Ask your self for a second why on earth would chicago give up a young Dmen who has fit like a glove on the #1 RD role and is also on a cheap ELC for 3 years for a player that has been failing to live up to his hype and is only one a 1 year deal. Sprong doesnt knock either one of DeBrincat or Kane down on the RW spot. There is no reason for Chicago to do this unless Pit over pays and throws in someone more valuable. Jokiharju would be the best RD on the Pens within 3 years when Letang starts to fall off. D are always worth more than wingers.
Sprong is still RFA and on a 2 year deal (this and next)He's not failing, there's simply no room on the RW for him here. Kessel, Hornqvist and Rust. Rust has to be force feed LW to get him in the top 9. In Chi he at least has a better chance at the top nine at least at L3 RW.
So I asked what you were thinking? Meaning what that extra would be?
Asking even for a guy like Maatta with Sprong entails us asking for more. Why would any GM get into that. We here know all too well about the Winterhawks and D-men. Let me give you the short skinny, they are no longer here. (Morrow/Pouliot) Maybe Chi town is in a bad way on D to have to go that route and play him out of the shute, he'd be down the totem pole here.
As far as him being more valuable in 3 years over Letang and such is meaningless unless you can provide that crystal ball and future? Didn't think so.
So, if he's just more valuable to the Hawks at the current moment, that's cool. It doesn't make him more valuable here. Here he is depth, not a needed mainstay yet like the Hawks.
I was looking at what could be apples to apples. Fair trade. But if you need Jokiharju more, I can totally understand that.
Valuewise, I think they are on the same plain.