I don't think you can trade Rust unless you're attaching Johnson to him, to be honest. You're strapped for cap space and Rust only makes $3.5 million, you can't replace Rust with that little money. For me to do a Rust trade, I'd need to get a near equivalent RW for him and you can't get that for only $3.5 million.
Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Rust, Zucker and Marino are the only "safe" players to me. Crosby and Malkin are obvious, they just got Zucker and I don't think they'd get the value they need in a 1 for 1 swap with Guentzel, Rust and Marino. I'm tempted to include Letang and put him in the same category as Rust, Guentzel and Marino, but I could see JR trying to force it and making a bad deal because of it.
I agree with your explanation on Zucker on why he's safe but I don't think he's safe like Jake or Marino is safe. I doubt they trade the new toy after giving up so much but I certainly don't think he's untouchable in the right deal.
Man, how much better off would we be right now if Zucker+Rask for Kessel+JJ had gone through...man oh man.
The only problem is that you still need to dump JJ. I THINK Ottawa would be a good team to dump him to as they have the 2nd most cap space right now and they only have 4 D signed for next season.
1OA+JJ For 3OA+5OA should be the base of the trade, but I don't think Ottawa bites unless we take a big contract back due to their internal financial constraints.
In that scenario, I think you can have JJ be the #7/8 with there being a standing "try to trade him" angle. Players go up and down so much throughout the season that he may be of value to someone somewhere.
Are you kidding me? Ottawa would move heaven and earth to get Lafreniere.
You could tell them 1OV, Murray, Bjugstad, and Johnson for 3OV and 5OV, and they'd bite . . . they'd do whatever it took to make the budget work, that's how big a deal getting Lafreniere would be for them right now.
BUT, the Pens aren't moving 1OV if they get it. As I said, they'll use Murray and a 2nd to rid themselves of Johnson and Bjugstad if that's what it takes. BUT, there's a 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance they even think of moving their next generation superstar to take over when Sid is done.
Is Lafreniere the next gen superstar though? I mean, he's the consensus 1OV but what I've read, my feeling is he's more the Hughes, Hischier, RNH, maybe Hall type, not the McDavid, Matthews, Eichel type. Is that accurate? If you take the 1OV since 2004, I'm sensing he's on the lower end of 1OV quality.
If we are trading McCann does JR target Haula? how much will Haula be looking to get paid?
@ColePens would love that guy.
Out would be JJ, Bjugstad, McCann, Sheary, Simon, Marleau, ZAR, E-Rod, Schultz, MM.
Haula would be a good short term option but I feel like he's the guy that is gonna get overpaid because there's a lack of quality players in his category. He seems like the guy you say "At the price, oh f*** no" when you read the new contract details.
Also, I don't hate the idea of keeping Simon. He's a decent player and can skate on a line with Sid. That's fairly rare actually when Sid finds an acceptable wing, even though he's not he 80pt guy we all want. I doubt ZAR goes anywhere either. The rest, you're probably right as to they are on the cut list but how many can get out is anyones guess. I think JJ, Bjugstad are tough sells. The other UFAs, whatevs. Though don't be shocked if Sheary comes back at a 3yr, $2-3mil/yr deal.