Upon analysis of the Pens roster, two things stood out to GM Goffie on Saturday night. 1) He really liked the make up of his team. 2) His wife was away and the baby was asleep and he was bored. That's when the mind started turning and the beers started tasting better. Before you know it Claude Giroux was the target of choice. Looking around the league at the star players, one guy who has never worn the Pen jersey was Giroux. So rather then going the traditional route and targeting Toews or Crosby to anchor the #1 line Goffie decided he wanted to see CG28 sending cross crease passes to Stamkos and the talks started.
A few days later and lots of talk back and forth and a deal was struck. The Pens sent out 2011 #1 draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and 2010 #6 overall pick Brett Connolly along with a 3rd round pick for Giroux and a 4th.
GM Goffie had this to say:
Quote:
It was actually harder for us to move Connolly than RNH. He is a personal favorite and I think he'll be a fine sniper. I knew to bring in Giroux we had to give up a young star and RNH is that. I think RNH is the best pure offensive player to enter the league in a long time and playing against him and Landeskog going forward will be tough. But this deal was made for one reason. Having CG slide one time setups to Stamkos for some big goals. The cup is wanted in Pittsburgh. Actually needed, so we will do what we need to do to destroy Simon T's man crush on the Habs.
Thanks to Chris for some fun talks.
This hit here is actually another reason I love CG.
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Wow that's a big deal. Connolly is the wild card here I think. I expect RNH to get to, or even surpass G in points but I don't think he will ever control a game like G does when he is on. Not sure what to expect from Connolly to be honest.
Well done boys. That's some high-end youth on the move.
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Initial reaction was that this was a win for Pitt, but RNH could end up having more fantasy value - and certainly NJ will benefit from 3 cheap entry level years of service.
Pitt has the assets to make a deal like this where long-term it probably favors NJ.
This was tough for the Devils, as Giroux is a star, but to add a player of RNH's caliber and to get Connolly was the clincher. Fun talks. The devils may be shaking things up, stay tuned!
I am not really sure why NJ would do this. I understand the cap difference, but what is RNHs ceiling? At best it is what Giroux is today, but there is risk involved. I have never been a Connolly fan so I don't think that is the difference in the risk NJ takes.
The more I think about this deal the less I get it for the Devils. Best case scenario is RNH becomes a better player then Giroux currently is, but by how much? If Giroux puts up 100pts will RNH put up 130...not likely. Seems like NJD is taking on a lot of risk for a player that may, best case, be marginally better then Giroux already is. Admittedly I have not followed the development of Connolly that closely but he doesn't seem like the player that is worth the risk or the 2 years development wait.
Just my 2 cents. Love the bold move all the same!
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All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity - Gordie Howe
There's something to be said for selling Giroux when his value is at the highest. Right now he's a guy that put together one elite season, but it remains to be seen if he is an elite player. I'm not convinced he is. Obviously he is a terrific player, but is he going to replicate his production from a year ago.
Long-term I think RNH will be a more consistent producer.
I guess it's a matter of opinion. RNH put up .84 ppg as an 18 year old rookie, and as much as I hate the oilers, he will play top minutes with eberle, hall and yakopov for a long time and can only get bigger and better IMO.
Giroux has great intangibles that RNH may or may not develop, and is a hell of a player, but those don't always show up in a sim from what I can see. Giroux is a young stud, but I think RNH will be putting up the same or better numbers sooner than giroux did.
I also see Connolly having a good chance to get top 6 minutes in the future, so if he can improve and make it in the NHL it is a nice sweetener.
I guess time will tell, but at least I have put a stamp on my roster.
Pens hook up with the Devils in a massive deal
