Maybe one more piece in the garland trade

I think the Canucks do this deal

Especially if Marino isn't the one coming back

Kapanen and Garland are the same age (KK is about 4 months younger), have similar production this year even though Pens fans are disappointed, and Kapanen can probably be signed for the same contract as Garland is already signed to. Now I can see why Pittsburgh might add POJ to make the deal, but the first on top of that seems like an egregious overpayment to me.

look at Kapanen's splits with & w/o Rodrigues this year (5v5). 62.4% xGF% in 226 mins with him, 47.3% xGF% in 377 mins without. Enough of a sample for each case. E-Rod's pricing himself outta Pittsburgh, perfect time to cut bait with Kap

Fine. For purposes of this discussion, we'll accept that as the reason why Pittsburgh should add POJ to the deal.* My question remains, Why the first, too?

*Somehow, I think that playing with Horvat or Pettersson as his center would do more for him than Evan Rodrigues has.

POJ will be 23 next year having played 20 nhl games. he's young but he's not green. also the 1st will at very least be in the 20's, if not in the 25-32 range. value of draft picks goes down logarithmically. the value of that pick will be closer to a mid-rounder than a top 5 or even top 10 pick

Garland is a 20 goal scorer. A 20 goal scorer is not going to return that. I'm sorry, it's not realistic.
They can find a half dozen 20 goal guys on the market for way cheaper than that.

On top of it. He does not fit the profile. They want players with size.
he's all of 5'10
What are they suppose to do, go into the playoffs again with a whole top 6 minus Malkin that is 5' nothing.