You're right Andersson is not available and would cost more than that if he was

If you don't get Karlsson you likely run it back with the same D core. That doesn't get Rasmus Andersson and it isn't close. You are also right; he is not available. Not much reason for Detroit to do that trade but i don't hate it. We would have to have 4.75M Chiarot as a healthy scratch. Maybe a Petry for Chiarot swap could be worked out but really, we need the toughness Ben brings to the back end.

Detroit may have done this trade before UFA began. But not now.

I think the teams in deep trouble if we don't get Karlsson. I think I'm at the point where I believe we need a true star to make this team into a contender. Like someone who would drastically take some of the pressure off the core and completely change the dynamic of the D. Karlsson would make us have a core 4 instead of 3. Even then we still have other flaws that would make it tough, but I could see a scenario where we win the cup if we get Karlsson.

If not Karlsson I think we'd pretty much have to build the perfect bottom 6 and add an elite puck mover on D given other negative factors such as age of the roster and lack of speed. Which at this point I don't think is possible given the moves that have already been made.

Dubas has made some nice adds with Graves, Acciarri, Smith and Ned. Eller I'm on the fence about but considering the options this offseason it's not that bad. I agree with the Karlsson statement. Need a bit more star power and he could really change the dynamic of this team.

I agree. For sure some nice adds, but not enough to really turn this team around or even close imo. Great supplemental adds if we can get a big player like Karlsson. Not a huge fan of the Eller deal though. I think he's a good player, but just not what we needed. Could have gotten Duchene, Domi, or others for slightly more. And Dubas may have tried to get them, but they wanted to go elsewhere, which in that case not really his fault. But as a 3C I don't think Eller is ideal. Perfect 4C, but at 3C with no good offensive pieces around him I think it will be tough.

Chiarot is a overpaid by about $3m/yr. for three more years as a 3LD. Petry is overpaid by about $1.25m/yr. for two years and he's a 2RD. No competent GM is making that deal. Maybe Hextall, Burke, or Fletcher.

I wouldn't go that far with the Chiarot evaluation, and I have never been a fan of his. He's a $3M defenseman. I hated the signing at the time, and I still do. There just isn't much reason for Detroit to take on Petry now with our current roster anymore, that's why I say that.

I understand that. Appreciate the response.

The Penguins could improve their defenseman if Karlsson could not be acquired. Dubas and scouts will need to have several defensemen in mind that are younger and would take much to acquire. This season is one to establish the defensemen of the future involving Joseph, Smith, and Pickering.