PITTSBURGH – When you get a bunch of sports writers together, as the NHL is want to do for the Stanley Cup Finals, you hear a lot of reporters playing the, who won the trade, game. The 2017 Stanley Cup Finals pair off a couple of players who were swapped back in 2014.
It seems fair to ask which team won the trade between then Penguins James Neal for the then Predators Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spalling. Setting aside the Spalling part, who did play a few shifts of no consequence in black and gold, let’s focus on the other two trade chips.
When the GM of the Predators, David Poile, was asked about the trade on media day, he responded, “We were looking to change up our forwards. We always felt our goaltending, our defense was kind of driving our team. I think the Neal trade was a start to try to get more and better offensive players. “ He added that “Neal scored 30 goals the first couple of years, he had like 23 this year. He’s an offense player that gives us a chance to be better at that end of the ice. He’s pretty well provided that for us”
As sports writers go, we are a predictable lot, so we asked the GM of the Penguins, Jim Rutherford, about the trade as well. He noted that “ [Hornqvist has] given us what we had hoped. But it was the first move I made when I got here. It was shortly after I got here at the draft. We were looking to get a different type of player. We traded James Neal, a good player, good goal-scorer, but we had enough players that could score. We were looking for that type of passionate player, good team guy, good in the locker room.“
With all due respect to the multiple Cup winning GM Rutherford, the Penguins needed a net front presence as well. If you have watched any Pens games in the last three years you know that Hornqvist provides that in spades.
Putting all that aside if you compare the points, both goals and assists, for Neal and Hornqvist, they are very close to even. Is it objectively possible for a trade to have winners at both ends of the deal? On the surface, it would seem that both teams, and clearly both GM’s, are happy with the results that have come from the trade.
It could just be that this somewhat high profile trade signaled the same thing for each team. A desire to shake things up and change whatever culture needed changing. The Predators wanted scoring and the Penguins wanted a great in the room guy who could grind it out in the crease. Check and check. It may depend on if you where black and gold or blue and gold, where you fall on this debate.
Some could argue that Hornqvist has a Cup, so Pens get the nod. Not so fast Pens fans. If the Preds hoist Lord Stanley’s chalice both will even out once again. Until the Final is complete, for now the trade looks like a win-win for both teams. Both GM’s seem to agree.
You must be logged in to post a comment.