Normally, a trade as minor as this one wouldn't receive a full write-up on this blog, but I have a free minute and the deal was between the two teams I've watched more than any other, so here goes:
Columbus needs more players like Letestu. Let me also add that ever since I wrote a post defending Mason, he's been horrendous. But still, the reason Columbus is 2-11-1 instead of 5-7-1 is because they aren't getting secondary scoring, they have injuries, their defense is lost at (most) times, and their depth forwards don't do the things Pittsburgh's depth forwards do.
Want to know the reason Pittsburgh is an elite team without Crosby and Malkin? It's because their forward core is ridiculously deep. Letestu is the kind of player who you can get for cheap that can help you win games. He wins faceoffs, has incredible offensive awareness for a player of his role, and generally won't hurt you with stupid penalties or poor positioning.
This is probably a set-up for a bigger move, even though Scott Howson says it isn't, because Columbus has center depth like they've never had in the history of the franchise, and they'd be dumb to just sit on that when they have so many holes elsewhere. Every hockey writer in the business can start speculating about a Derick Brassard trade now. Truth be told, if they give Letestu his minutes, they aren't going to be losing much in the short term. Letestu can play, and he's cheap. Pittsburgh just has about 14 forwards better than he. Most teams don't.
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