The Confluence
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Whitney trade is a good first start for the Penguins
by Tony on 02/26/09 at 04:10 PM ET
Comments (11)
LOL, and I thought I’d have nothing to talk about today.
You can probably imagine that GMRS wanted to do his dealing this season with more than one minute remaining before the trade deadline ends, like he did last year in the Marian Hossa deal.
Well, he completed the first major deal of the NHL trading season six days early when he dealt disappointing defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for winger Chris Kunitz and budding power forward prospect Eric Tangradi.
On the surface, at least in my mind, I’m pretty satisfied with this deal. But I can just feel that Shero is far from finished when it comes to fine-tuning the Penguins’ roster as they inch closer to a playoff slot.
First of all, let’s discuss the “family business” that Whitney supposedly had yesterday that forced him to fly to Boston and miss the Pens/Isles game. Well, guess where the Ducks play tonight ?? You guessed it, Boston. Now, Shelly Anderson of the PG said on ESPN Radio early this afternoon that she believed that Whitney indeed had those “family issues”, so who knows. Seems awful suspicious and coincidental, that’s all.
Anyway, as I said, I’m pretty happy with the return the Pens got for Whitney. Let’s face it, scouts aren’t blind. They saw what we Pens fans saw in the defensive zone for Whitney, fans that expected a slew of top players, prospects and draft picks were simply overlooking his defensive liabilities and merely focusing on his offensive potential. And that’s the problem with offensive defenseman, there’s a reason they’re referred to as that, because most of the time their defensive game has some holes in it.
In return for Whitney, GMRS got pretty good return. No, he didn’t get a Kovalchuk or Gaborik, not close. But he got a winger in Kunitz that knows how to put the puck in the net, charges the net and isn’t afraid to get dirty in doing it, something that a lot of his new teammates simply don’t do. In addition, if that means dropping the gloves, he’s more than willing to do that as well.
The acquisition of Eric Tangradi by the Pens will ultimately give them the “in the crease” replacement for Ryan Malone. The guy basically a Malone clone, 6’ 3” 220lbs. or so. Again, will drop the gloves if you look at him funny. My best resource for prospects is the Faceoff Factor’s Jesse Marshall, who commented on the trade that Tangradi “is instantly the best power-forward in the Penguins prospect pool right now”.
It’s funny, but in my recent Trade Deadline Roundtable discussion, I asked the participants if they felt that IHCDB would be consulted on any upcoming trades. Well, I think it’s clear that Bylsma’s fingerprints are all over this one. Bylsma and Kunitz were teammates several years ago. On Kunitz, Bylsma says ““With Chris Kunitz coming here, he’s got 148 hits and he’s a top-six guy. He drives to the net and creates space for people. He’s a pretty speedy guy up front. Immediately that’s what you can expect from Chris Kunitz. I’ve played with him and coached him. That’s what he does. He’s straight forward. He goes and gets pucks. He drives to the net. He’s around the net a lot so you’ll find him there, getting goals and creating space for people.” For what it’s worth, Kunitz said he was “shocked” at news of the deal.
In order to create room on the roster for Kunitz, forward Chris Minard was placed on waivers. I would doubt that Minard is going to last without getting picked up by another team, considering he’s one of the leading scorers in the AHL.
So the question now becomes what’s GMRS’ next move going to be ?? One might think a move for a physical defenseman, or possibly for another winger.
The fun is just beginning.
Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
Tags: Anaheim+Ducks, NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
Nah, I disagree, I don’t see him doing nothing more for 6 days….
Now, does that mean Staal ?? Not unless it’s a major deal…. I think Gill is gone, as well as some of the ones you mentioned….
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 02/26/09 at 04:34 PM ET
I know it has been four hours since the announcement but I am still pinching myself. Ray Shero finally got rid of the worthless albatross that was Ryan Whitney and he actually got something for him in return, which I didn’t think was possible.
Tangradi was the reason for this trade. Pittsburgh was going to take him in the 2007 draft but Anaheim got him before we had the chance. He’s taken leaps and bounds in development the past couple of years. He’s 2nd in scoring in the OHL, just two points behind Canada’s Next Great Hope, John Tavares. A big body who is developing into a strong power forward who is just 20 years old. How could this not be great news? The only thing the Pens have to do is not rush him into the NHL (see: Jordan Staal).
As for Kunitz, he might have a Sykora like resurgence in a Pens uniform but I’m not going to be that disappointed if he doesn’t. They got a big prospect and a capable winger for an underachieving defenseman who was never going to reach the potential his $4 million contract implied he would.
Great move by the Penguins.
Posted by Hept-Rossi on 02/26/09 at 04:43 PM ET
LOL, I’ve been waiting for one of you two guys’ responses, Hept !!!!
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 02/26/09 at 04:47 PM ET
Did I mention how excited I am that we no longer have Ryan Whitney? Just wanted to make sure my point was noted.
Posted by Hept-Rossi on 02/26/09 at 04:48 PM ET
Seems awful suspicious and coincidental, that’s all.
Whitney won’t be making his Ducks debut tonight, if that helps douse a little of the speculation.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 02/26/09 at 04:54 PM ET
I don’t know…being 2 points out with Buffalo having no goalie…Carolina being Carolina and the Rangers in a death spiral…I think the Pens got to believe they can make the playoffs by just playing one game over .500 hockey…they will look to improve the team for this year
Posted by kevin from boston on 02/26/09 at 05:11 PM ET
Yeah Earl, Whitney’s mother’s excuse is legit….
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 02/26/09 at 06:23 PM ET
A friend at the game just texted me. Apparently Whitney is in fact in the lineup.
Posted by NHLJeff from Pens fan in Chicago, IL on 02/26/09 at 07:26 PM ET
Nah, I disagree, I don’t see him doing nothing more for 6 days….
Here is why i disagree. In my opinion, 80% of the value of todays trade was the prospect(Tangradi) we got, not kunitz. Tangradi is obviously not playing this year, and if Shero was really trying to
fine-tuning the Penguins’ roster as they inch closer to a playoff slot
then he would have tried to fetch a valuable winger for the full value of Whitney to play now, not 20% of the value of Whitney.
I am not saying he could have received St. Louis for Whitney straight up either, just saying even if someone would argue that Kunitz was worth 50% of the total trade, it still is only 50% of what the value of Whitney to play now.
Shero is done for the season as a buyer, this trade helps explain that… in my opinion.
Posted by IForgotTheNameIWasUsing on 02/26/09 at 07:48 PM ET
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i understand how people are saying it is only a start; however, i really doubt it. I think this is it for RS this year. Other than Staal, i don’t see any other players of real value the penguins have to trade. And i do not see Staal going anywhere.
Now if the penguins go 0-3 before Wednesday and become sellers, then i could see Sykora, Dupuis, Fed, Gill, and even Scuderi all being on the table.
And to anyone out there who thiinks Letang or Gogo is a possibility, forget about it. Especially now that Whitney is gone.
Posted by IForgotTheNameIWasUsing on 02/26/09 at 04:31 PM ET