In this edition of the hotstove we share our thoughts on the Rob Scuderi for Trevor Daley trade.
Todd Cordell
I really like this deal for the Penguins.
They have struggled all season to move the puck up ice and create offense from the back end and Trevor Daley is a big help in that regard.
He has his deficiency's defensively, and is far from a perfect player, but I think he can eat up some minutes and add some mobility and puck moving ability to the back end.
I think he's a big improvement over Rob Scuderi and from Chicago's perspective I'm not sure the dollars they saved are worth the downgrade.
John Jaeckel Pittsburgh
Unlike a lot of Hawk fans, including many who really never saw him over the decade prior to his coming to Chicago, I think Trevor Daley is a pretty good hockey player. You have to see him for what he is—sort of a poor man's Brian Campbell. And what he isn't—Johnny Oduya.
Oduya became an all around solid defenseman in Chicago, but his game really always was defense-first. And that said, as I pointed out on my message board thread last week, the Hawks needed a veteran, left-side blue liner who tends toward stay at home. Enter Scuderi. Problem is, the Hawks got the 2015 Scuderi, not the 2010 Scuderi.
But this move, as I was told by a source this morning, gives Stan Bowman some flexibility. Maybe Scuderi gets a little lift from a change of scenery. Maybe not. In the meantime, Bowman saves some cap room, and that could lead toward greater returns down the line.
If the Pens use Daley more as a rover, with a solid, responsible defender on his right flank, they will get a guy who can be a weapon, even strength and man advantage, and help stretch the ice for them.
James Tanner
Pittsburgh obviously made a very good trade. The savings aren't worth the downgrade for the Hawks.
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