Pens about to make a trade? Mark Letestu could be on the block
by Hooks Orpik on Nov 4, 2011 10:31 AM EDT
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Andy Strickland, a reputable reporter out of St. Louis, seems to think the Pens might be looking to make a trade soon.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are deep up the middle. Almost too deep which is why GM Ray Shero will likely be forced to make a move sometime in the near future. Sources confirm the Penguins have had conversations with multiple clubs about moving center Mark Letestu.
A number of Pittsburgh forwards have spent time on the shelf this season including Tyler Kennedy Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and of course Sidney Crosby.
Each of these players skated Thursday and are due back in the near future. This includes Crosby who I'm told could return from his concussion as soon as a week from now.
In the meantime the Penguins know they will likely be forced to make a roster move, for now Letestu appears to be the odd man out.
What would another team give up for Letestu? He doesn't have much of an NHL track record and he's had a very slow start to the year, so probably not much. Cal O'Reilly, who's younger and better regarded, only fetched a 4th round pick in a minor trade earlier this season. Letestu's price would probably be even lower than that, especially since he has a one-way contract for this season and next.
Our thoughts here? Let's just hope Crosby is able to return next week and that no one else goes down to injury in the interim. The Pens might have to prepare to make a move to stay under the 23 man limit, and surely Crosby's return will overshadow any roster move, but for now who knows what will play out from now to then...If Crosby even will make his return from the IR next week.
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* * puts on wizard hat * *
Should have sold high early last season. He was playing so well, and we needed that. But who could have foretold what was coming in the second half of the season to force him into regular play? Nobody, of course.
Hindsight. 20/20 and all that.
Obvious positive side that makes you feel better about this problem: Crosby comes back.
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Nov 4, 2011 11:23 AM EDT reply actions
Sell last season? I assume you meant off-season, since given the Crosby/Malkin injuries.
Maybe so, but Letestu did look good then, even as a possible 3C and a guy who could force a Malkin/Staal shift to the wing for top 6.
If anything Shero may regret most giving him a 2 year contract, that could make Letestu a little tougher to trade this season.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
For the record, i was never, ever sold on him being the 3C.
I also feel he would be snatched up if he were to be waived, so I don’t think Shero will or should regret the contract they agreed to.
I don’t think it’ll be a big regret. It could be an issue of ‘can I trade him for a late round pick, or am I going to have to waive him and get nothing’.
Obviously not a big deal, but for asset management purposes the Penguins have invested a lot of time/money in developing Letestu the past few years. Would be nice to see them get something for him, you know?
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
Yea I did mean off-season, I guess I just mis-typed.
I think you’re right about the 2-year contract part. I think he’d be a worthwhile fill-in for another team for the remainder of this year given they’re (whoever they are) current injuries/lack of depth at center. But that second year would definitely make most, if not all, GMs pause in an instance like that.
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Nov 4, 2011 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
But who could have foretold what was coming in the second half of the season to force him into regular play?
That would be me. I wanted to trade him after his hot start last season. This can be verified if someone knows how to link to old comments.
Put on your dancin' shoes.
Then you must own that wizard hat I referenced above. I’ll put it back in the mail to you this afternoon. =P
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Nov 4, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that we should all not count our eggs before they are hatched in the case of Sid, last I heard he was in “no rush” and would not be back “anytime soon”
Also, its Shero! He can get some good return for Letestu, who is floundering with 4-5 solid centers above him on the depth chart. Crosby, malkin, Staal, Adams, Park, Vitale has been playing his butt off, TK can play some C add how Richard Park has played and Letestu is really not needed anymore!
Sorry Mark, best of luck! I like the kid, but if you don’t score on this team there are plenty of other guys who will capitalize on that.
Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll!
There’s no doubt Park and Vitale have showed a lot more this season than Letestu. Don’t know how to explain it- Jeffrey’s been quiet, but he’s working to get back in the groove from his ACL surgery, so you can understand that. Letestu has no such obvious reason for a drop.
Your last sentence sums up a lot- if you’re not scoring, and you’re not a big time checker/grinder/PK’er, there’s not much use for you in the NHL and you won’t be staying on one team for a long time. A sad but true fact of hockey life.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
I hate to make this comparison, but a lot like Talbot – Letestu’s days may be numbered. Max and Mark had top line time last year and did not impress…not to say that is what I judge them by because they are both hard workers, but for an organization to take you from lines 1 – 2 -3 – 4 most if not all of last year, and now this year he is (when people are not hurt) a healthy scratch, maybe a new team would be better for everyone. Point to Nick Johnson here too.
But he is a solid guy, just a victim of the numbers. He will be good somewhere else, I just don’t think that somewhere is a healthy Pittsburgh Penguins team.
Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll!
by PensForTheWin on Nov 4, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s either trade him for a draft pick or lose him via waivers. He’s a competant centre that some team has room on their roster for.
"It's a great day for hockey" - Badger Bob
by StripesForLife on Nov 4, 2011 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Right, because when Sid is ready to come off IR someone would have to go to stay under the 23 man roster limit.
Park and Vitale were seen, once upon a time as candidates to be waived, but both would have to clear waivers. Both have played well enough to stick around.
Letestu seems like the odd man out, one way or another.
"You come at the King, you best not miss."
The only team I can see picking him up , would be the Wild, because of knowledge of him as a player by the GM and the coach. Having said that he won’t be worth more than a 4th round pick. Letestu’s problems with the Pens is that he has no role to play. As pointed out already, he is no grinder and he is not a goal scorer. Faceoff below average. Not useful in penalty killing either, all with the Pens. Which doesn’t mean Fletcher doesn’t think he’ll fit with the Wild.
The Hockey Dr.
Below average faceoff? What the..? I realize the guy has had a bad start to the season, but really. Fabricating things to make him look even worse is just silly, his stat line is bad enough with 0-1-1 in 10 games. 56.2% this season and 55.4% last season is anything but below average, it’s damned near elite.
I’m sorry to single you out like this, in general I’m just unhappy with the lack of loyalty around these parts towards our players.
Get any type of draft pick you can possibly get. Look at how many stars in the NHL were late round picks and lead their teams every year. It happens and we could get lucky in that regard.
I’m more confident in finding a trade for Letestu because aren’t there quite a few teams still close to the salary cap floor and/or still trying to find their foundation for a rebuild?
Argee
Good point, we either waive him and a rebuilding team takes him on the hope that he grows with the team or we trade him for any kind of a draft pick to work a new guy into our system.
I will say that we will miss him in 2-3 years when he hits his hockey professional prime at 3-4 years in the league. Perhaps he even will end up back on the roster like Richard Park.
His instincts are good, its just a matter of conditioning and experience at this point of his career. The whole situation sucks because I see him ending up like some of the guys we developed in the 90’s and had to move for salary issues. Most of them turned out OK professionally. On the other hand, our management continues to be a step ahead of others.
Heck, at this point we’ll take any warm, non-injured bodies to throw behind the blue line.
by Zuhbeenick Mickhawlick on Nov 4, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m guessing that they wouldn’t be allowed to trade their first and decide that’s the first they want to nullify, but if they could…that would be devilish.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Nov 5, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
what in the hell? Am I drunk or is your grammar that bad?
by Geno McFleury on Nov 5, 2011 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t think it’s my grammar. I think I made one mistake, though
“decide that that’s the first”
in addition to the common referring to a team in the plural third person instead of singular.
Red Line Station and @RedArmyLine, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
I believe in next year.
by red army line on Nov 5, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Depth in WBS is critical
If Letestu does not need to clear waivers, send him down & let him work on his game, rebuild his confidence & get ready to come back up. It looks like we are cursed & will need the depth from the minors. Would he be the first forward called up? Don’t know. But he would not be the last.
If last year taught us anything, depth is not over rated.
Unless we can rob somebody and get a 1 or 2 for him, keep him in the system.
by Steeler Nation VA on Nov 5, 2011 9:38 AM EDT reply actions
If Letestu does not need to clear waivers
Well, that’s the problem. He does need to – and, moreover, he would stand little chance of passing through.
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
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