Ryan Wilson: How does Olli Maatta's injury impact the Penguins at the trade deadline? How does Olli Maatta's injury impact the Penguins at the trade deadline?

Daniel Sprong or Jake Guentzel are nowhere near enough to land a top level defenceman that will be around for years. Maybe two of Daniel Sprong, Jake Guentzel or Derrick Pouliot plus a 1st might get it done. If you want a top pair d-man that will be under contract for a few years you will need to give up significant assets, unless that d-man carries a huge cap hit that was over valued (which the Pens can't fit under the cap anyway).

Daniel Sprong or Jake Guentzel are nowhere near enough to land a top level defenceman that will be around for years. Maybe two of Daniel Sprong, Jake Guentzel or Derrick Pouliot plus a 1st might get it done. If you want a top pair d-man that will be under contract for a few years you will need to give up significant assets, unless that d-man carries a huge cap hit that was over valued (which the Pens can't fit under the cap anyway).
- malcolmthornton

Sprong+1st as a starting point could PROBABLY acquire a top 4 D with term, on a team looking to rebuild.

Ryan Wilson: How does Olli Maatta's injury impact the Penguins at the trade deadline?
How does Olli Maatta's injury impact the Penguins at the trade deadline?
- Ryan_Wilson

This could mean Malkin gets traded to Chicago. Geno is safe for now.

Sprong+1st as a starting point could PROBABLY acquire a top 4 D with term, on a team looking to rebuild.
- j.boyd919

You want Gudbranson?

Yeah, if Maatta didn't have bad luck on the injury front, he wouldn't have any luck at all. For a player who is pretty cerebral and unassuming on the ice, opposing players do seem to go out of their way at times to light him up.

Don't necessarily agree about the injury taking Maatta off the board as a possible trade asset. If you are the Avs or Buffalo or another time either out of the playoffs or a long shot to make them, the fact that Maatta is essentially lost for the remainder of the regular season really shouldn't be all that important. As noted previously, Maatta is only 22 years old, and has a high pedigree as a former 1st round draft pick. So if team really liked him for the future, I can't see them shying away now because Maatta is on the shelf. That said, Maatta's rather extensive injury history would likely given any GM pause for concern.

As it related to the Pens, if it wasn't already pretty much a given, I suspect GMJR will be looking for a quality defenseman that can hopefully play top 4 minutes. Whether that guy is going to be available or not at the deadline is another question however.

And finally, I understand the reluctance at not trading a young player like a Guentzel or a Sprong or including 1st round draft picks in a potential deadline trade. However, the Pens' window to win another Cup with Sid and Geno is not going to be open forever. If GMJR can make an impact trade that helps for the here and now, and increases the likelihood of another deep Cup run, I think you have to make that deal. Thus, I would be OK for sacrificing a bit of the future for a chance to win another Cup this year or even next.

Is a top 4 dman with term even an asset we want right now?

You can only protect 4 dmen in the expansion draft. Letang, dumo, maatta, and schultz are all guys who honestly need to be protected. Maatta is our best trade chip for a reason. And schultz even with only 1 year before UFA is a guy we need next year and we don't want lvs signing. One more defenseman just put us in a tough expansion bind.

We need to add a legit 3rd pairing guy now though. DP looks like a solid 8th dman.

Yeah, if Maatta didn't have bad luck on the injury front, he wouldn't have any luck at all. For a player who is pretty cerebral and unassuming on the ice, opposing players do seem to go out of their way at times to light him up.

Don't necessarily agree about the injury taking Maatta off the board as a possible trade asset. If you are the Avs or Buffalo or another time either out of the playoffs or a long shot to make them, the fact that Maatta is essentially lost for the remainder of the regular season really shouldn't be all that important. As noted previously, Maatta is only 22 years old, and has a high pedigree as a former 1st round draft pick. So if team really liked him for the future, I can't see them shying away now because Maatta is on the shelf. That said, Maatta's rather extensive injury history would likely given any GM pause for concern.

As it related to the Pens, if it wasn't already pretty much a given, I suspect GMJR will be looking for a quality defenseman that can hopefully play top 4 minutes. Whether that guy is going to be available or not at the deadline is another question however.

And finally, I understand the reluctance at not trading a young player like a Guentzel or a Sprong or including 1st round draft picks in a potential deadline trade. However, the Pens' window to win another Cup with Sid and Geno is not going to be open forever. If GMJR can make an impact trade that helps for the here and now, and increases the likelihood of another deep Cup run, I think you have to make that deal. Thus, I would be OK for sacrificing a bit of the future for a chance to win another Cup this year or even next.
- shamula62

The goal should be to maximize the cup chance for the next 5 years. Sprong/Guentzel add too much to the next 4 years of window that trading them for a rental won't be a good idea...unless its Shattenkirk. Even then I'd say no. Guentzel is already close to being a fine top 6 guy and sprong can be the sniper malkin loves. Those guys are going to really help us compete for cups this year and even moreso into the future.

I think it would be a good problem to have and one that shouldn't be a problem for too long after the season.

Yeah, if Maatta didn't have bad luck on the injury front, he wouldn't have any luck at all. For a player who is pretty cerebral and unassuming on the ice, opposing players do seem to go out of their way at times to light him up.

Don't necessarily agree about the injury taking Maatta off the board as a possible trade asset. If you are the Avs or Buffalo or another time either out of the playoffs or a long shot to make them, the fact that Maatta is essentially lost for the remainder of the regular season really shouldn't be all that important. As noted previously, Maatta is only 22 years old, and has a high pedigree as a former 1st round draft pick. So if team really liked him for the future, I can't see them shying away now because Maatta is on the shelf. That said, Maatta's rather extensive injury history would likely given any GM pause for concern.

As it related to the Pens, if it wasn't already pretty much a given, I suspect GMJR will be looking for a quality defenseman that can hopefully play top 4 minutes. Whether that guy is going to be available or not at the deadline is another question however.

And finally, I understand the reluctance at not trading a young player like a Guentzel or a Sprong or including 1st round draft picks in a potential deadline trade. However, the Pens' window to win another Cup with Sid and Geno is not going to be open forever. If GMJR can make an impact trade that helps for the here and now, and increases the likelihood of another deep Cup run, I think you have to make that deal. Thus, I would be OK for sacrificing a bit of the future for a chance to win another Cup this year or even next.
- shamula62

I agree with you. What difference would it make to a Colorado if Maatta misses 6 weeks? They surely are not going to need him this year, so I still think he is a great asset to trade, but please NOT for a rental. We don't need giving up young guys for them anymore.

You want Gudbranson?
- Codes1087

Absolutely not lol

Absolutely not lol
- j.boyd919

please?

Is a top 4 dman with term even an asset we want right now?

You can only protect 4 dmen in the expansion draft. Letang, dumo, maatta, and schultz are all guys who honestly need to be protected. Maatta is our best trade chip for a reason. And schultz even with only 1 year before UFA is a guy we need next year and we don't want lvs signing. One more defenseman just put us in a tough expansion bind.

We need to add a legit 3rd pairing guy now though. DP looks like a solid 8th dman.
- sditulli

Do we really want to protect the often injured Maatta? Or even the regressed Dumo? Those 2 are a toss up to me.

please?
- Codes1087

I agree with you. What difference would it make to a Colorado if Maatta misses 6 weeks? They surely are not going to need him this year, so I still think he is a great asset to trade, but please NOT for a rental. We don't need giving up young guys for them anymore.
- stevens87

I am pretty sure you can't trade players who are suspended or currently on injured reserve... I don't think it is a matter of the team being willing to take on an injured player.

This makes my head spin but IF we traded Maatta to a team like COL who wouldnt care about him being out 6 weeks.....wouldnt we then lose whatever LTIR benefits? Meaning we cant bring in anyone with any salary unless Fleury is shipped out.

I am pretty sure you can't trade players who are suspended or currently on injured reserve... I don't think it is a matter of the team being willing to take on an injured player.
- Codes1087

Yeah you can, Blue Jackets traded Horton to the Leafs. Yotes took on Prongers contract.

Yeah you can, Blue Jackets traded Horton to the Leafs. Yotes took on Prongers contract.
- j.boyd919

I stand corrected.

I stand corrected.
- Codes1087

We'll take Tanev though

I just want to comment on something that RW said, and I've seen others say it too.

In general, you never want to sacrifice "the future" to win now. Whether it be top-end prospects, low round picks, young pros, etc, you do not want to move them season after season. The Flyers of the 90s/00s did this and the problem is that, if you don't win it all, you take a step back.

However, the Penguins have a strong and deep enough core that I think they could handle it. Also, as great as the Penguins have been year-in/year-out, they went 6 seasons between Cups with the same core. Granted, shaky goaltending and injuries can account for them. But for a team that has been in a "win now" mode for the better part of a decade, I do think that you have to go all-in at times.

It's like dealing with a UFA on a contender. On the one hand, you don't want to lose that player at the end of the year for nothing. On the other hand, losing that player for the playoffs doesn't give you the best chance to win.

What I'm getting as is that, if you truly feel that you are one of the top-3/4 teams with a chance to win, and you see a player that you think can put you over the top (be it an impact player or not), I think you have to bite the bullet and sacrifice part of the future. Winning a Cup requires a certain amount of health and luck, and it's not often that stars align for you to win. So if you see a player that you think can help you overcome some health or luck issues, at the cost of part of "the future" you have to try to win it in the now.

I'm not saying they should be actively shopping Guentzel, Sprong, and their 1sts. However, if there's a trade that the think will help them win now, this season, those pieces shouldn't be untouchable. While there's no guarantee that you will win this year if you do make the trade, there's also not guarantee that "the future" will help you win in years to come.

To sum up because tldr: While you shouldn't blindly throw assets around for rentals, short of Crosby and Malkin (and Letang and Murray), no one on the Penguins should be 100% untouchable because the Penguins window is now.

Yeah you can, Blue Jackets traded Horton to the Leafs. Yotes took on Prongers contract.
- j.boyd919

The Coyotes really wanted superstar Niklas Grossmann.

Edit: I believe both Pronger and Horton were traded in the off-season when they weren't on LTIR.

This makes my head spin but IF we traded Maatta to a team like COL who wouldnt care about him being out 6 weeks.....wouldnt we then lose whatever LTIR benefits? Meaning we cant bring in anyone with any salary unless Fleury is shipped out.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You'd actually gain money because you'd lose Maata's full remaining cap hit as opposed to the LTIR relief portion (cap hit - available cap space).

Brendan Smith for a 2nd

I'd rather lose Sprong than Guetzky. I wouldn't lose one wink of sleep if they shipped off Sprong in a package for Barrie... Or even Duchene...or any good top 4 D, really.

Brendan Smith for a 2nd
- Feds91Stammer

I'd probably do it. Rather give ya a 3rd tho...