Much coveted forward Jason Robertson has re-signed with Dallas, in the process tossing a tall bucket of ice water on Kyle Dubas’ plans to add an impact player of prime age this summer. The 27-year-old all-star avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year deal with the Stars worth $12 million. If he doesn’t sign an extension along the way, he’ll be a UFA next July.
The news obviously ends the Penguins’ pursuit of the 46-goal scorer, at least for now.
While I certainly understand Dubas’ interest in Robertson, I was not a fan of acquiring him for a number of reasons which I expressed earlier this summer. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here’s a link to the article.
As long as the sticker price isn’t prohibitive (which it’s rumored to be), I’d have more interest in acquiring 22-year-old Seattle center Shane Wright. The former fourth overall pick in 2022 fits Dubas’ mold of a talented young player who perhaps needs a change of scenery to blossom a la Egor Chinakhov, and he plays a position of need. To say nothing of what being mentored for a season or two (or three) by Sidney Crosby might do for his overall development.
However, it’s been reported that Wright’s preferred destination is Vancouver, of all places. Perhaps he envisions himself as the center piece of the Canucks’ rebuild.
Speaking of the Canucks, I want no part of an oft-floated trade for Elias Pettersson, a former 102-point scorer whose stock and star have plummeted the past couple of seasons. The 27-year-old center is signed for five more seasons at an AAV of $11.6 million.
If the Canucks swallow half of that, maybe.
Oh and I agree and talk of Petterson is also sheer lunacy. Acquiring him would be worse than getting Robertson.
Hey Rick,
I am somewhat relieved at this news. I guess Dubas can still be stupid and try and push for a trade, but chances are that this lunacy is at an end. Only Dallas could win a Robertson trade, Pittsburgh and Robertson would certainly lose. No matter how you sliced it the Pens would have lost too many current and/or future assets to compete this year and prepare for life without Crosby and Malkin., so our Penguins could only lose. As for Robertson, stripped of any legitimate team mates this season would condemn the Pens to at best a one and done again, and then ensure that the team had no legitimate NHL line mates to get him the puck in the future.
As for Shane Wright, I could be talked into taking that Gamble, like you depending on the cost. Pittsburgh needs Centers far more than Wings and with a change of scenery and under Crosby’s tutelage it is possible that Wright can develop into a decent 2nd line Center. He was over hyped and hasn’t shown what it takes to be a 1st line Center, but he could be a good 2nd line Center behind Horcoff (this kid looks like he can be a number 1). More importantly, Wright cannot be any worse than Novak.
From what I read Rakall is being tied to a Pgh – Sea deal. Again depending on the other details of the trade, I would be okay with losing Rakall, but for Wright I would rather use Novak to make that deal come about. I would rather use Rakall to try and get Sanderson off Ottawa (there was some noise earlier this off-season that the Sens were interested in Rakall.
If not Sanderson than NIkishin.
If I could pull off both trades, then I could address the two most pressing Personnel needs of this team, C and LHD.