Vegas has no need to move Hague, especially with Martinez becoming a UFA. His size is valuable come playoff time. They’re looking to add a big piece to their already existing lineup without moving a key piece, and Guentzel or Smith can be had without moving Hague. With their forward depth I don’t think they need both Guentzel and Smith.

COL isn’t paying starter price for a back up goalie, there are worse trades out there but COL is not moving a prime trade asset they will just roll with Annunen.

I'm not sure what makes sense for COL, but that's what Ned will get. He'll be the best rental goalie available at the deadline and unless Dubas attempts more of a hockey trade, he'll get a 2nd no problem, but again, I don't know what makes sense for COL. Other teams the back-up need may be greater.

If you choose not to spend your picks in that manner then so be it, but Nedeljkovic is a bonafide starter on a lot of NHL teams right now. He’s played outstanding this year. It’d be a 1A-1B situation. You can completely trust him to start all playoffs, he’s at a great number, plus PIT would likely retain to get him below league minimum. Like I said, it depends on how you want to spend your assets, but Ned is worth it if a goalie is needed on a serious contender.

bonafide starters aren’t on their 3rd team in 4 years, you’re confusing having a solid year with what he actually is. COL has used a high pick (1st or 2nd) with the current regime to obtain a goal tender exactly one time and there were exigent circumstances. If you think Ned is going to net a 2nd a player good luck with that, but COL isn’t the team.

Teams don’t pay 2nd rd picks for guys that they intend to be the back up goalie. Doesn’t happen. Could somebody panic and do it for him as a starter (looking at LAK and NJD) maybe but COL won’t ever pay that price they have a history of doing it the discount route and let’s be honest Annunen waiver exemption just gives them that much more flexibility. Easy no from COL.

You mean like when Robin Lehner was traded as a rental to Vegas to back-up Fleury for a 2nd and more?

The problem with your argument is there isn't a lot of precedent for back-ups on Ned's level getting moved at the deadline. Again, as I explained, I'm not sure what makes sense for COL, but a 2nd is likely what the Pens will get for Ned.

You must’ve misread what I wrote, so I suppose I will write it again.

“ If you choose not to spend your picks in that manner then so be it, but Nedeljkovic is a bonafide starter on a lot of NHL teams right now.”

Everything I said pertaining to Ned is true. As I also said, If COL chooses to spend assets elsewhere, then so be it. He’s had more than enough of a sample size to show that he is playing very consistent starter level hockey and he has knocked it out of the park. I’m sure you’ve watched him diligently this year. He’s cheap as all hell at 1.5 million and getting him at 750K is more than likely. If, as a contender, COL chooses to roll the dice with below average, significantly unproven #2 goaltenders (all below .900 on a great team) instead of getting a guy for 750k that can reliably hold it down in playoffs if need be, then so be it. Not to mention, even Georgiev is below .900 behind that great team and defense. Ned has done much better behind a clearly worse team. Good luck.

Lehner was really traded as the back up though was he, that move led to Fleury’s exit. Could PIR get a 2nd for him sure, but it won’t be a team looking for a backup but the one thing nobody can predict is the psychology of the trade deadline, some team usually panics and overpays

Lehner was brought in just after Fleury signed his $7M extension.

Again, you're arguing something with very little precedent when there's more trades that show teams WILL pay that.

I love word scrabble when guys like you don’t think people read their post when they did, they go through a bunch of mental gymnastics to justify their stance when it comes down to why their team is going to get an unrealistic trade, then trying to look smart using some stats of ambiguous data with no context. Cup contenders don’t trade 2nd rd picks for back up goaltenders with zero history of any playoff success. And even after all that I’ll grant you somebody could give PIT a 2nd to be a potential starter (NJD, LAK) but I think it would be a grave mistake and I promise you COL won’t do it.

What precedent, you have Lehner, half a decade ago to a expansion team, I’m being sincere here, at the trade deadline when beside Lehner has a goalie in the last 5 years returned a 2nd rd pick or more? I can’t think of a single one.

If I'm Vegas, I'm passing on that deal.....Too rich IMO

Well, I gave you precedent. Do you have examples of back-ups on Ned's level getting moved for less? Right now he's a top ten goalie in the league.

Mental gymnastics? If you consider simply restating what I said, citing factual statistics pertaining to the goaltenders at hand, and implying that a goaltender consistently playing at Ned’s level being available at 1.5 million or 750k is valuable to be “mental gymnastics” or “word scrabble”, rather than logic, then I can’t help you.

As for your comment pertaining to said stats, I literally provided factual stats with context, yet you deem what I wrote as “ambiguous data with no context.” Here, I’ll spell it out for you:

COL = Much better team than PIT
COL defense = better defense than PIT defense
COL goalies = all below .900 save percentage
Nedeljkovic = .915 save percentage (remember, on a much worse team).

Nedeljkovic numbers on a subpar team + Nedeljkovic’s cap hit + meh goalie market + contender’s need for goaltending = Nedeljkovic is valuable!

I don’t care if COL trades for Ned, but he’s worth acquiring and someone will do so. Take care.

He is not a top 10 goalie in the league, Helly, Ott, Demko, Vas, Shesty, Sorokin, Markstrom, Ullmark, Swayman, Hill, Saros come on man you don’t believe that. And those are off the top of my head. In the last 10 years at or near the deadline Dubnyk was traded twice, once for a 3rd, the other time for a 5th or 6th I believe, Ben Bishop in 2013 for a some guy and a 4th. But in terms of guys betting big returns draft pick wise all Incould think of was Roloson like 15 years ago.

Comparing goalies and saying performance is superior because a team is better/worse than another is at best disingenuous. COL made a serious error with Provetsov and Bednar has straight overplayed Georgiev I mean come on Georgie has played 47 games Ned 19. Do I think Ned nets a 2nd probably not, is it possible someone gets desperate and does, sure. But I’m positive COL won’t do it not with a massive need at 2c and knowing that Georgie is the starter come playoffs.

He IS a top 10 goalie in SV%. Also, if you're going to compare a trade from friggin 2013 you obviously realize you have no leg to stand on. Stop. I gave you a relevant and recent apples to apples example and you've given an unbelievably dated example with a goalie who was barely even established yet. People on this board are so stubborn to prove their point without realizing that maybe they have no information to back it up. Plain and simple. You have no relevant example to offer.

EDIT: When Bishop was traded in 2013, he was BARELY an established NHL goalie. He had 36 NHL games under his belt across four NHL seasons. You're stretching here. Be a man, admit you're wrong here. Ned has an established body of work including a solid season as a starter with DET and a very good playoff run with CAR.