Expensive centers. Also Nugent-Hopkins will be coming back to Edmonton if he is offered that.

Not sure why you would expose Zucker. He played at a 33 goal 66 point pace for you, after you gave up 3 assets, including a 1st for him.

I never understand why fans of teams with 2 elite centers, who play in all situations and over 20 minutes a night each would pay such a premium for a guy who will either not play much as a 3C or will take minutes away from the 2 elite centers. I see Leafs fans do this too.

I'm going to assume that the dumolin trade is any team because that first will most likely be top 10 or top 5

Overpayment for RNH

I don't see RNH getting 7 x $7.

RNH $7Mx7 is a no from both sides. Don't want a $7M 3C, and he isn't going to want to be a 3C.

Giving Zucker away for a 3rd in the ED is ridiculous.

Trading Dumoulin is also a non-starter. You state that you are trading Dumoulin to make room for Pettersson and Matheson. I would sooner trade both of them for a single 7th than trade Dumoulin for a 1st+4th.

"Seattle would be crazy not to do this."

Obviously and the team exposing Zucker for a third would be insane for doing that too.

This is dumb. Overpaying for RNH is maybe even worse.

RNH is either a 50 some point 3C, or a point per game top LW. On the Oil,I would give him 7x7 to fill that LW spot in a heartbeat. But nobody wants a 3C for this.

Fair enough. Would still love to see the pens invest that in a top flight center, even if RNH isn’t available

Well when the centers are in their mid thirties things change fast. This scenario is two years from now. Malkin will be 36.

Won’t be the 3c for that long. Go look up how old Sid and Geno are. Nobody defeats Father Time. Even Jagr will meet his demise

Opportunity cost. I’d protect Sid, Geno, jake, rust, Kapanen, McCann and blueger. I put a very high value on quality centers, as you can tell. McCann still has potential at that position, and is also on a fantastic value contract. Blueger is young and has a ton of value as a low cost quality defensive center. He’s the ideal centerpiece for a checking line with upside. The cap space from shedding Zucker is huge, and with Poulin and Legare on the way we can afford to lose a quality winger (provided that you replace him with a quality UFA center or Dman)

at no point do you make this team better moving Dumo, who is on a steal of a contract.
And the penguins aren't going to pay someone 7 million per to play 12-13 minutes a night.