Proposal: TOR - PIT (Robertson - Puljujarvi)

[HC7]

Pittsburgh continues to get younger while "still competing" (Dubas is ruining the twilight of Crosby's career/Brian MacLellan did for the Caps exactly what Dubas was supposed to do for the Pens, but that's a topic for another time)

Toronto gets a Treliving/Berube esque player with very strong underlying numbers that is primed to breakout with better linemates

Click to read more...

 

[elmaco]

I think the Pens need picks and prospects, not more garbage.

 

[SomeDude]

I think the Pens need picks and prospects, not more garbage.

You and I may think that, but Kyle Dubas runs the show.

More garbage it is.

 

[seanlinden]

This doesn't seem to be the world's worst idea...

I feel like Puljujarvi has the higher upside, but has the "mark" of not being able to figure it out in Edmotnon (despite having Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl as prospective linemates), not being able to figure it out in Carolina, and now not being able to figure it out in Pittsburgh (despite Crosby & Malkin as prospective linemates).... whereas Robertson, you can sort of wonder "what would he be like outside of Toronto?"

I guess the question from Toronto's standpoint... your 3rd line projects to be Domi, Robertson, and Holmberg once Matthews is back... does Domi, Holmberg and Puljurarvi sound better?

If the Leafs are going to split Tavares & Nylander, is Puljujarvi a better winger for Tavares than Robertson is?

In answering the first question, I think the answer is probably no... but the second question, I think the answer is probably yes.

 

[banks]

I'd prefer to keep the 23 year old, home grown player that looked like a 20 goal scorer last year. That's Robertson.

Puljujarvi, meanwhile, is 3 years older, has never looked like a 20 goal guy, and has been replacement level for the last 3 seasons.

 

[SEALBound]

As much as I like how well Puljujarvi has rebounded, I think he's ultimately irrelevant to the Penguins in their present and future. Thus, I would do the trade in hopes that he can get some time with Sid or Geno to boost his stats. Then send him out for the 3rd he's worth.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Wouldn't mind either or both on the King's. Injuries have caused Trevor Lewis to be utilized in the top 6. While I'm celebrating this, some other King's fans are quite distressed. With little to no cap space, these 2 are about the best the King's can do.

& No. The King's won't actually recall anyone that might be able to temporarily fill in the top 6.

Hiller could move Kempe to D full time & run Puljujarvi, Kopi, Roberson

 

[Coffee]

Haven’t seen this many Penguins fans on main boards since years

 

[lanceuppercut75]

These are the 2 teams I cheer for. I would say that if TOR wanted to add Puljujarvi, they would be able to get him trading a pick or prospect and then put him on their 4th line. If they're looking to move Robertson for a better fit top 9 winger, they could also do that as a separate thing while additionally adding Puljujarvi. It seems to me Robertson at his cap hit isn't the kind of asset you want to give up for a botom 6 winger rental.

 

[NCoRe]

I would do this trade

 

[HockeyVirus]

You haven't explained why this makes any sense for Toronto

 

[kevsh]

You haven't explained why this makes any sense for Toronto

Robertson has 1 point in 14 games, so I ask, what are we holding onto?
Add to that Pudge saves them $75k against the cap vs Nick.

 

[AvroArrow]

In what world is Pulju a Treliving/Berube type player ? He's horrible. So much talent but those pre-draft injuries were significant and he never really recovered from them. No interest in him whatsoever.

 

[Voodoo Child]

Robertson for Bulju?

...I'd rather have a 2025 3rd and a 2026 7th.

 

[banks]

Robertson has 1 point in 14 games, so I ask, what are we holding onto?
Add to that Pudge saves them $75k against the cap vs Nick.

That stat line is a disaster for Robertson. But it's also the norm for Puljujarvi.

2 points in 17 games with CAR in 2022-23.
4 points in 22 games with PIT in 2023-24.
6 points in 14 games so far with PIT in 2024.

1 point in 14 games is bad for Robertson. But can you expect much more from Puljujarvi? I expect Robertson can and will improve that number. Puljujarvi, meanwhile, has flatlined for years.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I don't see any incentive for the Penguins to make this move. Robertson has had 1 effective season in the NHL, which Puljujarvi equaled or surpassed at the same age, and is having an atrocious season right now. I also have major doubts that he's a guy that can effectively play in a bottom-6 role.

Puljujarvi looks like a good bottom-6 forward this year, albeit with some inconsistency problems. What does Robertson offer?

That stat line is a disaster for Robertson. But it's also the norm for Puljujarvi.

2 points in 17 games with CAR in 2022-23.
4 points in 22 games with PIT in 2023-24.
6 points in 14 games so far with PIT in 2024.

1 point in 14 games is bad for Robertson. But can you expect much more from Puljujarvi? I expect Robertson can and will improve that number. Puljujarvi, meanwhile, has flatlined for years.

Those two seasons were where he had a messed up hip and was recovering from a major hip surgery.

I don't know why you're lumping the 6 points in 14 games with the other 2. 6 points in 14 games is good production out of a bottom-6 player.

 

[Dog]

Pens would have to add maybe a 2nd+ 3rd and probably would work.

 

[Gurglesons]

Pens would have to add maybe a 2nd+ 3rd and probably would work.

lol.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Robertson has 1 point in 14 games, so I ask, what are we holding onto?
Add to that Pudge saves them $75k against the cap vs Nick.

Well he is a young developing kid. Pulj is what he is.

 

[REALTALK81]

I wouldn't be trading Robertson for that but I'm higher on him than some Leaf fans.

 

[seanlinden]

I don't see any incentive for the Penguins to make this move. Robertson has had 1 effective season in the NHL, which Puljujarvi equaled or surpassed at the same age, and is having an atrocious season right now. I also have major doubts that he's a guy that can effectively play in a bottom-6 role.

Puljujarvi looks like a good bottom-6 forward this year, albeit with some inconsistency problems. What does Robertson offer?



Those two seasons were where he had a messed up hip and was recovering from a major hip surgery.

I don't know why you're lumping the 6 points in 14 games with the other 2. 6 points in 14 games is good production out of a bottom-6 player.

He can't... as evidenced by his non-existent production. While he hasn't been a liability out there, and has drawn a bunch of penalties, he's not really a factor beyond that.

I think the entire "premise" of this trade would be for the Pens to get somebody that might be successful in their top 6, in return for the Leafs getting someone who might be better suited to the bottom 6, or at least, "middle 6".

The Pens don't really have patience for a full rebuild, so trying to get them pieces which have more immediate upside.

 

[Gurglesons]

He can't... as evidenced by his non-existent production. While he hasn't been a liability out there, and has drawn a bunch of penalties, he's not really a factor beyond that.

I think the entire "premise" of this trade would be for the Pens to get somebody that might be successful in their top 6, in return for the Leafs getting someone who might be better suited to the bottom 6, or at least, "middle 6".

The Pens don't really have patience for a full rebuild, so trying to get them pieces which have more immediate upside.

I think the other idea with PIT is they are getting a younger piece than Pulju that they can likely sign to a two year deal, pump the numbers up and potentially get a 2nd or something for. Versus Pulju likely walking this year and returning a 4th at best at the deadline if moved.

 

[cyris]

I’m not all that high on Robertson but this makes no sense for the Leafs. We already have a bit of a forward logjam and are in need of a 3C.
Trading for Puji doesn’t alleviate the logjam and doesn’t give us a 3C.

If Robertson ends up the odd man out if/when all our forwards get healthy I’d rather trade him for a 3rd we can add to a package for a centre later.

 

[elmaco]

He can't... as evidenced by his non-existent production. While he hasn't been a liability out there, and has drawn a bunch of penalties, he's not really a factor beyond that.

I think the entire "premise" of this trade would be for the Pens to get somebody that might be successful in their top 6, in return for the Leafs getting someone who might be better suited to the bottom 6, or at least, "middle 6".

The Pens don't really have patience for a full rebuild, so trying to get them pieces which have more immediate upside.

Who are they gonna compete with if not doing a full rebuild? 38 year old Crosby?

 

[conFABulator]

Leaf fan here. Not over-rating Robertson either, but this could be a win-win. I don't know if Pittsburgh has enough opportunity for Robertson in the top six, based on the weak results thus far I would assume Pittsburgh has some room and opportunity and that MIGHT be the kind of gamble they should be taking right now. He could be a 25 goal man with top six and PP time. He might also be a guy who is too small and one dimensional to have an impact. If the cost is only Puljyjarvi then why not?

I also don't know if Puljyjarvi is an upgrade on the Leafs bottom six. He seems more capable currently than Holmberg, is he any better than Jarnkrok? Probably not, but Jarnkrok makes more and is out for a while. It seems at this point that Robertson has the higher upside, because we have seen enough of what Puljyjarvi has done with ice time and linemates to know he is not likely to hit a next level of production. We don't know what Robertson could do with minutes and linemates for an extended period. I might guess that Puljyjarvi has the higher floor though.

If the deal is part of a series of moves with Robertson, Kampf, and Jarnkrok going out with maybe a 2nd or 3rd and a B prospect where the Leafs also get, say Granlund then maybe it works.

Robertson for Puljyjarvi
Kampf, Jarnkrok, 3rd and Niemela for Granlund (they could turn the first two into TDL assets possibly also)

Knies Matthews Domi
Paccioretty Tavares Marner
Puljujarvi Granlund Nylander
Lorentz Minten McMann
Holmberg
Dewar
Reaves

Are the Leafs any better with this? I don't know if Pittsburgh feels improved with Robertson over JP.