The Pittsburgh Penguins closed out the first round of the NHL draft by vomiting all over themselves. The 31st pick in the draft is no guarantee and is more probable to never impact the NHL. The Penguins decided that they wouldn't take the unknown and instead take a player that is probable to be worse than the unknown.

This isn't a trade that is the end all be all, but it is a complete departure from the logic that just earned the team back to back Stanley Cup titles.

The Penguins trade pick No. 31 and F Oskar Sundqvist to the Blues for F Ryan Reaves and pick No. 51 in the 2nd round.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 24, 2017

They traded their first round pick, a pick they haven't had since 2014, and their top center prospect, for a face puncher.

Rutherford: "When you want to get the guy that’s the best at doing what he does, then you have to pay a price.”

— Sam Werner (@SWernerPG) June 24, 2017

This is an objectively terrible move. This is a move based on the worst kind of fiction, fan fiction.



Pathetic.

If the Penguins felt that strongly about an enforcer stopping abuse they'd have dressed Sestito in the playoffs. They knew that'd be dumb.

— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) June 24, 2017

Reaves plays 8-9 minutes a night. One dimensional. Hits. Takes too many penalties, scores maybe once a month. Don't see why he's needed.

— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) June 24, 2017

Finally the Pittsburgh Penguins can put it all together and win some games now that their stars can feel safe out there on the ice

— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) June 24, 2017

There is nothing about this move that is going to change the fact that if somebody has a split moment decision to clock Crosby they aren't going automatically ignore it. The only thing this changes is that Ryan Reaves will try to run somebody and fight after the fact.

Here is Reaves track record protecting his teammates in St. Louis

Pens young stars are now safe! Rattie: https://t.co/TUNBN9algm Jaskin: https://t.co/N776MT9L30

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) June 24, 2017

Just type "suspended for hit on" + add any player on the STL roster into Google. It's amazing how many liberties have been taken. Somehow.

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) June 24, 2017

Ryan Reaves is fake news.

I'm not particularly bullish on Oskar Sundqvist as a prospect. I don't think he was ever going to be an impact player on the Penguins, even in a bottom six role. Also, I'm not enamored with giving up a fringe NHL prospect for a known replacement level player. I'm really not fond of using a first round pick on this garbage even if it is the latest first round pick of all time.

I hate the move. Here is to hoping this was a one-off blood lust move and that it is not a drastic change in strategy. I'd rather the general manager of the team I cover screw up low-level moves than experience what Blackhawk fans did today.

However, it is interesting that on the same night Jason Botterill made his first ever draft pick he selected a player who couldn't do a pull-up and Pittsburgh was drunk on revenge.

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