LeBrun:

PIT trades Jake Guentzel (25% retained) and Ty Smith to Carolina in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Carolina’s 1st RD pick in 2024 (Conditional) and Carolina’s 5th RD pick in 2024 (Conditional).
- chimpira

I looked at 3 different preseason top ten lists. All of these guys got a ranking from 4-6, but all also missed the top 10 completely. (Clear top 3 for Canes). What I gather is what's similar to what Vic was saying.

Ponomarev looks like a guy just blocked in Carolina who is ready to play now. Looks like a possible 3C. Also might be the only immediate help besides Bunting.

Koivunen has doubled his point total this season, so he I think has the best boom upside. He played a little in the AHL last year (but only 1 points in 12 games) so hopefully come over at 21 but probably needs time there.

Lucius is still a month from 20 and working on his second point per game season in college. Feels like the longest shot of the 3, but still probably a top ten prospect for us.

If the pick becomes a first I'll feel ok, but this feels kind of light without it. I'm not sure yet if these guys are above the Puustinen/Poulin tier of prospects. It does deepen the pool, but I still think Yager and maybe Blomquist or Pickering are the only guys I'd currently call potential core pieces.

Hate to say it, but I said this would happen back in like Dec around here and you were the only one to have a reasonable stance about it. Everyone else assured me he was a core piece and resigning unless he didn't want to be here.

To be fair, now that Jake is gone it's possible one or both of Rakell and Smith are moved tomorrow. Considering Smith doesn't want to be in the East, would make sense. At the least I think he's done as a pen by the draft or at the draft.
- Aaron_85

I don't think we saw this coming because it feels like a new management decision. Hard to believe it's the same guy that just brought in Karlsson.

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