They said Bunting was scratched, so he must be in the deal. Probably a 1st plus someone like Jarvis or a top prospect like Suzuki.
I am not upset the Rangers didn't get him given the potential return, but I am upset the Canes did. I wonder what Drury's move will be now. Makes adding Wennberg useless and a waste if he doesn't add a RW, and maybe another 4th liner or dman, that goes double since the Canes got Guentzel, and I would guess they'll re-sign him. Our road just got a lot tougher as the Canes are very good. Drury has to make his move now to get us back in front. Vatrano or Eberle or Buch plus?
Guentzal is in the last year of his $6 mil deal and he's been hurt since mid Feb, upper body injury. Eberle is on the last year of his $5.5 deal. Buch has another year at a pricy $5.8. Vatrano still has another year left at $3.65, I'd offer Kakko straight up, he's not progressing despite more minutes with the best players. Cuylle didn't need any coddling and he's already skated by Kappo talent wise.
Guentzel had a broken finger from what I read, and practiced fully today, so he'll be back for the Canes very soon, if not next game. With that said, I am fine we didn't get him. He'll want a raise from his last deal, so to re-sign him you are looking at over a $6M cap hit, and we cannot afford that. On Buch, I read their GM was willing to retain some cap hit, so we maybe could get him through next season for less than $5.8M. Overall, though I tend to agree with you that Vatrano is the best target, and I like that he is signed through next season as well. I think a 1st is a bit much for him though, so ideally, I'd want the Ducks to retain some of his cap hit, and I would look at their team and see if there is a player we could get along with Vatrano. Interesting question you raise though, would you rather deal the 1st round pick or Kakko? I still lean 1st round pick as a pick in the 20's is unlikely to be a big player, and taking Kakko off the current team is sort of counterproductive. Having him on the 3rd line with Wennberg and Cuylle is a good thing, and I don't think Vatrano is enough of a player to give up Kakko.
I will also add, the Canes better have given up their 1st and Bunting, not just Bunting. If it was just Bunting I would not be happy with Drury. I am sure the 1st is included also though.
I'm sure the Canes overpaid badly. The reality is if a team like the Canes play Florida, they are going to lose because their goalie is a schmuck when you get to the net. For Buchnevich I would offer nothing more than Berard and a Garand. Nothing more. These prices are absurd and these desperate GM's are embarrassing themselves. Doesn't matter who the Rangers get on RW. If Zibanejad continues to be an even strength bitch, we aren't going anywhere. That's why you don't give out moronic NMC and NTC's.
It is a chicken and the egg type thing IMO. Zibanejad has been terrible at even strength, but hopefully if they add a good RW that will improve, without adding a good RW it will not. I would give up the 1st for Buch since he is signed for next season as well, plus we can ask the Blues to retain cap hit to make it better for us. I think signed for next season is the key for Buch and Vatrano.
Guentzel is a good pickup for the Whalercanes. They need someone to help them get over the hump having gotten swept in last year's ECF. Guentzel is a SC winner who plays well in the playoffs.
If Drury can add, we should have a great 2nd round series against the Canes, assuming neither team gets upset in round 1. Ball is now in Mr. Drury's court to get something done tomorrow.
Duclair going to TB for a 2024 third-round pick and prospect defenseman Jack Thompson. Looking forward to seeing what Drury pulls off tomorrow, I would target Buch.
If Drury gives up first then they won’t have a first or second pick in the next draft. Treading dangerous waters. Why is Tampa buying. They need a small rebuild.
Full Canes/Pens trade: Pittsburgh trades Jake Guentzel (25% retained) and Ty Smith to Carolina in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, Carolina’s 1st RD pick in 2024 (Conditional) and Carolina’s 5th RD pick in 2024 (Conditional). The Penguins will receive Carolina's first-round pick if the Hurricanes make the Stanley Cup Final this season. If they don't, the first-rounder becomes the Philadelphia Flyers' second-round pick, which was previously acquired by the Hurricanes in the Tony DeAngelo trade in 2022. Pittsburgh will receive Carolina's fifth-round pick if the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup this season. So not even a guaranteed 1st, will only be a 1st if the Canes make the SCF, if not, it will be the Flyers 2nd. And the 5th only goes if the Canes win the Cup. So could be a 2nd round pick only, and the players. Two of the 3 kids were 2nd round picks, and Lucius is a 4th round pick and plays for Wisconsin. I am mixed because a 1st isn't even guaranteed. The Rangers equivalent would have been Kakko, a 1st or 2nd, and some other solid prospects (but not our top prospects). A decent return, but not a crazy a return. Again, I think the final verdict will all come down to what Drury does today by 3 PM.
Maybe or maybe not; the Canes are in the Met division also. But we would have had to include Kakko. And since we have no upcoming 2nd round picks, I would guess our 1st would have been the pick, so maybe we would have had to give one or two prospects instead of 3, and not one of our top guys. Solid, maybe bottom 6 potential guys, but not the big guys. That's my guess seeing what the Canes gave. And I am okay with passing as I don't see giving up Kakko and the 1st as a good move for a rental, let alone having to include a couple of other okay prospects maybe, but now Drury needs to get work done today, and it needs to be someone who can add real value, otherwise do nothing.
