It's an okay trade.

Carolina needs to add scoring, and the consensus is that they're willing to subtract from their incredibly deep and talented defense to do so. Why would they subtract offense for another defenseman? It doesn't make sense for them. Salary isn't an issue since they have so much cap space available

Carolina has no reason to do this. Also every Pit fan is trying to Maatta for an obscene return, if you dont want him why would anyone else

Staal contract runs too long...6 more years of 6 million. No thanks. We can get a player like Sam Gagner for 3.1 million and get just as good of production and not have to have the long term cap hit.

He has value, but he has a cap hit that the Championship teams can do with out. The fact that they ask so much says they value him to much. Who would you move from the Pittsburghs D?
Letang =NMC
Schultz = JUST resigned and in his prime.
Dumoulin = RFA defensive Dman who's bound to make under $4m.
Hunwick = just signed and low trade value.
Cole = well rounded, most physical, and with an extremely reasonable cap hit this year allowing you to add more depth.

That leaves Maatta, who's cap space to the Pens is worth more. His playing on a non-playoff team looking to build, at his reasonable priced long term deal, at 23 yr with 2 Stanley Cups, 6-2 206# puck mover who may get better ... There might be more value there then a player who won't be around. The best player on the worst team is usually average on the best, aside from RFA. So the worst on the best is probably at least average.



Agree completely. Deal doesn't happen, and there's cheaper fish in the sea.