Trade: Bunting, 4th for Novak, Schenn

[pekkasteele]

First bigger trade of the trade deadline week for us.

[Pens4Life]

I like both incoming players, but at this stage where we are, still a bit odd trade. It seems KD is really high on Novak to see if he can be capable 2nd or 3rd line C. Schenn maybe even flipped by tommorow OR just vet physical D for this and next year alongside some younger players.

[Puck-Lurker]

Just a weird move in isolation.

I don't necessarily mind Novak. He's either Glass II or a bargain bin 2C. And looks soft to me, so soft. Bunting wasn't soft, one of few players on the team.

It's adding a 4th and picking up Schenn that's weird to me. We have too many old defencemen as is. Dude does play with more grit than any of our defencemen though. But man...
-Letang, 37.
-Karlsson, 34.
-Grzelzyk, 31.
-Schenn 35.

If you ask me, I'd have sent a 4th and Bunting for Novak and a 2nd and called it a day.

Where does Schenn even fit? Letang and Karlsson are your 1RHD and 2RHD.. are we... trading one of them? I am on board with that if so.

[pfim]

Just a weird move in isolation.

I don't necessarily mind Novak. He's either Glass II or a bargain bin 2C. And looks soft to me, so soft. Bunting wasn't soft, one of few players on the team.

It's adding a 4th and picking up Schenn that's weird to me. We have too many old defencemen as is. Dude does play with more grit than any of our defencemen though. But man...
-Letang, 37.
-Karlsson, 34.
-Grzelzyk, 31.
-Schenn 35.

If you ask me, I'd have sent a 4th and Bunting for Novak and a 2nd and called it a day.

Where does Schenn even fit? Letang and Karlsson are your 1RHD and 2RHD.. are we... trading one of them? I am on board with that if so.

Schenn is a bottom pairing guy, but does have more value than a guy like Desharnais. He's not worth a 2nd though.

I'm not sure on moving Bunting. But his EV production was abysmal and it's not as if he should be getting a bunch of playing time on the top PP unit.

[lemieuxReturns]

I feel like this was a trade for no reason at all. We gained nothing. We lost some cap flexibility and we lost a pick.

[Toke]

Useless trade…..can’t see the point in this at all.

[DeHaven162]

Just a weird move in isolation.

I don't necessarily mind Novak. He's either Glass II or a bargain bin 2C. And looks soft to me, so soft. Bunting wasn't soft, one of few players on the team.

It's adding a 4th and picking up Schenn that's weird to me. We have too many old defencemen as is. Dude does play with more grit than any of our defencemen though. But man...
-Letang, 37.
-Karlsson, 34.
-Grzelzyk, 31.
-Schenn 35.

If you ask me, I'd have sent a 4th and Bunting for Novak and a 2nd and called it a day.

Where does Schenn even fit? Letang and Karlsson are your 1RHD and 2RHD.. are we... trading one of them? I am on board with that if so.

Also have to remember, Grzelzyk is likely/hopefully moved in the next 48 hours, and Karlsson might be gone in the summer. His name seems to be out there, just more of a summer type of contract to move. So yeah, it looks like we got older for the time being, but we have to field a team next year. And as excited as we all for the young prospect D we currently have, its not realistic for them all to pan out, and even if they do, all play together in Pittsburgh at the exact same time. Need some vets to play during the transition.

[Puck-Lurker]

Just a weird move in isolation.

I don't necessarily mind Novak. He's either Glass II or a bargain bin 2C. And looks soft to me, so soft. Bunting wasn't soft, one of few players on the team.

It's adding a 4th and picking up Schenn that's weird to me. We have too many old defencemen as is. Dude does play with more grit than any of our defencemen though. But man...
-Letang, 37.
-Karlsson, 34.
-Grzelzyk, 31.
-Schenn 35.

If you ask me, I'd have sent a 4th and Bunting for Novak and a 2nd and called it a day.

Where does Schenn even fit? Letang and Karlsson are your 1RHD and 2RHD.. are we... trading one of them? I am on board with that if so.

Also have to remember, Grzelzyk is likely/hopefully moved in the next 48 hours, and Karlsson might be gone in the summer. His name seems to be out there, just more of a summer type of contract to move. So yeah, it looks like we got older for the time being, but we have to field a team next year. And as excited as we all for the young prospect D we currently have, its not realistic for them all to pan out, and even if they do, all play together in Pittsburgh at the exact same time. Need some vets to play during the transition.

That's a bunch of maybes at this time though. Me I'm just fed up with this team setting up with 18 or so veterans.

[KG]

We need a skilled center. Novak is a buy-low candidate that will help lengthen the lineup. Worse case he can play 3C, best case he can play 2C to help as Geno winds down. KD said this wasn't going to be a tear it down rebuild. He is still going to try to make the team better next year.

That said, I think we will also get some futures for Beau, Gryz and Acciari, by tomorrow.

[Gunnerfan]

As we transition to a younger D in the next few years, having a dude like Schenn is valuable to lead a group like that. No issue with the trades at all. And people complaining about a 4th rounder? Please the success rate of a 4th round pick
Is 10%. Your better off using those as currency.

[ahawk9]

I thought Bunting was a guy who would bring back a decent return at next year's deadline. I liked his style - made for the playoffs - and his contract was manageable. Maybe this is a prelude to something else, or maybe Novak was the target and Schenn is the "mentor" until 2026 deadline.

[Daniel]

As we transition to a younger D in the next few years, having a dude like Schenn is valuable to lead a group like that. No issue with the trades at all. And people complaining about a 4th rounder? Please the success rate of a 4th round pick
Is 10%. Your better off using those as currency.

IF 2026 is as deep as they say it is, a normal 4th might be like a 3rd in a normal year. With a deeper draft, how many 1sts fall to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, etc? In normal draft years, probably is worthless, in a deep draft, the value is going to be better. Not sure how much the trade helps the Penguins in the present or the future. Novak is end up as good center that doesn't win FOs but who knows.

[KG]

If nothing else I'm enjoying reading all the Leafs fans up in arms because they wanted Schenn back.

Pay up.

[DeHaven162]

One thing I think a lot are forgetting, Bunting kinda stunk. Sure he had a niche for scoring PP goals, but that's about it. He has a reputation for being a pest and hard to play against, I must be missing something. All he ever did was put a glove in someones face after a whistle, other than that he brought nothing. Useless 5-on-5, slow feet.

I'm really surprised people are down on this deal.

[pens_CT]

We need a skilled center. Novak is a buy-low candidate that will help lengthen the lineup. Worse case he can play 3C, best case he can play 2C to help as Geno winds down. KD said this wasn't going to be a tear it down rebuild. He is still going to try to make the team better next year.

That said, I think we will also get some futures for Beau, Gryz and Acciari, by tomorrow.

I think he's the 3C going forward, a position that has never been filled since Bonino left. I wouldn't try to pencil him higher in the lineup unless there is an injury. To get a legitimate 2C you are going to have to draft one. I don't see a way to trade for one based on the current talent level of this team.

[Puck-Lurker]

If nothing else I'm enjoying reading all the Leafs fans up in arms because they wanted Schenn back.

Pay up.

I'll take Niemela in return. Attach a 2049 7th rounder if needed.

[pens_CT]

As we transition to a younger D in the next few years, having a dude like Schenn is valuable to lead a group like that. No issue with the trades at all. And people complaining about a 4th rounder? Please the success rate of a 4th round pick
Is 10%. Your better off using those as currency.

IF 2026 is as deep as they say it is, a normal 4th might be like a 3rd in a normal year. With a deeper draft, how many 1sts fall to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, etc? In normal draft years, probably is worthless, in a deep draft, the value is going to be better. Not sure how much the trade helps the Penguins in the present or the future. Novak is end up as good center that doesn't win FOs but who knows.

I am guessing they recoup the pick with an Acciari or Beauvillier trade. Things aren't finished.

[Pruezy11881]

RR - Crosby - Rust
Geno - Novak - Tomasino
Beau - Hayes - Bemstrom
Lizzo - Glass - Acciari

[Pens4Life]

RR - Crosby - Rust
Geno - Novak - Tomasino
Beau - Hayes - Bemstrom
Lizzo - Glass - Acciari

This is useless to make until late tommorow..

[largegarlic]

I read Pensburgh's summary of the Nashville trade, and they said that Novak's underlying analytics were very good. The trade still seems a little weird to me, but maybe it's a case of Dubas's analytics team having a file of players around the league who have very good underlying analytics with mediocre traditional stats who might be good buy-low opportunities.

[Pitts]

Useless trade…..can’t see the point in this at all.

Too much of this going on. I suspect the addition of Schenn, who I very much like for his physical play, makes me definitely say one of our top d-men will be going out by tomorrow. Most likely Grzelcyk.

[Gunnerfan]

As we transition to a younger D in the next few years, having a dude like Schenn is valuable to lead a group like that. No issue with the trades at all. And people complaining about a 4th rounder? Please the success rate of a 4th round pick
Is 10%. Your better off using those as currency.

IF 2026 is as deep as they say it is, a normal 4th might be like a 3rd in a normal year. With a deeper draft, how many 1sts fall to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, etc? In normal draft years, probably is worthless, in a deep draft, the value is going to be better. Not sure how much the trade helps the Penguins in the present or the future. Novak is end up as good center that doesn't win FOs but who knows.

Deep or not, it doesn't change the math at all. It may shift 3 to 4 players down a round, but as a population as a whole, the math is the math, and a 4th rounder is a 4th rounder.

[pfim]

I read Pensburgh's summary of the Nashville trade, and they said that Novak's underlying analytics were very good. The trade still seems a little weird to me, but maybe it's a case of Dubas's analytics team having a file of players around the league who have very good underlying analytics with mediocre traditional stats who might be good buy-low opportunities.

9 of Bunting's 14 goals came on the PP. I don't think he was a great fit here.

[KG]

Dumoulin just got traded for a 2nd and a prospect. Have to think KD is closely monitoring the Schenn market.

[Victor]

Dumoulin just got traded for a 2nd and a prospect. Have to think KD is closely monitoring the Schenn market.

The prospect they got Herman Träff, he was a 3rd rounder last draft. So Dumo got dealt for a 2nd in 2025 and a 3rd in 2024 in a way.

I'd argue that Grzelcyk is worth at least the same, if not more.