The problem with the system is that the defenseman on the backend don't fit the system and are hindering the offense so swapping out 1-2 parts that don't fit on the backend for 1-2 parts that do fit the system will absolutely improve things greatly. People seem to want to ignore the fact that the system has already been proven effective when they had proper fits on the backend with Letang, Martin, Ehrhoff, Despres and Maata as 5 of the 6 defenseman. The system in it's current form was tweaked to adjust for players coming into the lineup that weren't capable of handling the roles the players lost both through injury at the end of last season and FA in the offseason.

With no real viable replacements for the coaching position the first move should be to address the issues on the backend and see if that gets them back to the dominance the current system showed when it had the proper peices, adding 1-2 legit PMDs will make this a completely different team and no Pouliot isn't that answer yet.
- jaydogg1974

Got news for you, the forwards don't match the system either. This Pens team is NOT equipped to play a slow paced fall back and collapse down low system almost anywhere in the lineup. They are bottom 10 in every defensive stat, bottom 15 in most offensive stats, and top 5 in most goaltending stats. Making sweeping system changes can only improve this team.

Yep. All the meaningful upgrades are going to be expensive and Pens have the least amount of future assets to use. Getting a Hamhuis-caliber dman is pointless. He's no better than Dumoulin/Maatta/Lovejoy and the team system is still broken.
- jfkst1

DOn't lumpe Lovejoy in with those other 2, Hamhuis is a vast improvement over Lovejoy and it's Scuderi and Lovejoy that need to be upgraded and removed from the lineup. They and Dupuis were the weakest links. 1 down, 2 to go.

I agree 100%. The old man's first move should be telling Coach Farce to kick rocks. Then he can assess team needs and trade options.
- Victoro311

I thought this to, but is it really that much better to trade under an interim coach? No doubt in my mind that Johnston should be fired asap. I'm just looking at it objectively that trading while having a coach thats might not stay isnt all that much more safe.

Oshie and Swartz are not even close. Swartz is a rising 2 way super star. Oshie is the most overrated played in the league. They are not comparable.
- Dcoms

Just saying that the org is prone to mistakes. At the end of the day, with our limited assets, the only way we'll make a trade is if another organization makes s mistake. StL is stacked on RD but are limited at LD and have expressed interest in Kunitz as recently as this offseason. It's not outlandish that they'd be interested in that package, regardless of whether or not Schwartz is untouchable

The other day I saw a Canes fan wanting to trade Justin Faulk for some absurd reason so maybe you have a shot at him?
- BINGO!

I'd be very interested, he is exactly what we need. The price is the sticking point.

How about Ben Lovejoy for Andrew Cogliano?
- Dcoms

Ducks don't want/need Lovejoy back unless you want to take Bieksa or Stoner in return. Absolutely no need to lose a scoring forward for a bad older D when we have more young D than spots for them now.

DOn't lumpe Lovejoy in with those other 2, Hamhuis is a vast improvement over Lovejoy and it's Scuderi and Lovejoy that need to be upgraded and removed from the lineup. They and Dupuis were the weakest links. 1 down, 2 to go.
- Dcoms

I have no idea why you hate Lovejoy so much. It's not his fault he was traded for Despres. He's fine in his role. Some of that is probably due to this conservative system being a better fit for his skill set, but he is far superior to Scuderi.

I'd be very interested, he is exactly what we need. The price is the sticking point.
- Dcoms

There's no way the Canes are giving him up for anything other than an absurd overpayment. It was a joke, sir.

Murrray is untouchable, you don't just happen upon a franchise goalie and you sure don't trade him for any of that trash. The Blues will never trade Swartz and the other 3 guys could be had for much less. Vbata is not a bad idea provided he can be obtained for not too much.
- Dcoms

The guy has never faced an NHL shot and he's already a franchise goalie? I surely wouldn't want to just give the guy away but he's completely unproven and nothing more than a prospect at this point so if someone overvalued him because of his AHL performance which is pretty much irrelevant to NHL success he should be gone in 60 seconds.

I have no idea why you hate Lovejoy so much. It's not his fault he was traded for Despres. He's fine in his role. Some of that is probably due to this conservative system being a better fit for his skill set, but he is far superior to Scuderi.
- jfkst1

At a 1/3 of the price

DOn't lumpe Lovejoy in with those other 2, Hamhuis is a vast improvement over Lovejoy and it's Scuderi and Lovejoy that need to be upgraded and removed from the lineup. They and Dupuis were the weakest links. 1 down, 2 to go.
- Dcoms

Lovejoy has been better than most give him credit for. The ones that are truly the worst right now are Letang and Scuds. If Lovejoy continues playing how he is till the end of the season he will have had an alright season. Hopefully the pens let him walk after this year. But for now he isnt nearly as bad as many people let on.

I have no idea why you hate Lovejoy so much. It's not his fault he was traded for Despres. He's fine in his role. Some of that is probably due to this conservative system being a better fit for his skill set, but he is far superior to Scuderi.
- jfkst1

He's not a good player that is why. I'm not an advanced stats kind of guy and I watch Lovejoy lose his cover multiple time which lead to multiple goals. Just look at the playoffs last year. He is ZERO threat to score or make a decent breakout pass. He's not very big or physical. He's a 6-7 guys at the very best that is playing because Rutherford insisted on trading for him and he doesn't want to be proven wrong. Just like last year in the AHL the numbers for that pairing are good because Dumoulin can carry Lovejoy on his back and bail him out most of the time. Just imagine how good Dumoulin will be with a competent partner that he doesn't have to babysit?

Ducks don't want/need Lovejoy back unless you want to take Bieksa or Stoner in return. Absolutely no need to lose a scoring forward for a bad older D when we have more young D than spots for them now.
- Random35

How about Scuderi for Getzlaf?

The guy has never faced an NHL shot and he's already a franchise goalie? I surely wouldn't want to just give the guy away but he's completely unproven and nothing more than a prospect at this point so if someone overvalued him because of his AHL performance which is pretty much irrelevant to NHL success he should be gone in 60 seconds.
- jaydogg1974

Did he not singlehandedly win the game in Johnstown in the offseason against Tamps full complement of players? I'm pretty sure he did, and he looked great doing it. He robbed Stamkos point blank. It would take something crazy good for me to even think about parting with Murray or Jarry at this point. and we still have Maguire coming up through college who looks like the real deal.

You would really be the guy that traded Mathew Murray for Carl Gunnarson? That would go donw in history as bad, bad, bad.

Terrible deal for the ducks Fowler is just entering his prime and mobile defense is at a premium. Also Fowler is still a RFA when his contract is up.
- ky678468

Might need to check that. While Fowler will be 26, he'll be an 8 year pro. I think UFA status is 27 years OR 7 years pro.

Buffalo, despite loading up their team, find them at the bottom of the standings yet again.

2nd(from Vancouver) and Guentzel to Buffalo for Franson

The trade for fowler would take alot more then hornquist. How about trade with the sabres.

Pits get Franson, Tyler Ennis and Sabres 3rd

For

Buffalo gets Beau Bennett, Derrick Pouliot and pits first

Pits gets top four dman and highly skilled foward who has lead our team in points with no help past years.

Sabres get high level prospects that are close or ready to play in the nhl and pick/prospects they can use to get fowler. Sabres have been talking about getting fowler all year.

Might need to check that. While Fowler will be 26, he'll be an 8 year pro. I think UFA status is 27 years OR 7 years pro.
- quackup

Yeah he will be a UFA, not RFA

Buffalo, despite loading up their team, find them at the bottom of the standings yet again.

2nd(from Vancouver) and Guentzel to Buffalo for Franson
- cap1681

If buffalo is willing to sell Franson, I'm in if the price is right despite him being not good at all in Buffalo. This is all assuming we have a new coach who implements a competent system and is willing to sit Scuderi instead of Dumoulin or Cole for Franson.

The trade for fowler would take alot more then hornquist. How about trade with the sabres.

Pits get Franson, Tyler Ennis and Sabres 3rd

For

Buffalo gets Beau Bennett, Derrick Pouliot and pits first

Pits gets top four dman and highly skilled foward who has lead our team in points with no help past years.

Sabres get high level prospects that are close or ready to play in the nhl and pick/prospects they can use to get fowler. Sabres have been talking about getting fowler all year.
- hanleyaj

...the (frank)? That is some TML-level overvaluing of players.

How about Crosby and Malkin for a 4th while we're at it?

Buffalo, despite loading up their team, find them at the bottom of the standings yet again.

2nd(from Vancouver) and Guentzel to Buffalo for Franson
- cap1681

Sabres are looking for NHL ready players now. They are ready to compete now and not looking for prospects anymore.

The trade for fowler would take alot more then hornquist. How about trade with the sabres.

Pits get Franson, Tyler Ennis and Sabres 3rd

For

Buffalo gets Beau Bennett, Derrick Pouliot and pits first

Pits gets top four dman and highly skilled foward who has lead our team in points with no help past years.

Sabres get high level prospects that are close or ready to play in the nhl and pick/prospects they can use to get fowler. Sabres have been talking about getting fowler all year.
- hanleyaj

Hahahahahahahahahaah, no no no no. Bennet and Innis are pretty much a wash and we are not trading a young, former CHL defenseman of the year for a 38 year old career bottom pairing Scuderi clone. AND YOU WANT A FIRST AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, that would be embarrassing.

Hahahahahahahahahaah, no no no no. Bennet and Innis are pretty much a wash and we are not trading a young, former CHL defenseman of the year for a 38 year old career bottom pairing Scuderi clone. AND YOU WANT A FIRST AS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, that would be embarrassing.
- Dcoms

It said Gorges first and you chancged it to Franson, less laughs but still a big fat no way

He's not a good player that is why. I'm not an advanced stats kind of guy and I watch Lovejoy lose his cover multiple time which lead to multiple goals. Just look at the playoffs last year. He is ZERO threat to score or make a decent breakout pass. He's not very big or physical. He's a 6-7 guys at the very best that is playing because Rutherford insisted on trading for him and he doesn't want to be proven wrong. Just like last year in the AHL the numbers for that pairing are good because Dumoulin can carry Lovejoy on his back and bail him out most of the time. Just imagine how good Dumoulin will be with a competent partner that he doesn't have to babysit?
- Dcoms

I think you have Sammy levels of pessimism on Lovejoy. He's not great at anything, but he's not a liability either. He's fine as 4/5D.

I think you have Sammy levels of pessimism on Lovejoy. He's not great at anything, but he's not a liability either. He's fine as 4/5D.
- jfkst1

This. When he plays in his allotted spot, he's fine. When he's cast as a top-pair defenseman, the team is basically doomed.