FWIW, my opinion is that I'm not so sure at this point, and this has been growing on me for awhile, that trading Sutter is such a good idea. I KNOW you have to "give to get," and we all agree that the Pens need at least one more top 6 wing. BUT -- Sutter continues to impress me more and more. Now, instead of me just seeing him as being a very good but soft defensive center with a good wrist shot, he's showing me two additional things -- more skill with the puck than I though he showed earlier on, making quite a few, relatively frequent nifty little plays to beat defenders, AND -- a more physical edge to his board play/forechecking than before. When adding all of this together plus his scoring touch, I am becoming less and less in favor of moving him for winger help. I think he provides some things as a 3rd center that are sneaky and will help win us some games in the post-season; as much as I like Goc (who is also sneakily good at times), and while Spaling could play 3C decently IMO, and while Sundqvist REALLY impressed me in the pre-season, I'm starting to think that Sutter being moved is not a good idea. He seems to be really coming into his own, to me, and his age suggests that he SHOULD be moving into his prime...such that there may still be a bit more "upside" to his game. I do understand MJ's reasoning of wanting BB on that line...Dupuis/Sutter/Bennett has the potential IMO to make an OUTSTANDING third line -- dare I say adding an element in the post-season that could make a real difference, in the way Stall's line did during the Cup year? Obviously, though, to roll that line, we need to add AT LEAST one winger for Geno, and ideally two (to bump Comeau down, though I like what he's brought to the team). To get Geno's help, I would be looking to send Martin, Dumoulin, picks...and obviously any of the lesser D prospects (Samuelsson, etc.), obviously Scuds if he had any value...
I'm not sure if we have enough to dangle, from those I mentioned, to get two wingers for Geno, but certainly Martin+Dumoulin+2015 2nd would have enough value to theoretically land us at least ONE quality L2 LW...
As much as I hate to say it, I think there is a coming log-jam at 3C, with Sundqvist looking ready. I almost feel like the team has to decide on one versus the other (Sutter/Sundqvist), and deal the other away in that trade for Geno's wings. Unfortunately, Sutter obviously brings MUCH more in terms of trade value than Sundqvist would at this point, but I just am reaching a point where I think Sutter would be a hard player to want to move (except in a blockbuster-type trade, where we land a true, long-term, big-time winger for Geno).
