Pittsburgh Penguin Phil Kessel!!

[schneefink]

An exciting few days in the NHL! Even before today: Richard's contract was terminated, Semin was bought out, a lot of trades for backup goalies, Saad was traded to Columbus – I didn't see that coming at all. (Though if rumors of him demanding 6yx6.5m are true no wonder Chicago traded him. And they did get back very good pieces in Anisimov and Dano.)

And then: Free Agency Frenzy!

THE PENS GOT PHIL KESSEL! PHIL KESSEL IS A PENGUIN!
Wow. Despite all the rumors, somehow I didn't think it would actually happen. But it did!
I was going to be smart and calm instead of checking Twitter every minute, so I went for a frozen yoghurt&sunshine break shortly after 6pm (I spent half the day with a friend studying at the uni library, and tbf after 6pm less studying happened) and when I got a text message from DD that we got Kessel I was completely surprised. I only had my phone to check details, and at first there weren't any… I'm so glad we didn't give up Maatta or Pouliot! It's a shame about Kapanen in particular, but Kessel is worth it. More than. The Leafs retain some salary, so cap-wise it's not quite the tragedy it could have been. Kessel with Malkin, wow. This is going to be great. (I assume Sid will play with Perron and Hornqvist, but we'll see in training camp.)

The Pens also made several other moves (summary), mostly to replenish organizational depth, which was also badly needed. I'm excited about Plotnikov and also about Sheary, I really hope he can adjust to the NHL well. The contrast between how all the scouts and fans talk about Tyler Biggs (draft bust, AHL caliber at best) and how high the Pens seem to be on him is funny, hopefully it's just a media thing.

I think it's funny how many former Pens players ended up on other Metro teams (Chorney to the Caps, Megna and Gibbons on the Rangers, Greiss on the Islanders…) I'm glad Martin went to San Jose, he's good and I don't want him in the same division! (Rumors said the other team very interested in him was Columbus, and I don't like Columbus.)

Other teams: despite the disappointing for some return in the Kessel trade, the Leafs actually made some good moves today and I'm excited for them going forward. I'm very curious how the Giordano contract will look like, also Tarasenko, Saad, Galchenyuk… And of course what the Bruins will do! Will they be the ones to overpay Beleskey? The Red Wings signed Brad Richards and Mike Green, will be interesting to see how they do next season with a new coach.

RPF-wise I'm sorry that both of the players that I shipped Olli with, Kapanen and Harrington, are gone. They were so cute together! Oh well, I'll find an alternative. Olli/Tanger, maybe? For some reason I'm very interested in Tanger right now.
I'm curious what will happen to Kessel/Bozak, but I'm also really looking forward to the fic with Kessel coming to the Pens. Especially gen fic. Phil cancelled his hockey camp in Toronto, understandable but sad. Hopefully he'll fit in well in Pittsburgh! I'm looking forward to seeing him in In the Room. But overall I hope Sid will be able to shield him from the media a little.

(By the way, imo one small downside of the Kessel trade & Plotnikov signing is that it probably means Beau Bennett will be stuck with a fourth line role. At least as long as everyone is healthy. *knocks on wood* I hope Beau stays healthy for one season and plays well!)

I was nervous, but I'm really happy with how today went! Good job, Pens.

Comments

[theladyscribe]

I saw something that said that the Kessel deal actually works out to cost a little bit LESS than what we were paying Paulie in terms of cap space, so while I am sad (though unsurprised) to lose Paulie, yay for a little bit of breathing room!

Also, I did not in a million years think that we'd actually get Kessel, but now that we did, I am really excited for it! I keep thinking about 3-on-3 overtime! Will we have a Sid-Geno-Tanger line and a Kessel-???-Maata line? Or a Sid-Horny-Tanger line and a Geno-Kessel-Maata line? Or something else entirely? IDK BUT IT'S EXCITING.

[schneefink]

3-on-3 OT is going to be amazing! Of course chemistry and system etc. are important, but I'll be surprised if we won't be one of the best teams in the league in OT.

+6.8 for Kessel, -2.2 for Spaling, so yes, less than for Paulie! (Though atm our defense is extremely young and unproven. I wouldn't be surprised if we got another veteran D at next year's trade deadline. Otoh who knows maybe all the young ones will step up!)

[snickfic]

Yeah, the almost uniformly hopeful view of Pens media on Biggs kind of cracks me up as compared to the Leafs attitude of "If we sent prospects to Pittsburgh, ONE OF THEM HAD BETTER BE BIGGS."

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Being a first round pick seems to count for a lot in the NHL. More than I thought it would, because I'd be surprised if pick 28 had substantially higher odds to succeed than pick 32. Who knows, maybe Biggs will end up a decent WBS player.

[scintilla10]

So excited about Kessel!! :D I was really nervous we'd do something terrible and give up Pouliot and/or Maatta, and now I'm so relieved and happy about how it went down.

[schneefink]

Reading articles afterwards it seems like GMJR never for one moment contemplated dealing Maatta. Quote: “Olli, my God, no,” Rutherford said. “I honestly don’t even think of him as one of our young defensemen. He’s so advanced. He’s on our top pair with Kris Letang. No, no, no.” That's comforting to read!
And Mike Johnston loves Pouliot, apparently he was never part of any serious trade offer. I'm really excited how Pouliot will develop in a full NHL season.

And now we also have Kessel!! Wow. This season is going to be very exciting.