This team and I use that word very loosely better wake up. They are only 6 pts out of the bottom of the league. But maybe that is the plan. Tank it and get Mathews next year and trade Crosby. Now wouldn't that be interesting. Youth in the lineup....I don't like it......I love it Bazinga

Hopefully the Bieksa situation will change when Despres returns. Him being out has really messed up the D pairings and resulted in way more minutes for Bieksa than he needs.

As for Vatanen, I don't see them letting him go right now. Only Perry has more goals this year and he is 3rd on the team w/ points. Seems like trading him away would be a spectacularly bad move for a Ducks team desperate for scoring of any sort
- Random35

Appreciate the feedback.
I think it would be dumb to trade Vatanen. But I also thought it was dumb for Rutherford to trade Despres for Lovejoy and dumb for Murray to sign Kesler to that ridiculous deal or trade for Bieksa. GMs make poor decisions all the time.

Is it safe to say that HCMJ is staying until at least Jan 1, so that the Pens don't have to give up a pick to get someone else who is under contract?
- chimpira

How long is his contract? Isn't it they only sacrifice a pick if he gets picked up during that contract? What GM would be stupid enough to need a new coach and say hey lets get that guy Pittsburgh fired that got Crosby, Malkin, Kessel to play like crap and not be in a playoff position! He's exactly what this franchise needs!

How long is his contract? Isn't it they only sacrifice a pick if he gets picked up during that contract? What GM would be stupid enough to need a new coach and say hey lets get that guy Pittsburgh fired that got Crosby, Malkin, Kessel to play like crap and not be in a playoff position! He's exactly what this franchise needs!
- sammy87

His contract is 3 years. But I think he makes peanuts compared to most NHL coaches. And yeah, if he keeps this up, I can't envision him getting another NHL HC job.

If that's the case, Perron and a 4th for Franson
- cap1681

I'd be willing to give the sabers their 3rd round pick back for Franson. Thats about it.

His contract is 3 years. But I think he makes peanuts compared to most NHL coaches. And yeah, if he keeps this up, I can't envision him getting another NHL HC job.
- jfkst1

Either way, Jan 1 isn't far away. Its only 11 games.

Ekblab is the Dman I would love on this team.

Beau Bennett is already 24 and played multiple years in NHL with players like Crosby and Malkin. If you can not put up points with them then u prolly not going to make it. Ennis put up 50 points with Gionta and Desauries last year. one is 40 and the other was rookie 4th liner.
- hanleyaj

I would agree completely that Ennis is a considerable upgrade over Bennett, he's a player I've been saying would be a good fit in our top 6 for a few years now but the difference between Ennis and Bennett isn't enough to justify Franson/3rd for Pouliot/1st. It's probably not even enough to justify the trade if you flipped the picks and made it Franson/1st for Poliot/3rd but that might be close. Ennis+Franson+1st for Bennett+Pouliot+3rd.

Either way, Jan 1 isn't far away. Its only 11 games.

Ekblab is the Dman I would love on this team.
- sammy87

Good luck with that. It isn't happening.

can someone tell this chump that bennet doesnt get to play with crosby or malkin
- pensfan024

That is even worse. He cant make your top six and u have players like Kunitz(to old and should be on third line now), Perron (is not offensive player needs to be on third line) and Hornquist ( most over rated player, he is not that good). Beau Bennett (not young player i guess because he is 24) can not make top 6 over them. Really

Either way, Jan 1 isn't far away. Its only 11 games.

Ekblab is the Dman I would love on this team.
- sammy87

Not even malkin would get u ekblad

Either way, Jan 1 isn't far away. Its only 11 games.

Ekblab is the Dman I would love on this team.
- sammy87

Ekblad is the wettest of dreams. Never gonna happen.

Ekblad is the wettest of dreams.
- jfkst1

Penguins don't have the assets to get Ekblad.

Fowler is ours!!

Penguins don't have the assets to get Ekblad.
- cap1681

Not even close. In fact, I don't think there is a single young dman with more value than Ekblad. He might have been the best 18 year old dman the NHL has ever had.

Does anybody know anything about Mark Fayne?? He seemed to be a good defenseman in NJ, but his play has been down in Edmonton (surprise).

Well for one, there are more capable PMD at his disposal that he chooses not to play.
Secondly, these tweaks are making everyone perform at career lows- not just the dmen. So while he might have avoided the iceberg straight ahead, he has crashed headfirst into another one. If Johnston's system requires a top 5 blue line like he had last season, then he isn't a good coach.
Thirdly, one different dman is not going to be nearly enough to have dramatically alter the team's system.
- jfkst1

Well for one, it isn't just about having a capable PMD it's about having a capable PMD who is also a capable player defensively which is why he really doesn't have any other options at his disposal right now, Clendening wouldn't be a horrible option for the bottom pairing but he isn't moving the needle and Pouliot does improve 1 area but seriously diminishes the other area.

Secondly, I never said he needed a top 5 defense to effectively run his system but he does need a competent defense to effectively run his system no different than any other coach in the NHL, they all need players capable of running their systems for them to be effective.

Thirdly, I never said 1 defenseman but even if I did it would make a HUGE difference.
Letang-Maata
Doumlin-PMD
Lovejoy-Clendening/Pouliot when ready

And you have a completely different team capable of running the system similar to how we saw it run at the beginning of last season.

Does anybody know anything about Mark Fayne?? He seemed to be a good defenseman in NJ, but his play has been down in Edmonton (surprise).
- cap1681

He's like the type of dman that will be available to Pittsburgh- not terrible but really only a 4D at best. No measurable upgrade.

For the love of god, will you stop trying to trade Hornqvist every time a trade option pops up. He's one of about 3 guys in that forward rank with any skill that actually plays hockey in a way that will win in the playoffs (ie. plays within 10 feet of the cage)

That his coach and teammates want to play fancy or lazy perimeter hockey STILL after years of futility doesn't make him the problem.

How long is his contract? Isn't it they only sacrifice a pick if he gets picked up during that contract? What GM would be stupid enough to need a new coach and say hey lets get that guy Pittsburgh fired that got Crosby, Malkin, Kessel to play like crap and not be in a playoff position! He's exactly what this franchise needs!
- sammy87

I mean, if the Pens get someone to replace HCMJ before Jan 1, they'd have to give a pick to that team. So they probably won't replace him until that stipulation is gone.

You're thinking of someone else picking up HCMJ which is unlikely.

Well for one, it isn't just about having a capable PMD it's about having a capable PMD who is also a capable player defensively which is why he really doesn't have any other options at his disposal right now, Clendening wouldn't be a horrible option for the bottom pairing but he isn't moving the needle and Pouliot does improve 1 area but seriously diminishes the other area.

Secondly, I never said he needed a top 5 defense to effectively run his system but he does need a competent defense to effectively run his system no different than any other coach in the NHL, they all need players capable of running their systems for them to be effective.

Thirdly, I never said 1 defenseman but even if I did it would make a HUGE difference.
Letang-Maata
Doumlin-PMD
Lovejoy-Clendening/Pouliot when ready

And you have a completely different team capable of running the system similar to how we saw it run at the beginning of last season.
- jaydogg1974

He didn't have to play Cole so long on the top pairing. He doesn't have to dress Scuderi much less play him on the top pairing. Pouliot/Clendening are very capable puck movers and will make a difference over the course of the season. In addition to likely improving. Pens are bottom 5/10 in every isolated defensive stat. They couldn't possibly get any worse defensively. Letang, Maatta, and Cole were all good last year. They are all disasters this season. This defense isn't good, but it isn't the tire fire Johnston has turned it into either. The 5 man defensive unit last year with Martin-Lovejoy and Scuderi-Cole was better than this defense.

Does anybody know anything about Mark Fayne?? He seemed to be a good defenseman in NJ, but his play has been down in Edmonton (surprise).
- cap1681

I wonder if you could get Jared SPurgeon out of Minny for a decent price. Minny is close to the cap and has some RFA's to sign in the off season. Spurgeon seems to not be a tire fire in his defensive game and moves the puck decently enough.

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

I'd be interested in Bieksa as a 5/6th. Just a piece not the solution.

I mean, if the Pens get someone to replace HCMJ before Jan 1, they'd have to give a pick to that team. So they probably won't replace him until that stipulation is gone.

You're thinking of someone else picking up HCMJ which is unlikely.
- chimpira

If the new hire is internal, i.e. Sullivan or martin, won't matter. If new coach is say Boucher, all depends on if he is still under contract with TBL

Perron and a 3rd for E Johnson?

Both upcoming UFAs

Seabrook too. My guess is CHI will trade as a rental. They almost have too. Re-stock for the next few years. Kind of their MO. What pens should've done w/ Nisk, Orpik, Martin. Hindsight is 20/20 tho.

Pouliot/Perron/3rd for Seabrook????

Is the Fayne suggestion bc he's on waivers or is that coincidence?