The two trades as of recent that Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has made for young forwards are different in their own ways. But they can also be compared because Dubas to a degree executed his plan that he has set out for some time now.
Dubas has made it clear that he wanted to sell off veteran pieces and stockpile his draft picks for the future. And then he said that he wanted to keep some of the picks to use on future pieces of the organization and use some of the picks in trades to bring in young forwards for the future.
He did exactly this when he acquired forwards Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators and Yegor Chinakov from the Columbus Blue Jackets. But the trades have been different in the capital that was given up because of the kind of players that the two are.
When Tomasino was acquired, Dubas only gave up a fourth-round pick and Tomasino looked like he belonged playing with Evgeni Malkin for a while last season. He eventually got demoted to Wilkes-Barre Scranton after not doing much of anything this season.
But the price that Dubas paid to acquire Chinakov this year, was vastly different. He gave up a depth forward that has jumped from team to team, a 2nd-round pick and a third-round pick. This trade was different because Chinakov is known for being that guy that has a killer shot.
Tomasino had 71 points in 159 games played in the NHL for the Predators before he came over to the Penguins and put up 24 points in 59 games before being demoted to the AHL. Chinakov is different as he had 77 points in 204 games played, but he is more offensive and dynamic.
Both players needed a change of scenery and for now it seems like Tomasino is not working out in Pittsburgh but him and Chinakov are around the same age of 24/25. Chinakov needs a change of scenery as he can really help the Penguins in the middle six and the powerplay.
Lately in Columbus, he was playing fourth line minutes and not really contributing. The same happened with Tomasino in Pittsburgh this season until he was demoted. But Dubas and Penguins fans are really hoping this trade was worth it as the price was significantly higher to get Chinakov than it was Tomasino.
For the time being Tomasino is playing top line minutes in Wilkes-Barre and has been lighting it up. Chinakov could get a shot with Sidney Crosby or play with Ben Kindel and Rutger McGroarty/Ville Koivunen. Only time will tell what head coach Dan Muse is thinking, the thinking around the Penguins building is that they hope it works out and the price paid was worth it.