Carter was signed before the offseason though right - so wouldn't you have to go back to 2 offseasons ago?

Side note - calling Rust soft is a bit crazy don't ya think? Inconsistent for sure

He was signed during season last year before Malkin and Letang, a joke. And yeah Rust is good at times, but team needed a new element and too many of the same type of players. Rust is a product of Crosby and Malkin.

Copp wanted to go home to Michigan, So he was never going to sign with Pittsburgh. And 4.5 years of Copp for a pending UFA in Duomoulin isn't happening.

It wasn’t a trade lol

So even a signing was never going to happen, Andrew Copp said straight out said he was only signing with his home town Red Wings.

I don't think the timing really matters - that's way overblown imo. The signing was bad sure, but not sure it matters if it happened before or after Malkin and Letang. We don't know how the talks went behind the scenes - and you can't just put off signing any players until Malkin or Letang are signed.. My point though was Carter was already signed before the offseason - so you wouldve had to figure out a way to get rid of him this past offseason. He can't just disappear. That's why I said you would have to go back 2 offseasons.

What is the new element these other guys bring that Rust doesn't - and who is Rust the same player as? He 100% overachieved due to playing with Sid and Geno - there's no doubt about that. I agree