Confirmed Trade: [PIT/NSH] Michael Bunting, 2026 4th for Luke Schenn, Tommy Novak

[Merc29]

This is a prelude trade.

Desharne was the prelude

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Dubas will get Brayden next.

 

[SoundAndFury]

but why is Nashville trading for Bunting?

What a silly question. Adding another winger who will be 30 by the start of next season is a priority for Nashville. They traded a younger, better player for an older and worse. Very consistent with the MO.

 

[chethejet]

Schenn will be moved but not sure to who and what is the return. The only consideration is Karlsson being moved and Pens need D.

 

[thebestnic]

The C market is absolute ass but multiple contenders want C's. Likewise, multiple contenders want veteran RHD. This is clearly setting the table for all the slowbros in the thread

Both teams are sellers so it still doesn't make sense

 

[bossram]

This will definitely help in their cup run.

Who you ask? I dunno. I’m just trying to decipher what at least one of the GMs is thinking.

It's a pretty straightforward trade from PIT's view.

Dubas continues adding young-ish players with some upside (Novak). I suspect Schenn is coming just to take some cash off NSH's books, and Dubas personally likes him.

It makes less sense for NSH.

 

[Chainshot]

I am confused for what is going on

I was coming in to post the same thing.

 

[Empoleon8771]

What a silly question. Adding another winger who will be 30 by the start of next season is a priority for Nashville. They traded a younger, better player for an older and worse. Very consistent with the MO.

Yeah the only justification I can see is Trotz is an idiot.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Also, others have said it too but nothing Nashville does ever seems to make any sense.

Trotz is a brilliant coach but his roster building is shit.

 

[adsfan]

That's not why I'm confused. I actually see the appeal of swapping Bunting for Novak from the Penguins side.

I just don't understand why Nashville is doing that swap, nor do I understand why Pittsburgh wanted a 35 year old Schenn.

The Pens want a pylon Dman for practice.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

This is a real head scratcher for both teams. Thats quite impressive from Trotz and Dubas

 

[BertCorbeau]

 

[nturn06]

Shouldn't Dubas be collecting picks and prospects? Maybe his plan is to flip both players?

Collect picks, trade away picks, what's the difference

 

[Merc29]

Nashville got any more of them younger players. Novak Tomasino and Glass.. seriously, any more you don’t want?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

That's not why I'm confused. I actually see the appeal of swapping Bunting for Novak from the Penguins side.

I just don't understand why Nashville is doing that swap, nor do I understand why Pittsburgh wanted a 35 year old Schenn.

Schenn is only 35? It feels like Holmgren traded for him over 15 years ago.

 

[Flyer lurker]

Nashville playoff run incoming

 

[bov]

I like it for Pittsburgh, adding a decently skilled forward and a heavy hitting vet who is hard to play against.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Hey, Luke, you've been traded...

... to Pittsburgh

 

[Soundgarden]

On the one hand no more Schenn, but we should have been able to get something for Novak. Neutral on this one.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDo]

Pittsburgh is turning into Nashville East—Glass, Tomasino, Novak

 

[DesertPenguin]

Schenn has a year left after this. Could be a bridge RHD and the Pens deal Karlsson.

Tell me about Novak.

 

[King Woodballs]

Unless something big happens. What was the point of this for either team.

 

[SomeDude]

nor do I understand why Pittsburgh wanted a 35 year old Schenn.

To flip by Friday

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Every player in this deal has term beyond this year.

I think these teams are making this trade with next year in mind.

 

[Zman5778]

Yeah I just don't understand this from Nashville. Novak for Bunting is a losing swap for them IMO and I think they could have done better than a 4th for Schenn.

I don't understand why the Penguins wanted Schenn unless they flip him, but I'm very happy with a Bunting for Novak swap. If Rakell goes, I wouldn't be surprised at all for Novak to just slide into his spot.

The ONLY thing I see is that the Pens have one more slot to retain while the Preds were out of retention slots for the year. So maybe PIT is retaining on Schenn and flipping him to a contender, getting more than a 4th in the process?

And the price Nashville paid was the downgrade from Novak?