Name me some 3C targets that are on teams that aren't on contenders.
I see four teams that would be willing to trade their # 3 right now. Las Vegas, Colorado, and Vancouver.
Detroit's behavior makes me believe they have no committed to the rebuild yet. They might at the end of the year.
We can speculate until we're blue in the face, but we don't have the intel that Rutherford does - he has a list of 5 centers he's focused in on, and back-up plans if those fall through. We don't know the particulars, but there's no shortage of potential options like Bozak, Duchene, Henrique, Staal, Staal, Faksa, Shore, Haula, Eakin, etc.
They made two really shrewd moves, we signed a 32 year old #6 for three years making his best money of his career and traded down in a draft along with our best center prospect when we are aching at center depth for a player that is gritty, but ultimately the exact opposite of what brought us Cups here.
I don't see the point of comparing the moves of a terrible team with the wiggle room and incentive to make big changes with a defending back-to-back champion looking to make tweaks.
I like Sullivan and Rutherford. I just think Rutherford has his warts and people are in that Shero phase with him. Which is awesome. I'm wearing my Pens hats every day and eating up the back to back. I still think Crosby leading this team to another cup in the next two years and cementing a dynasty with them would put him in top five of all time.
The guy's made a dozen shrewd moves to make this team the first back-to-back champ in 20 years. I think that earns him the benefit of the doubt on the 3C front when there are months to go before the start of the season, but clearly your mileage may vary.
Just remember this discussion when he does get a good 3C.
