Atlanta trades RW Marian Hossa and LW Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for RW Colby Armstrong, C Erik Christensen, C Angelo Esposito and a first-round pick.
I say this helps the Pens for this year (Maybe next few years if they can re-sign him at the end of the season) because they really need a veteran forward like Hossa. Paired up with Crosby and Malkin this really helps make them a contender in the east. Ottawa is having a ton of goaltending trouble, and it looks like Montreal is putting there hopes in Price's basket with them getting rid of Huet( which I was surprised about...not sure if you want to put your Cup hopes in the lap of a consistantly untested goal tender.)
As for the Thrashers they got a lot of young talent who will be on the rise. I really like what I saw from Armstrong. He has a lot of potential in my opinion and maybe Esposito will turn out to be something special. His draft stock did drop last year going from a possible overall #1 to a late first round pick. So we'll see on him but Christensen and Armstrong is a nice pick up especially when you consider they probably weren't gonna re-sign hossa anyways.
i personally like this trade because hossa brings a second sniper to the top line and now the other team cant just sit on crosby, they have to worry about both, if by a miracle the penguins can resign hossa to a long term deal after this season if will be a great trade. i liked armstrong and you havent heard to much of christensen this season and if you add their points together they dont equal hossa's
I think we are overrating Marian Hossa just a little bit. I think he may help Pittsburgh get to first place in the East during the regular season but I don't think he will help them win the cup in the playoffs.
This is the same Marian Hossa who had 1 point in last year's playoffs. Again that's 1 point. He is also known for not showing up in the playoffs when he played for the Sens. Remember how Sens' fans were happy when he was traded away to Atlanta? They were getting a player (Heatley) in return who might actually do some playoff scoring.
The best aquisition has to be Brad Richards going to Dallas.
I really have to say it comes down to getting Hossa resigned. Who cares how well he does in the playoffs?? You guys act as if it hinges on him. We have Malkin on fire and Sid due back soon. Hossa should do well, but we can afford for him to be an accomplice in the playoffs. One of him is better than the duo of Armstrong and Christianson, even though I really liked both guys. Hossa doesnt need to be the man right now, but thats exactly what will make him great with the Pens -- hes the #3!
The Penguins now have a top line that can rival Ottawa, while it can also have a 2nd line that is still better than most other 1st lines. That being said, they gave up WAY too much for essentially a rented player. Pittsburgh will never be able to afford Hossa after this season, and they gave up most of their alternate scoring in Christensen and Armstrong while mortgaging the future by sending this years and next years 1st round picks.
The Pen's deffinitely get the immediate reward, but I feel that the Thrashers will make out better from this trade in the long run.
This was a stupid trade. First off Pittsburgh dont have the goaltending to win a cup. Secondly giving up the draft picks will definitely be costly and if Pittsburgh does get to a shootout one of their best players in that area is gone. Also I dont belive the Pens will be able to sign Hossa at the end of the year even with the cap going up. Malkin will be looking to cash in big sooner or later.
I disagree, I think the Pens have more goaltending depth than most teams in the east and Ty Conklin's 40+ saves tonight is proof of that. Fleury is coming off a 40 win season and finally healthy and ready to go.
As for the draft picks...the pens would be picking late in the 1st round and aside from a few 5 star prospects, this years draft class is weak. Its not like giving away a first rounder is automatically giving away a future first liner.
I don't think the pens are worried about losing EC for shootouts either. They have letang, rutuu, and sykora and those guys shoot before Sid and Malkin. And c'mon, theres no shootout in the playoffs anyway.
We might not be able to sign Hossa after this year and I woud have liked to see Esposito as a penguin in the future. But I can tell you this, the pens are the favorite out of the east now.
in regards to pennboy, how can you say we have no goaltending, conklin is 17-4-5, 2.19gaa and 933 save %. you have fluery who was a 40 game winner last year and won the last 4 games he appeared in, he also only gave up 7 goals in 5 games for wilkes barre. then sabourin who is just a backup that still 10-9-1 with a 2.75 gaa and a 904 save %. pittsburgh is ranked 9th in the league with a 2.60 gaa and a 915 save %. and the 8 above us are all playoff teams with the exception of columbus who just cant score goals.
I'm not saying they are bad goaltenders but they are inconsistant. Fleury was a 40 game winner last year and got thrashed in the playoffs and was mediocre this year until he got hurt. Conklin hasn't played enough games yet to show he can keep up what he is doing and Sabourin is like Jeckle and Hyde you don't know who will show up. Lastly I didn't say that they dont have no goaltending I just commented I dont believe they have enough to win the cup unless the super trio can score 5 goals a game so they dont have to rely on the goaltending.
conklin has played 26 games so far this year so as far as not being proven i think he has proved alot this year. and fluery losing in the playoffs last year it was his first time in the playoffs. so he atleast has some games under his belt this year. nobody expected the penguins t do what they did last year and make a 47 point improvment. as far as the draft picks, the first round pick they gave up wouldnt be a impact player off the bat anyways, he would be someone that would have to spend a few years in the minors. as far as esposito i really didnt follow him but were would he fit with the penguins with crosby, malkin and staal at center. they would have to move him to a winger position. i think and this is only my opinion is that if hossa clicks with his linemates they he may sign for less than what he wanted in atlanta because he wanted to play for a team that was cup contenders. they have some salary issues but with the cap raising next year and the possibility of freeing up roberts salary(and i like gary roberts) along with conklin not going to be here (because im sure he will get better money from another team next year) and conklin has been stellar this year and im sure im just like everyone else hoping that it doesnt end. i liked armstrong and i think he was a physical presence on the ice, other guys worrying about that big hit he usually provides, i think he will do well in atlanta. as far as christensen i was impressed with him this year besides in the shootout, and there is no shootouts in the playoffs. i just excited to see the new aquisitions play on thursday and see how they do in their first game.
