Pens and Devils get ready to play each other with a huge deal.
The Pens desperately wanted to make sure they had the goaltending depth to challenge to be one of the top teams in the East as well as go on a long playoff run.
Mike Condon and Steve Mason did not cut it during their auditions so the team decided to make an uncharacteristic move and bring in another top goalie to play with Matt Murray.
Murray has been fantastic in the crease for the Pens but fatigue has been a factor.
The other issue the Pens struggled on was getting offence from the left wing.
The deal with the Devils should hopefully address both these issues.
The Pens sent two top prospects in Robert Thomas and Filip Chlapik as well as rising young forward Nick Schmaltz and Steve Mason to the Devils in return for Evgeny Kuznetsov and Cory Crawford.
Kuznetsov will slot in immediately with Connor Mcdavid and Vladimir Tarasenko on the 2nd line while allowing Nik Ehlers and Patty Kane to roam free while being centred by Jonathan Toews.
The Pens are hoping this new dynamic up front allows the goals to flow and the team to climb the standings.
Thanks to Chris for the smooth trade talks as usual. Hopefully this is a deal that gets both teams going( Pens more so of course)
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Yeah that’s my fault, wasn’t going to move him but then it just came up. Happy to shed some salary and get solid young pieces I liked. Youth movement is starting in nj.
Even deal except for the fact that I really don't care for Robert Thomas as a prospect. Strikes me as a guy who succeeds in lower levels but won't adjust to the NHL at all. Does not think the game fast enough.