Penguins Officially Get Screwed to Acquire Ponikarovsky

Luca Caputi (47pts in 54 AHL games this season, 21 years old) AND Martin Skoula who Toronto will then flip tomorrow to another team.

Caputi is their #1 prospect at this point in time.

For 2 months of Panikarovsky.

almost 2 years ago MarioD 12 comments 0 recs |

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If Pitt wins the cup again, Im sure they wont care what becomes of him.

"NO HONOR"

"We will steal the show, jolly Rogers go, we are wolves of the sea."

by JpH89 on Mar 2, 2010 11:36 PM EST reply actions

Until they are back in bankruptcy four years from now because they’ve now traded a top prospect and a 2nd round pick for two rental players this week.

by MarioD on Mar 2, 2010 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

I think they’re milking this defending champ business for all it’s worth, for as long as they can. No way will they be able to hold on to Malkin AND Crosby for their entire careers.

I think they will follow a similar trajectory as the early 1990s Cup teams did. They’ll be competitive for a while now, and they’ll get one more Cup in (at least). Then, second-round-exits a-plenty + a depleting farm system…

They’re going to be tough to beat this year though, no question.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Mar 3, 2010 12:09 AM EST up reply actions

Aww, we never knew you cared, Mario!!! :)

by penguinsfan on Mar 6, 2010 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Just read the comments at Pensburgh and they have a realistic enough view of things: They’re happy with how Shero has made the team stronger, but they’re not happy about losing Caputi. I wouldn’t be either.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Mar 3, 2010 12:17 AM EST reply actions

I would have done it in a heartbeat. Capuit may be good in the NHL someday but he is still a 4th rounder and AHL success means very little anymore. And Skoula is a completely nonsensical entity that they would have probably waived anyway seeing as he is baked as a player. Strike when the iron is hot and I trust Shero implicitly until he is proven stupid.

by MJDII on Mar 3, 2010 9:20 AM EST reply actions

I’m more persuaded by the fact that Caputi is their top prospect and their second best prospect is still in juniors than I am by where he was drafted.

They wanted to trade Skoula for a pick to soften the blow of giving up their 2nd for Leopold, but couldn’t do it. Not sure Toronto will be able to trade him either, but it sees that Shero thought he could trade Skoula when he made the Leopold deal and then couldn’t.

by MarioD on Mar 3, 2010 9:54 AM EST up reply actions

Skoula went to jersey for a 5th. I have to agree with you here Mario. I’m not so sure I’d deplete the farm system of a team that has so much high priced talent ( or will shortly).

"In fact, it is probably safe to say, the statement "I am a hockey fan" is the same as "I hate gary bettman."- bfrank27

by Mike B on D on Mar 3, 2010 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

Skoula was a non-factor in the trade, just a salary dump. I agree that Caputi was a HUGE loss to their prospects list – but he’s just that, a prospect. In Ponikarovsky the Pens get a winger that should fit very well on a line with Malkin and Rusty Fedotenko. Alexei has some scoring touch, a BIG body in front of the net (6’-4", 220 lbs), and was a plus-5 on a really rotten Toronto team because of his ability to backcheck. Personally, I think Shero did the right thing; no reason to hold onto a prospect when you could be adding a key part to a drive for the Cup. Which would YOU rather have, Flyers fans? A great farm system, or a Stanley Cup????

by penguinsfan on Mar 6, 2010 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Oh, and BTW, aside from Stempniak, the two players Pittsburgh acquired (Ponikarovsky and Leopold) were the highest on my personal wish list for ANY team. Although some sort of Vokoun-for-Hartnell trade would have also made me very happy …

by penguinsfan on Mar 6, 2010 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

you guys won already which makes it easier to take but we been there done that with giving up the farm system, the big splashes at the deadline don’t guarantee anything, you didn’t when with Hossa but smaller deals for Guerin and Kunitz

by chrislanci on Mar 8, 2010 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

True. And in Mario’s defense (although it pains me to do so) Luca Caputi was in uniform for the Leafs against the Flyers last night, so he’s getting another NHL shot with them.

by penguinsfan on Mar 8, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions