Friedman: Leafs an unlikely fit for Pietrangelo

[justafan22]

.3. Nick Kypreos shook the masses last weekend, wondering on Headlines if Alex Pietrangelo would be a fit for Toronto. With a few more days to work off it, my guess is this: St. Louis put him in William Nylander discussions, but the Maple Leafs decided to keep the winger. I see two reasons. First, Nylander is six years younger. Second, they might not be able to fit Pietrangelo’s extension (he’s eligible in July) and would prefer someone with term in that particular trade. It doesn’t mean they can’t/won’t re-consider him in the future.
They are doing due diligence on defencemen. They’re not crazy about term, but may consider some length if the cap hit is small enough. The defenceman has trade protection, but if Novice-age teammate John Tavares can handle Toronto, no reason Pietrangelo can’t.

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[Deku]

Shocker

 

[Maukkis]

What I'm wondering is what part of St. Louis' problems is solved by trading away a #1 defenseman.

 

[PromisedLand]

What I'm wondering is what part of St. Louis' problems is solved by trading away a #1 defenseman.

#Rebuild

 

[DownGoesMcDavid]

Nobody is happier than Ron Hainsey. He still gets to keep his top pairing spot.

 

[Hobocop]

Friedman guessing about something Kypreos was randomly wondering about? Okay..

 

[Lil Sebastian Cossa]

What I'm wondering is what part of St. Louis' problems is solved by trading away a #1 defenseman.

They don't have to look at Alex Pietrangelo's ugly face for another second.

 

[member 157595]

I find it hard to believe that St. Louis offered up Pietrangelo in trade in exchange for Nylander without a big add from our end.

If Armstrong wanted Nylander for Pietrangelo straight up and Dubas turned that down I'd be break-everything-in-my-vicinity pissed.

 

[araisarena]

Can't really add a Pietrangelo type D without cap going the other way and Doug Armstrong doesn't really lose trades. I doubt the idea that Zaitsev would be taken unless scouts think highly of him, or the premium of Kapanen/Johnsson are going along with picks. Pietrangelo is a bonafide number 1, who has been dragged down by playing with trash partners recently (Edmunson, Gunnarsson, Bouwmeester). I doubt there is a trade to be won here.

 

[BleedBlue14]

What I'm wondering is what part of St. Louis' problems is solved by trading away a #1 defenseman.

The part where we accidentally win some games. Nylander just isn’t a great fit in the central in my opinion.

 

[Volica]

Nobody is happier than Ron Hainsey. He still gets to keep his top pairing spot.

 

[Alklha]

I find it hard to believe that St. Louis offered up Pietrangelo in trade in exchange for Nylander without a big add from our end.

If Armstrong wanted Nylander for Pietrangelo straight up and Dubas turned that down I'd be break-everything-in-my-vicinity pissed.

Exactly. The Blues aren't moving a #1 defenseman for a 60 point winger with upside. Not unless they are 100% certain he wasn't extending here, which would be highly unlikely at this point.

 

[Joel Ward]

Unless Pietrangelo says he won't re-sign, I see no reason for St. Louis to move him for anything short of Nylander. Kapanen/Johnsson don't solve any issues for the Blues - they've got lots of young talented forwards coming through the organization.

 

[Volica]

The part where we accidentally win some games. Nylander just isn’t a great fit in the central in my opinion.

How dare you, small wingers who don't like physicality rule the Cen-
I mean, there's Kane?

 

[Menzinger]

I find it hard to believe that St. Louis offered up Pietrangelo in trade in exchange for Nylander without a big add from our end.

If Armstrong wanted Nylander for Pietrangelo straight up and Dubas turned that down I'd be break-everything-in-my-vicinity pissed.

Why?

No Gm would trade a 22 player of Nylander’s caliber for a guy whose going to be UFA in under 2 seasons.

 

[Critical13]

I am glad we kept the long term signed 22 year old Nylander over dealing him for the 28 year old declining 1.5 years left on contract Pietrangelo.

That's the kind of move that only looks good if you win a cup. In every other circumstance your are thinking too short term.

 

[topshelf15]

Wow ,he would be a great fit...

 

[bleedblue1223]

Friedman's speculation needs to stop being taken so seriously. He said it was a guess, same as Kypreos.

 

[DualThreat23]

Leafs would probably have to pay a "Prime Pietrangelo" price to get him and while he's still very good, it's pretty clear he's already reached the summit and has started the slow trek down the other side of the hill.

 

[Leafs87]

#Rebuild

You say it jokingly but this core just hasn’t got it done and rebuilding may not be the worst because they have a lot of nice pieces and trading some keeping others would make it a smoother rebuild.

Also just remembered they traded their first this year. So next year for sure would be the better time to start a rebuild

 

[Dbrownss]

I am glad we kept the long term signed 22 year old Nylander over dealing him for the 28 year old declining 1.5 years left on contract Pietrangelo.

That's the kind of move that only looks good if you win a cup. In every other circumstance your are thinking too short term.

He just had a career year last year....... and now he's declining at 28yrs old?

Has a certain poster just beat you down?

 

[Dbrownss]

You say it jokingly but this core just hasn’t got it done and rebuilding may not be the worst because they have a lot of nice pieces and trading some keeping others would make it a smoother rebuild.

Also just remembered they traded their first this year. So next year for sure would be the better time to start a rebuild

Remember when it was time for Washington to kickstart the rebuild, with older players?

 

[Liferleafer]

Friedman's speculation needs to stop being taken so seriously. He said it was a guess, same as Kypreos.

I assumed Blues fans would be happy to hear this news.

 

[shortfuze]

What I'm wondering is what part of St. Louis' problems is solved by trading away a #1 defenseman.

Trading him might not be the best option but sometimes when things just aren’t working the whole lineup might need to be revamped.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I assumed Blues fans would be happy to hear this news.

Why? Nothing in their baseless speculation indicates that Toronto wouldn't do a move for him, so it's not like it will end all those dumb threads.

 

[Critical13]

He just had a career year last year....... and now he's declining at 28yrs old?

Has a certain poster just beat you down?

The declining comment is taken right out of Blues GDTs. He's been getting shredded in those.