they wanna do, let Mack run the PP, everyone else follows

 

[Turin]

Incidentally @Solzhenitsyn, here are a couple non-Pens takes on Hallander from contributors to the Athletic:

"Hallander’s one of those rare players who can play up and down a lineup and adjust his role to his linemates. Need him to drive a third line as its best player and have the puck a lot? He can do that. Need him to play off the puck on a second line where he’s not the most talented player? He can do that. Need an energy guy who can play fast and get in on the forecheck on your fourth line? He’s well-suited for that." - Scott Wheeler

“Hallander has been successful versus men for the last few years at varying levels after being a second-round pick in 2018. Hallander is a very intelligent and competitive player who has shown the ability to help both special teams. His skill and speed don’t pop, but he makes a lot of plays in the tough areas of the ice. My opinion is he projects as a bottom-six forward in the NHL, which is shared by a poll of NHL scouts now and at the time of his draft. He would not fit into the top tier of Toronto prospects such as Nicholas Robertson or Rasmus Sandin, but in the next group with the likes of Timothy Liljegren and Nick Abruzzese. His advanced play versus men in Sweden has him trending as a player who could help Toronto in the next year or two.” - Corey Pronman

That he's a pretty good bet to be an NHL contributor in fairly short order seems like a common impression. The main question's whether he's closer to a 2nd line complementary type or a bottom 6 utility knife.

That could very well be. Pronman could also be super wrong, like he was with Sprong and Pouliot.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think Kap has a better chance at sticking in the top-6 with Geno than Sid, by miles. I don't think you split up the Geno-Rust combo though, so unless you're trading Rust, where the Hell does Kap play? Hornqvist up with Geno, Kap on the 3rd line, and Rust with Sid? Yeesh.

 

[Ryder71]

He doesn't just have to fit in the top 6 for it to make sense.

The top 6 as a whole has to make sense.

As I said to @pixiesfanyo, IF the plan is Zucker-Kap and Jake-Rust pairs, then I get it.

BUT, I don't expect Sully to go that way (in fact I'd be stunned otherwise), and I'm still waiting to see where JR ships Rust (and I can't even say I'm half joking).

If the fallout of this trade is parting with Rust, that's a double kick to the groin. Keep Rust, play Jake with Geno and Rust, and you have the makings of a very potent top six. Otherwise it could be an unmitigated disaster.

 

[theicebox]

I think Kap has a better chance at sticking in the top-6 with Geno than Sid, by miles. I don't think you split up the Geno-Rust combo though, so unless you're trading Rust, where the Hell does Kap play? Hornqvist up with Geno, Kap on the 3rd line, and Rust with Sid? Yeesh.

Zucker - Crosby - Guentzel
Rust - Malkin - Kapanen
Poulin - McCann - Hornqvist

 

[JackFr]

I have watched quite a lot of Kap though, so I know who he is and how good he can be. A lot depends on fit. If he fits in our TOP6 then this is a good deal. He has the tools to be succesful here, for sure. Its interesting what happens next. I think Horny and Murray need to go now and hopefully we get some nice assets back. We needed a good RW for our top6 badly, I was so tired of Simon, Sheary etc.. Our TOP6 is beautiful now.

So have I. I live in Toronto with Leafs fans, I watch almost all of their games.

Kapanen is fast but he's dumb as rocks with the puck. There's a reason he's been a third liner for the vast majority of his career. I don't think he makes our top six better to be honest.

 

[sovietsanta87]

The GM signed Jack Johnson...I rest my case...

He also traded for John Marino. I remember how enthusiastic this board was when that move was announced.

 

[Ryder71]

Zucker - Crosby - Guentzel
Rust - Malkin - Kapanen

NO!

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

This trade has IMO a very wide range of outcomes. How anyone can really peg it down seems reactionary to me.

best case Kapanen explodes in our top 6. He puts it all together and fill our biggest roster hole. Lindgren becomes a capable Pettersson type defenseman. The avaliable talent at 15 0A all end up as ho hum NHlers or outright busts while Hallander is a more likable version Simon.

the bad scenario is Kapanen is what he is. A meh winger and Lindgren never returns from Europe. The 15oa is the next Barzal and Hallander is a mishmash of Kunitz, Hagelin and Hornqvist.

both are unlikely and the result will likely be something like...

Kapanen is better than he has been but not a true difference maker while Lindren get a cup of coffee as a replacement level D man. The 150a becomes an nhl player but not one you lose sleep over, Hallander is a stable contributor to a good bottom 6.

 

[theicebox]

NO!

Not saying I agree with that, but it's an option.

 

[Ryder71]

We should have at least gotten a draft pick back, even a third rounder would have been something.

 

[PensandCaps]

He doesn't just have to fit in the top 6 for it to make sense.

The top 6 as a whole has to make sense.

As I said to @pixiesfanyo, IF the plan is Zucker-Kap and Jake-Rust pairs, then I get it.

BUT, I don't expect Sully to go that way (in fact I'd be stunned otherwise), and I'm still waiting to see where JR ships Rust (and I can't even say I'm half joking).

Thing is, Idk if Zucker works with Malkin.

We saw Zucker look like a top line winger with Sid though.

They may have to look at giving Malkin Guentzel, its when they were at their best as a team, and am still dumbfounded on why they never tried it vs the Habs.

 

[Jesse]

Gee thanks Jesse . . . any other thoughts on the trade?

P.S.: Loved your end of series breakdown. Saw the Isles do the same thing to the Flyers last night. Collapsed 5 low, and the Flyers D was ultra conservative, so it was 3 on 5 down low way, way too much whenever they'd try to press, just like the Pens versus Habs.

We need to have a larger discussion about this because it's been bugging me for awhile now. Back in the 90's, it was easy to understand why the Devils played that God-awful trap. The two-line pass rule made it a no-brainer.

But now? Why is this working? What's the secret sauce? If the only way to beat it is to do it back, in five years you end up with the worst product of all time. Coaching is regressing, We're heading in the wrong direction! And the worst part is nobody can figure out why.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Zucker - Crosby - Guentzel
Rust - Malkin - Kapanen
Poulin - McCann - Hornqvist

You've managed to put three of the top-9 forwards out of their strong positions. Guentzel, Rust, and McCann.

 

[KIRK]

I mean this team is still very capable of being very good. Their 5v5 metrics with JJ off the ice is top notch, if they can just get rid of him and find a 3C, even one like 2017 Riley Sheahan, they will be pretty good.

Also they gotta make a gameplan on that PP, like pick either Malkin or Sid to be the focal point.

You watch Colorado and it looks like they know what they wanna do, let Mack run the PP, everyone else follows

That's actually an excellent point that I didn't consider. Kapanen solves the left circle problem on the PP.

 

[Giskard]

Zucker - Crosby - Kapanen
Guentzel - Malkin - Rust

It's a good start.

 

[Ryder71]

Not saying I agree with that, but it's an option.

I seriously doubt they play all those players out of their preferred positions.

 

[K Fleur]

Thing is, Idk if Zucker works with Malkin.

We saw Zucker look like a top line winger with Sid though.

They may have to look at giving Malkin Guentzel, its when they were at their best as a team, and am still dumbfounded on why they never tried it vs the Habs.

Unless Crosby gets hurt they won’t.

 

[Gurglesons]

Thing is, Idk if Zucker works with Malkin.

We saw Zucker look like a top line winger with Sid though.

They may have to look at giving Malkin Guentzel, its when they were at their best as a team, and am still dumbfounded on why they never tried it vs the Habs.

Zucker will work with Malkin. He didn't because Rust and Zucker are too much of the same. The issue is that I don't think Kapanen is much different than Rust, and I'd argue he is less skilled.

 

[Your Boy Troy]

One thing about Aberg is that he is very skilled and fast, he put up a decent stat line next to Getzlaf, with 11 goals in 37 games.

His Defensive game is awful, you would have to shelter him on a top line with Sid.

He is signed a KHL contract, and it is not on a loan. He won’t ever be in a Penguins uniform and wouldn’t fit. There is a reason why he was never given an opportunity in Toronto. This team doesn’t need anymore undersized finesse forwards.

 

[Ryder71]

Zucker - Crosby - Kapanen
Guentzel - Malkin - Rust

It's a good start.

Bingo!

 

[PensandCaps]

McCann cannot be the teams 3C come next season.

 

[Jesse]

Thing is, Idk if Zucker works with Malkin.

We saw Zucker look like a top line winger with Sid though.

They may have to look at giving Malkin Guentzel, its when they were at their best as a team, and am still dumbfounded on why they never tried it vs the Habs.

I kinda hope this is one of those situations that turns out to have no wrong answer and LW just becomes this interchangeable phenomenon the whole way up and down the lineup. Or at least in the top-six.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

As a little self-promotion, here's what I wrote on this trade a few hours ago:

A massive win for Dumb-ass? You are kidding right? What it comes down to is Kapanen for the 2020 first rounder with Lindgren as a bonus player for the Pens. Kapanen can play in the NHL and has shown he can score and will blossom with Crosby or Malkin. So the Pens get an established player for the unknown 1st rounder...will the Leafs "hatch" a Biggs or Percy outta their behinds? The Leafs are starting the give aways early since Seattle will be on aboard in 2021...that's how I see it...the 15th pick for (LW-RW)Kapanen and (RD)Lindgren...and by prognosticators that pick will be a forward...Mercer,Quinn,Jarvis or D-man B Schneider or Dumbass goes to Sweden yet again and plucks Grans,Gunler or Wallinder

 

[Ryder71]

McCann cannot be the teams 3C come next season.

Agreed and JR intimated as much in a recent interview.