The Blues will not be taking back Kap. Feel free to try again.

I mean they could, it's 3 million and they have a lot of expiring bottom 6 forwards. Don't see them moving Tarasenko for a 1st + without a small contract coming back

Not terrible. I would love if Hallander and Pickering were switched. But Hallander is still a solid prospect.

I think I’m okay with it. He’s not my cup of tea, but he might be in a scoring role here and be valuable as a trade target next season.

I think Pens should be willing to do that swap

euh no? Hallander and Pickering are not close to the same value haha, put Pickering in this deal and pens are giving up 2 1st for Tarasenko and he isn't worth that

I like this as a Blues fan.

Watching Tarasenko play with Geno would be interesting.

I think Tarasenko’s value will unfortunately be lower than expected because the cap is tight leaguewide and there are a number of rumored scoring wingers available such as Boesser, Kane.

I could see a deal like this going through, especially if there were private indications that Tarasenko would resign to a potential trading partner.

I also think that Tarasenko could be moved for less than a 1st. I value Buchnevich over Tarasenko, and the situation is somewhat similar. Buchnevich costed a young, middle 6 roster player and a 2nd. I could see Tarasenko traded this tdl for a similar package, perhaps with a sweetener for salary retention if needed.

If he was a UFA this summer, sure. They're not taking back that much cap for next season for a maybe 3rd liner.

Obviously it’s not my money, but I could care less about next season. I don’t think there’s any magical way the Blues get way better and make the playoffs. Eat the money, retain salary, get a 2nd round pick.

We need the cap space for next season, man. And nothing magical would be needed for them to make the playoffs next season. All these guys that get traded or walk need to be replaced. And there's no 2nd in this offer anyway.

They’re basically done already and it’s January… underlying numbers are terrible in every facet of the game, there’s no discernible strengths, they’re losing an entire forward line…

How is next year’s team gonna be better than this awful team?

If they try to rush back to being competitive they’re gonna end up with a 12 year Buffalo Sabres rebuild.

I think he meant trade Kapanen at the next deadline half salary retained for a 2nd

They're not the same value, I agree, but if this allows pens to add a top 6 guy, get rid of Kapanen and still afford to sit Carter, I think they should do it.

Not sure what better players a late 1st and Pickering could fetch while also dumping Kapanen

Pretty low cost and he's definitely a 3rd liner, great defense in Pittsburgh but they needed him to be a scorer in the bottom 6 and he can't provide that rn. Some new linemates (especially fast young guys in St-Louis) then he can bounce back to Toronto form and put up 20 goals

1 - Underlyings mean exactly nothing to the standings. No discernible strengths? Bruh. You're assuming the worst.

2 - Is this some sort of high hurdle to you? And by the way, despite how we're all bashing them to the heavens and the season is cooked, it's still a .500 team. If you think there's no way for them to bounce back or improve, it's like you've never seen NHL hockey. But you have. Enhance your calm, buddy. Into every life some rain must fall. Just simple execution of the system would work wonders. I mean, that's basically everything wrong with them this season - lack of cohesion, lack of consistent intensity, making dumb mistakes. None of these are terminal, especially for a bunch of guys who were damn good last season and beyond.

3 - Again, this is presuming the worst case scenario as fact. Climb down off the ledge, man.

Like I said, the Blues will have a lot of upper line management to worry about. Eating up 3M+ in cap space for a guy who could maybe be okay for the 3rd line would be a dereliction of priority.

Underlyings predict future success, that’s the point of using them… I’m not even being negative, just realistic. They massively over performed in 21-22 and I’d argue this is closer to where the Blues are on “true talent” than that season was. Furthermore, I’m like really excited to see a bunch of new blood enter the organization and I think the Blues could build a seriously dangerous squad in a few years if they do it right.

Presuming the worst case scenario as fact by policy is the literal definition of being negative. De-legitimizing their successes and attributes is the literal definition of being negative. Doing BOTH at the same time goes beyond "being negative". Like I said, climb down from the ledge, man. It's gonna be okay. And far sooner than a few years from now.

And also, analytics are highly flawed stats on multiple levels, including the building block basics of the formulas (things like xG, which need a ton of work still). They are not even remotely gospel, and they sure as hell do not "predict future success" - let alone across seasons.

lol ‘insert Luke Skywalker gif’ for that second paragraph.

Bad teams have bad analytics, it’s that simple

https://twitter.com/ineffectivemath/status/1618963976334852097?s=46&t=J5LMsHhrKPSXSZUPCtyyHQ

Heh. I highly doubt that. In fact, I'd bet dollars to donuts they would not. I do love me some donuts.

No, it's not. They tend to, but analytics have tons of blind spots.

So it's not fair to Blues because that's too much to take on next season and it's not fair to pens because they're giving up too much value?

Pens paying assets for a top 6 player is likely, Blues trading Tarasenko is likely. So what's wrong with this deal lol?

First of all, I never said anything about fairness. I also have no idea where you think I said anything about it being too much value from the Pens. Or how you figure Kap is " a top 6 player". It's a bad deal for the Blues. The minimal cap they'll presumably have can be spent far better than that, thanks.

After last night I doubt the Sharks say yes give me some DeSmith

For what it's worth, Scott Wheeler's doing his annual prospect pool rankings right now, and he did list Hallander as the Pens' best forward prospect, even over Poulin. I don't think the Pens would be willing to sell Pickering. One of only two 1st rounders the Pens have had in a while.