Hey Pens fans, let's talk about "the trade"?

Question

I admit, when the trade went down that sent my beloved Army to Atlanta, I was pissed and thensome. Yet in the blink of one afternoon, Ray Shero added 3 players that just clicked right into the Pens system and have produced way beyond my expectations, and I'm sure most of yours.

Looking back now, do you honestly think the Pens would be where they are right now if that trade hadn't gone down?

Answer 1

No, Marian Hossa has helped this team out a lot.

I was upset with the trade when they traded Colby & Erik,

but now I think about it, and it was sorta a good trade.

GO PENS GO!

Answer 2

Bill's right. The Hossa trade was not "the trade".

I think the Pens would still be in the SCF as long as Hossa did not go to any other Eastern Conference playoff team.

Answer 3

It was a great trade.  I know a lot of people are upset about armstrong and he was great guy on the penguins.  That being said Hossa has 19 points in the playoffs, Dupuis has been a strong defensive minded forward who has made some great passes to the likes of Crosby, and Hossa.  Gill has been a stalwart defenseman.  He has not only been great at the penalty kill but also has blocked plenty of shots as well.  No one knows if espisito will be great or a bust.  So I don't think the pens lost a lot to gain what they did.  Armstrong could be back on the penguins.  Christensen is a great shootout specialist but the pens have letang who can do that as well as rutuu, etc.  So I think the pens would have made it past the first round maybe the second but who knows without the trade they might not have gotten further than that.

Answer 4

I believe she said PENS FANS....and for PENS FANS, that was "the trade" this year.

No, I dont' think they'd be in the Finals.  Colby and Christianson are good and I was a huge Army fan too, but obtaining 3 seasoned vets was exactly what they needed to push them into the playoffs.

Answer 5

This is what I don't understand w/ Pens fans. On the one hand they will beat their chest and declare Crosby and Malkin the Kings of Hockey and how they are so good no other team can match up w/ them and how they put the new Pens on the map.

Then the next minute, they will say how the Pens wouldn't be in the SC Finals if they hadn't traded for these players. Which one it it guys?

Answer 6

the phrase "The Trade" means only one thing in hockey - Gretzky going from the Oilers to the Kings.

Answer 7

Yes, I do believe honestly believe they would still be where they are.  And Gill was not part of the trade trade.

Answer 8

I was on board wish it from day one, but that's only because I've followed Hossa throughout his career.

Armstrong was fine, but there's no question Hossa is better...that's the simple truth...Christensen was also decent, though not as good as Armstrong, and more of a shootout specialist, as someone else mentioned.

As far as Esposito, only time will tell where that goes...the part of that trade that worries me most are Esposito and the pick we gave up, especially because it looks as though Hossa is nothing more than a rental (Check out John Buccigross' column on ESPN.com for supporting info on this...I asked the question ab out Hossa.)

But, regardless of the pick/ Espo, I really think the deal was the right move, without even mentioning Dupuis, who has played beyond expectations. =)

Gill was a different trade entirely though, so I'm not sure where you got that information..?

Answer 9

Marian Hossa has i think 19 points in these playoffs and an OT winning goal and im sure at least one more GWG.

Pascal Dupuis has some good chemistry with Crosby and others.

Hal Gill has been one of the biggest defensive reasons why they are where they are.

i dont think so.

Answer 10

I'm not sure that they would have. Although remember Hal Gill WASN'T part of that trade. That was a separate trade for a draft pick. Gill came from Toronto. So assuming we still got him I think there is a chance we would still get where we are. I think we were better off with the trade though. Colby may have been good enough to help, but Erik likely wouldn't have played much in the playoffs, or been much help this year.