Value of: Kotkaniemi to PIT

[Gurglesons]

Nothing creative about dumping a bust for a bigger bust.

Kotkaniemi wouldn't be a bust if you are targeting him to be a bottom six center.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

I actually feel like Graves for Kotkaniemi makes a good bit of sense on paper. Dubas has noted that the Penguins are trying to get younger, which Kotkaniemi would clearly help with, while the Canes have basically all of their defensemen being UFAs after either this year or next year. With Skjei and Pesce likely pricing themselves out this year, Carolina is going to need defensemen to replace them.

Penguins get a good 3C while the Canes get a decent #4 LD, both with similar contracts. That seems like a pretty reasonable reclamation project swap.

Graves for kk doesn’t make any sense for the canes though. If graves was a righty, maybe the argument can be made. Not for a 3LD and will be for a long time for us.