I think this is revisionist history of the trade. Hextall and the Penguins were absolutely clowned on for that deal. It was from basically all aspects, they were dunked on from everywhere for that trade.
Media members said their sources were completely perplexed by it, with some reports saying that Hextall basically offered the 2nd before even hearing the Predators asking price. The entire analytics crowd hated it because Granlund had become a horrid analytical player. Combine those two with his contract left (3 years at $5 million) and the Penguins plan to play him in a completely different role (one he wouldn’t fit in), it’s not hard to see why the hockey world responded as it did.
“It was only a 2nd” is pretty much the only saving grace of that trade. It’s like trading for Daniel Sprong with the hopes he can be a Selke caliber center, it was just a downright bizarre decision for a NHL GM to make. Part of it was the flaws of Granlund, but another legitimate part of it was how the move just made no sense.
Chris Pryor, the AGM, pushed the trade and was sent packing with Hextall. Not very often a single trade tips the scale to that level. So to add to the list of "who was baffled", you can include FSG.
Wouldn't sullivan be hurting the floor of the Pens current roster?
The pens team as you and others mentioned is not very good. They are a medicore team which should/could be a WC1 or Metro #3 spot and likely lose R1 to better & younger rosters in NYR, NJD, and CAR
That they are now 2nd worst in the league is attributable to Sullivan and his shotty coaching
For the teams ceiling, its limited/hurt by Hextall's idiotic koves + Dubas idiotic moves.
The pens if retooled around by a good GM should be a better version of the CAPs (Crosby has been better then OV in 2023, 2024 and is likely still the better player this year despite a slow start).
The Caps retooled and got younger, faster and more deep (PLD in a lower insuitated role, Strome a few years back looks amazing now, Chychuran looks very good for very cheap cost, Logan Thompson for a 3rd).
If the Pens had that level of management they would be a legit playoff contender who despite their aging/elderly core could be contending for a deep run/cup if they had a stronger coach (ceiling raiser) then MS.
Management has f***ed the quality of team and support and Sullivan is a caveman who is fixated on his style of roster/tactics/strategies even if they fail to work/compliment the Pens players
I agree with the first half of what you said but I'm not sure if I agree with the idea that if the Penguins "retooled" they would be better (as even just as good as the Caps. The Caps took some pretty big leaps of faith in going for Chychrun and PLD, one of which carried a big contractual risk. I would suggest the Penguins took a similar risk in going for Karlsson. Its working out for the Caps and not for the Penguins. That's life.
One thing that I think some people get but others don't is that, it's not one thing. No matter how much Toronto fans want to convince the entire world everything is solely 100% Dubas's fault, it isn't. Same thing with Sullivan. Same thing with Jarry. Same thing with the entire roster. It's not one thing, it's everything. I would even go as far as saying Sid's loyalty and OCD-level of routine is as much part of the problem as anything else.
This is an organization that is running on four flat tires. Changing one (the GM, the coach, the roster, the system) is not going to get it down the road to win the race. This isn't a team that will be competing for the Cup any time soon no matter what changes are made.
Is is no "oh, if only they had done this one thing, they'd be a cup contender!" There is no lynchpin in this demise. With this team, it's Cup or bust. I wouldn't have any more positive or negative views if they had lost in the first or second round in the last two years. Teams get old, coaching systems get old, people get old. It happens.
