I have to admit I like the Saad fit even if he's another old guy. My real question though is: Will a declining Torey Krug really be the piece that makes the Penguins elite again?

Idk but it seems like a hex tall trade
Saad I can see fs especially since he’s from Pit
But Krug provides a lot of backend offense (granted he’s been very average to bad at defense this year)

Hey, I'm a Flyers fan so I get your frustration with Hextall. Thing is he only tends to do moves when he basically has no choice (injuries, fighting for playoff spot) or if he just really really wants somebody (usually a tweener/prospect).

Yeah Saad is from PIT but idk. If they JUST got Saad as a Zucker replacement, I'd get that more. Krug though idk. You're the Pens fan, but don't they have a lot of D who provide offense from the back? Letang, Petry, and POJ I would think are offense guys.

Good deal for both team IMO.
STL move on from older guys and get good return for their retool/small rebuild
PIT get an immediate impactful return in exchange of long term success

Akward I’m actually a blues fan, I just follow both PA teams closely cause my family is from there

Saad makes more sense, Krug seems like a terrible pick up to me I don't know. When I think back to the 2016/17 runs Pittsburgh had, their defensemen were all pretty solid and deep on both ends of the ice (maybe Letang is not a defensive dynamo, but he's Letang). Krug doesn't justify his money with his output now either.

I would say the Pens have some offensively talented individuals on the back end like you mentioned - but the overall results/production has been pretty mediocre. Maybe even less than mediocre. I think a lot of this has to do with coaching and team playstyle though. There's just zero transition game and rushes with this team - which is where I feel like a lot of defenseman get their goals/points from. The Pens philosophy is just to have their defenseman take wrist shots from like 60ft. So as skilled as Krug is offensively - who knows what would happen once Sullivan gets a hold of him. But I'm just some guy who watches the games from his couch - so take it with a grain of salt

Even with how horrible hextall is, there is no way he makes this trade . Like come on now at least make it halfway reasonable 😂

That STL trade is not good for the Pens. Krug's value has taken a decent hit. It's fairly well-known the Blues would love to unload Krug and due to his declining play and contract, the return will not be wonderful. Now, I'm not saying he's a bad player by any stretch, but even at a $5M hit his contract is still bad.

Personally, I wouldn't target him and don't think he's a player the Pens can benefit from. Saad is still good player and I'd definitely welcome the Pens trading for him, but not for Pickering.

Not sure of Saad and Krug provide good long term value even at 9.5m, and too expect the Pens to give up two first, a second and third. Don't know if the Pens would even take on those two guys if "gifted" to them. Just spend 9.5m better on UFAs if possible.

I think if you removed Pickering and the second and added in POJ it would make alot more sense for Pittsburgh.

The main benefit for Pittsburgh is no matter what they do, they’re going to have to rebuild in a 2-4 years depending on Sid. They just don’t have enough assets or prospects that can make an impact to replenish all of the vets they have that have carried them. And honestly it probably makes sense given how well the last one went getting Crosby, and Fluery and Malkin.

I’d venture to guess that the Pens wouldn’t be adverse to moving Pickering. But I’m not sure Saad and Krug (even with the retention which I think is a great idea for the Blues as he does produce enough to warrant the contract, but you need to put him on a 3rd pair and PP1) hold the value to snag what’s realistically a top prospect for granted a poor prospect pool, a first and then a 2nd and 3rd on top.

Haha lol. Keep dreaming.

The last thing the Pens need is another 30+ year-old d-man who's inept defensively

saad tho