Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Grades: Assessing Each Transaction in 2014-15

Grade: A

Despite his lackluster performance down the stretch, David Perron is an outstanding player. He’s a rare talent that will prove to fit perfectly with either Crosby or Malkin.

There’s a lot of concern over the fact that Rutherford traded another first-round pick in this deal, which the Pens have done all too often. But, Perron isn’t a rental. And, a former co-writer that I worked with put it best when he said that Perron is basically what the Oilers hope this first-round pick turns into.

It’s very possible that in this crazy turn of events Rutherford may have replaced Neal with another very capable scorer, and still has Hornqvist to pair him with. I imagine a line consisting of Perron, Crosby, and Hornqvist will be quite impressive long-term. He can also flank Evgeni Malkin and be very successful.

Perron, like Neal before him, will get better with time and experience on this team.