I think it's a bad trade. Shero gave too much to Atlanta even if the Pens resign Hossa. If Hossa leaves this summer...
They dealt the future for a rent a wing... even if he can be signed, he is already 33 if I remember correctly... old by hockey standards.
I don't think they gave up too much, nor did they deal the future for Hossa. The future of this team is with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and neither of those players is going to be going anywhere for a very long time.
Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen are both solid players, but nothing more. Both were third liners on this team - meaning, they weren't important to our current or future success. Colby's value to this team was greatest off the ice - his locker room presence is what is going to be missed most. As far as his on ice ability, he was a grinder that we can replace. Christensen was an inconsistent "goal scorer" that really didn't score that many goals. He received the most playing time when he adapted his play to a style similar to Armstrong. Again, that type of player can be replaced.
Both Colby and Christensen missed a considerable amount of time this season and it didn't hurt the team all that much.
Angelo Esposito is an unknown at this point. What we do know is that he was a C that was blocked on the depth chart by 1) Sidney Crosby, 2) Evgeni Malkin, and 3) Jordan Staal. All of those players are under 21 years old. We have depth at the C position. Deal from depth is the mantra. That is what we did.
The first round pick shouldn't be that big of a loss, either. Odds are good that it will be an extremely low first round pick.
The Penguins put themselves in an excellent position to go very deep in the playoffs without giving up any key players. Everybody that is important to the future of this team - Crosby, Malkin, Whitney, Letang, Staal, and Fleury - are all still present and accounted for. Even if Hossa leaves in the offseason, taking a real run at the Cup was worth moving a couple spare parts - even when those parts are fan favorites like Colby.
I think this was an EXCELLENT trade. Both in terms of how it improves this team and prevents a team like Montreal from improving. No other team in the East, outside of Washington, did anything to improve their team. The Penguins catapulted themselves to the top of the heap in the East. I would be very surprised if the Pens don't end up #1 in the East.
As far as their chances of re-signing Hossa...it is going to be tough. Maybe Hossa will take less knowing that he would be a perennial 50 goal scorer and Cup favorite by staying in Pittsburgh. I like to think that kind of mentality still exists in today's sports world.
