This is probably true, and also why I don’t hate the deal
Despite the groupthink hate for James neal, I hated giving up that shot, but we had to to get Horny, who we needed cause we lacked net front guys.
I despise giving up a bonafide offensive superstar like Kessel, but he was more a playmaker than a shooter here.. and since malkin and crosby are better playmakers and since they both tend to go through phases where they pass up shots like crazy, I want a shoot first guy with a heck of a shot that can fire it BEFORE the d and goalie get reset after an amazing pass
We only really have jake that does that and its not like he can play 30 minutes a night
I don't think anyone hated Neal because he of the kind of player he was, I think people hated him because he did nothing in the playoffs and was a dirty and lazy player. The shot, production and chemistry with Malkin were all good things with Neal, it was just the bad stuff that made people want him gone.
I do agree with your stance though, but I'd also add the comment that the goal should be a winger who can be both a playmaker and a goal scorer. That's what makes Guentzel so special, he can both produce a ton with Crosby and also drive offense if Crosby is being suffocated. That's what I'm optimistic Galchenyuk can be here, I think he can be Malkin's Guentzel.
Edit: I do find it kinda funny that some of the Galchenyuk critics also were Sprong supporters, because Galchenyuk is basically a lefty Sprong if Sprong hit his upside. People wanted to see Sprong with Malkin because they seemed like great fits for each other, now the Penguins have an actual top-6 caliber Sprong to play with Malkin.
How is that ironic? Galchenyuk is probably better defensively than Kessel, but both are bad defensively and neither is going to be offering anything defensively. I don't see the irony there at all, that comment is more so "I'm not going to give Galchenyuk credit for being better defensively than Kessel" than anything.