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Barry Trotz Criticizes Kyle Dubas' New Penguins Acquisition from Nashville
Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz had some harsh words for Tommy Novak after dealing him to the Penguins.
Kyle Dubas made a major trade with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, acquiring Tommy Novak and Luke Schenn in exchange for Michael Bunting.
The trade was not much of a surprise considering the fact that Dubas and the Penguins were expected to be sellers at the deadline this year.
Those expectations only grew as the season went on and the team slipped further down the standings.
That being said, there is some debate as to whether or not Dubas got a good deal in trading Bunting.
After all, he was arguably the best player in the trade, and Tommy Novak isn't any younger, so both players would have fit the Penguin's future equally well.
Furthermore, Predators general manager Barry Trotz had some negative things to say about the 27-year-old after he dealt him to Pittsburgh.
"When he was a fourth-line, league-minimum guy and scoring while getting some sheltered minutes, that fit him just fine. When you move up the lineup, it's harder to find your space and be productive. If you want to move up the lineup and get paid more, there's more responsibility.
There's a reason that guys get the higher salaries because most nights, they're getting the harder matchups, and they're expected to produce."
There's a reason that guys get the higher salaries because most nights, they're getting the harder matchups, and they're expected to produce."
That being said, Novak's analytics are actually really strong. Granted, each team has their own private models, so perhaps the Predators were not seeing the same things Dubas and his team do.
Novak has 13 goals and 22 points in 52 games this year compared to Bunting's14 goals and 29 points in 58 games.
| POLL | ||
MARS 8 | 323 ANSWERS Barry Trotz Criticizes Kyle Dubas' New Penguins Acquisition from Nashville Do you think Tommy Novak will be a good fit for Kyle Dubas' Penguins? | ||
| Yes | 217 | 67.2 % |
| No | 106 | 32.8 % |
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