The issue is though, that Pittsburgh has a million in capspace (in total). Kunitz almost turns a Poni & Stemp package into a wash, with roughly 20 games remaining of that .8 million cost over run (.2 of that 1 million dollar buffer) and Hamhuis, at a 2 million dollar caphit, would take up about .5 of the remaining .8...it does work
again, though -- if we are to believe the pundits (and yeah, sometimes their math is shoddy) pittsburgh is looking to shed salary in order to accommodate hamhuis. this might not even be a cap issue, but could even relate to an internal budget. we don't know.
still, i think it's unlikely to see pittsburgh deal kunitz in a deal that actually adds to their salary cap. especially in a deal that doesn't really make them better since stempniak is below average and ponikarovsky and kunitz, when both healthy, represent a wash.
2011 picks, and prospects like Dustin Jeffrey, Veilleux, etc.
i very highly doubt that pittsburgh is going to shed their system of basically every single one of their (near) nhl-ready prospects, and especially not for a bunch of pending unrestricted free agents. that will really hurt them next season.
and as far as picks are concerned, i doubt very much that nashville would be interested in a second round pick in 2011 in exchange for hamhuis. if they're looking to deal him at the deadline then there will certainly be a range of options involving 2010 second round picks.
so to get a deal done involving a 2011 pick pittsburgh would likely have to table their 2011 first. which they won't do if they're dealing their 2010 first in another trade.
That's possible...but at the same time, he's 31 with 2 more years that he's somewhat overpaid for, on a team with depth issues that could potentially move him for the cost of upgrading a pick, and bring in 3 bodies for a playoff run at the cost of 1 body to their roster.
kunitz isn't overpaid at all. on a relative level he's maknig what he should be making. in my opinion he is a bad player to invest that sort of money in to, but he is earning fair market value.
in any event, i think that pittsburgh could probably deal kunitz with a 2nd or 3rd rounder for a pending ufa like ponikarovsky. he shoulnd't cost them a first round pick to ship out. and he won't.
Stemp really only takes up .625 or so down the stretch, and as you noted, would be an offensive upgrade on those guys you just named and would be a bit more of a suitable linemate for the big Pittsburgh 3 down the middle.
Do I think they covet him? No...but do I think they'd be willing to take him on as a decent 2nd-3rd line depth guy who is an upgrade over a bunch of the guys they're running out there now...yeah.
the thing is, i don't think that stempniak is more suited to playing with crosby or malkin than what the pens currently have. i also don't think he's much fo an upgrade. offensively, sure, but then wer'e talking about 25-35 point scorers vs. a 35-40 point scorer. in short, he doesn't represent a huge offensive upgrade and when all around games are taken into account, not much of an upgrade at all. he'd just be taking up money that could be better spent on a better forward.
as for how he would fit in -- he isn't nearly deferential enough with the puck to be useful with guys who need the puck to maximize their effectiveness. he's a puck hog, and i don't think that meshes well with any of pittsburgh's centres.
pittsburgh lacks depth on the wings but with those three centres has three competent lines, each featuring a good catalyst for that line. stempniak is a better fit on teams like the rangers or buffalo, which lack offensive catalysts on their third lines.
