Pens trade is horrible for the Rangers. If Drury did that he should be fired immediately.

Agreed. Trading Schneider would be a mistake

PIT doesn't need a RD, but that is good enough value to seriously consider.

Probably true. Though the belief that Dubas would trade Guentzel to a division rival without an overpayment is equally delusional. Keep Schneider and add the 2026 1st.

I didn't post the trade. Pens can keep him and everyone else on their roster.

Understandable. I'm just giving a preview of what Dubas' thought process would have to be in this case. He can't take fair value from an in division rival. It would have to be the best offer to consider. He's not an idiot lacking savvy. He knows if Guentzel ends up being a major contributor for years to NYR (or another rival) he will need to be fielding criticism for that.

It is a hefty price but if you want Guentzel you have to pay up

Not at that price. Not for a rental of any player.

Jake would be a pure rental for the Rangers.

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't they want to solidify their top 6 Ws? Guentzel can play both sides. If Chytil is LTIRetired, wouldn't they be able to afford to re-sign Guentzel?

Is Chytil done? Your guess is as good as anyone. The Rangers already have too much cap space tied up in to few players and adding a big number for 7 years for a 30 year old makes it a lot worse. That's why the Pens don't want to sign him.

The Penguins don't want to re-sign him because they aren't competitive any longer so keeping him for his age decline is pointless as this is the first time they can re-coup good future assets in many years. IF the Penguins were comfortably in a playoff spot, they wouldn't be trading him and likely would have already extended him with full expectation of getting the up front value out of the contract as he declines over the course of the contract. But steady team decline and no postseason two years in a row is clear indication that the team might need to rebuild in the near future so keeping him defeats their purposes. Has nothing to do with lacking cap structure.

All that may be true, but they also just signed Malkin and LeTang to multiple years in order to try to win another cup with Crosby, so I don't think they are thinking rebuild. They also brought in Karlsson for the same reason. They could easily move out Smith or do something to move Rakell or Graves and free up enough cap room to sign Jake, because he gives them a much better shot at a cup with the current core intact. I have to think they are looking at the length of his next deal and saying no thanks.

Could be the case. I just think it all comes down to what FSG wants. If they call Dubas today at 2:45 EST and tell him to start the rebuild at all costs, Dubas is starting at 2:46 EST. Reality that fans don't want to accept is that ownership is the one responsible for making that decision as they are the ones that pay the bills. And rebuilds cost millions to most orgs. in the short term.

Minnesota accepts

Ownership could do that but then they would be admitting trading for Karlsson and signing Malkin and Letang were mistakes, plus piss off Crosby. But, could happen I suppose. Bottom line is Jake would be a rental to the Rangers and no way they pay that for any rental, plus Schneider isn't going anywhere.

Pens don't need defense add in Othmann instead.

It's clearly an over pay by NY but that's what it takes for a division rival.