Pens Trade Mark Letestu to Columbus for 2012 Fourth Round Pick

by Hooks Orpik on Nov 8, 2011 8:29 PM EST

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired a fourth-round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Draft – which will be held in Pittsburgh – from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Mark Letestu, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Pittsburgh will now own eight selections in the 2012 NHL Draft, slated to be held June 22-23, 2012 at CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins have one choice in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and two in the fourth round.

Letestu established himself as an NHL player last season, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists in a breakout campaign that saw him rose to top line minutes with injuries to players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. This season Letestu, a former coach's favorite, found himself often on the 4th line or the odd man out of the lineup.

This trade leaves the Penguins with 21 players on the NHL roster, potentially opening up a spot for Crosby's long awaited return from IR. However, it may be early to jump to that conclusion- Columbus has been in a tailspin and badly needs centers. They probably pushed the issue to make Shero make this trade now. As of now, even without Letestu the Pens could still line up Malkin, Jordan Staal, Richard Park, Joe Vitale, Craig Adams, Dustin Jeffrey as all potential centers. So it's a little premature to say this move definitely signals Crosby's immediate return.

As for Letestu, this should be a good chance for him to re-establish his NHL career and hopefully be able to get back on track. For whatever reason he had just an awful start of the year, and for a team that has Crosby-Malkin-Staal up the middle, it's obviously going to be tough to get much a chance to play.

For the team, hey they just mined an undrafted free agent into a very good AHL contributor into an NHL player into a future draft pick. Good asset management there to develop Letestu, give him a chance to stick in the NHL and then still get something of value out of him.

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make room for Sid? I hope so.

Is Sid ready yet?

by Lindas1st on Nov 8, 2011 8:31 PM EST reply actions

Basically acquired a late 3rd round pick the way Columbus is playing so I like the deal.

by Geno McFleury on Nov 8, 2011 8:34 PM EST reply actions

Loved ya, Testy. Gonna miss ya.

Good luck!

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by GiuseppeD on Nov 8, 2011 9:13 PM EST reply actions

Definitely a good chance for Letestu to kickstart his career again. But man – a fourth rounder? Sounds like the Pens got the short end of the stick, but I guess that’s what you get for a fringe guy who showed some decent upside before getting injured.

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by FrankD on Nov 8, 2011 9:23 PM EST reply actions

Not really...

Considering that Letestu has done squat since coming back from knee surgery, getting a 4th round pick is very good considering the circumstances.

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by Bradley James McEachern on Nov 8, 2011 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

It’s a early 4th rounder or lose him for nothing on the waiver wire. Shero wasn’t in the drivers seat in this trade so to get an early 4th which is basically a late 3rd is pretty good.

by Geno McFleury on Nov 8, 2011 9:40 PM EST up reply actions

I agree completely.

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by Bradley James McEachern on Nov 8, 2011 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Agree good trade. All that said best of luck for Letestu.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 8, 2011 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with you, Frank. Dude, a 4th rounder? What’s the probability a 4th rounder appears in an NHL game, let alone as a regular? Yeah, I know Zetterberg was taken in the 7th round and Datsyuk was taken in the 6th round…

But still, those are the super rare exceptions. Check this article out:

http://proicehockey.about.com/od/prospects/f/draft_success.htm

- 63% of first round picks become successful NHLers*
- 25% of second round picks become successful NHLers*
- 12% of third round picks become successful NHLers*

Successful NHLer defined as players that have played at least 200 games in the NHL from draft sample taken between 1990-1999. Read the article for more details.

No numbers were given for 4th round picks but I’m guessing they’d be worse than 12% success rates for third round picks making it in the NHL as regulars. Anyway, as it pertains to Letestu for a 4th rounder. The Pens are giving up an asset with NHL experience for a less than 1 in 8 chance for a similar return. Pens definitely got the short end of the stick on this one…

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by gorgalor on Nov 9, 2011 3:25 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Good numbers gorgalor.

To be honest, I’m surprised Letestu even got a 4th rounder. As Shero said, several teams called about him and the 4th rounder (likely to be a high 4th rounder, given Columbus’ place in the standings) was the best offer available.

Phoenix just gave up a 4th rounder for Cal O’Reilly a few weeks ago. O’Reilly and Letestu are similiar players but O’Reilly is younger and arguably has a little more of a ceiling in the NHL due to his hands and vision.

Pensburgh

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by Hooks Orpik on Nov 9, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

that’s all well and good, but you only have 23 spots on a roster and sometimes as a good organization you let the guy go in order to continue his career rather than bury him in the AHL when you have no use for him anymore. Letestu is way down on our pecking order right now so getting a 4th rounder is fair value IMO

by AronV on Nov 9, 2011 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

What’s the probability a 4th rounder appears in an NHL game, let alone as a regular?

well, to be honest idk, but then again what are the chances an undrafted free agent like Letestu makes it to the NHL?

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by C Shint on Nov 9, 2011 9:50 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, exactly. The odds are probably against this draft pick becoming an NHL player, but turning an undrafted rookie into a 4th round pick is a big step up in terms of asset management.

Especially since you’ve got TK and Crosby coming off IR sooner than later and Shero would have had to waive Letestu (or Park or Vitale) if he couldn’t trade one. 4th round pick is infinitely better than losing one of those guys for nothing.

Pensburgh

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by Hooks Orpik on Nov 9, 2011 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

agreed

we turned nothing into something traded for something rather than losing that something for nothing…..if that makes sense

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Nov 9, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I see it as trade ammo for the deadline

by Piratefan13 on Nov 9, 2011 6:37 AM EST reply actions

That’s what I was thinking.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Nov 9, 2011 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

This will be one to regret if/when any of the big 3 go down again. But the change of scenery will probably be good for the little hobbit.

by Skyff on Nov 9, 2011 6:41 AM EST reply actions

Letestu was an undrafted player. The Pens invested time and money in him. Now they received a 4th round pick, becaise that’s his market value. This is largely due to Letestu poor play, since coming back from his injury. Eventually the Pens may use that draft choice on another trade, rather than actually drafting a player with it. So any calculation or speculation, about who that player may be or chances of playing in the NHL are premature at best. In any case Letestu, with the team having all the players was by far the odd man out. He may fit with the Blue Jackets, because of their lack of depth. It is not like Shero traded a first line center. It’s like a financial market sometimes you earn a return on your investment, sometimes you don’t. Way to early to say what Shero will do wtih this draft choice.

The Hockey Dr.

by Outcast on Nov 9, 2011 10:32 AM EST reply actions

Loved his play last year but we have to move talent

I think this will be another smart move by our organization in the long run. The 90’s Penguins championship teams scattered to the four winds slowly but surely as well, e.g. Bob Errey and Ron Francis. We can either shop spare talent now or lose them in contract talks down the road. Our defensive depth chart for the next few years is even trickier than our center depth, in my fan’s opinion.

Letestu gets the chance for more minutes right off the bat to get out of a sophomore slump. Heck he’ll probably get minutes with Rick Nash while others are injured.

by Labo on Nov 9, 2011 11:56 AM EST reply actions