Cole is playing the Lovejoy role.
- j.boyd919

Not only is he playing the role, he's elevated it way beyond what Lovejoy brought to the team. The problem with the D has been a combination of lack of depth and regression, both Daley & Dumoulin have taken steps backwards and they've been hammered by injury which has forced guys who shouldn't be playing in the NHL into overexposed roles. If this unit gets healthy and Daley & Dumoulin get back to close to where they were last year this D will not only be ok, they'll be great because Cole & Shultz have both taken huge steps forward and Maata has at least stabelized. Sure those are some serious question marks especially with Letang & Dumoulin not expected back anytime soon but I wouldn't panic just yet by looking to swing for the fences. A solid vet who can help fill the gap until this unit is healthy and then be a reliable #7 is all I'd be looking to do at the moment.

Not only is he playing the role, he's elevated it way beyond what Lovejoy brought to the team. The problem with the D has been a combination of lack of depth and regression, both Daley & Dumoulin have taken steps backwards and they've been hammered by injury which has forced guys who shouldn't be playing in the NHL into overexposed roles. If this unit gets healthy and Daley & Dumoulin get back to close to where they were last year this D will not only be ok, they'll be great because Cole & Shultz have both taken huge steps forward and Maata has at least stabelized. Sure those are some serious question marks especially with Letang & Dumoulin not expected back anytime soon but I wouldn't panic just yet by looking to swing for the fences. A solid vet who can help fill the gap until this unit is healthy and then be a reliable #7 is all I'd be looking to do at the moment.
- jaydogg1974

Definitely agree 100% except with the swing for the fences. It depends on what they can get and what it'll cost. I really think a top 4 D can help. If they can add a top 4 D, I'd like to see Daley maybe given some time off to watch from the press box.

Letang-Dumo (if he can regain his composure)
Maatta-TRADE
Cole-Schultz
Daley as the 7th man

Not sure who some trade targets are for the D and top 4 D are always a commodity, so not sure if it's in the cards, especially with the Pens being so close to the cap. But they might be able to find a solid option at a good prorated cap hit.


EDIT: Not gonna lie, I'd like to see if there's a way for the Pens to snag Vanek. adding him to the Pens PP for the playoffs would be (frank)ing deadly.

Shop Haglin and flower together. Clear an ton of cap space, Kunitz is still an all around better hockey player than Hags he can play third line, Kuhn can play fourth line, get a good d man.

Murray didn't have the best game but have to go right back to him next game no more flip flopping between the 2 it makes both of them bad. Our defense is really bad right now. I wonder if the old man could upgrade Daley into a better player? He has an expiring contract. Here's hoping OEL(yeah I know there's little chance) asks to be traded. That would lock that position down nicely. I'm trying to find a more realistic player to target I'm just working right now.
- Dcoms

- mrn22

yeah, dude's comical.

Definitely agree 100% except with the swing for the fences. It depends on what they can get and what it'll cost. I really think a top 4 D can help. If they can add a top 4 D, I'd like to see Daley maybe given some time off to watch from the press box.

Letang-Dumo (if he can regain his composure)
Maatta-TRADE
Cole-Schultz
Daley as the 7th man

Not sure who some trade targets are for the D and top 4 D are always a commodity, so not sure if it's in the cards, especially with the Pens being so close to the cap. But they might be able to find a solid option at a good prorated cap hit.


EDIT: Not gonna lie, I'd like to see if there's a way for the Pens to snag Vanek. adding him to the Pens PP for the playoffs would be (frank)ing deadly.
- j.boyd919

Nearly every team wants top 4 D help. It's a sellers market. Gonna cost a lot. I think we'll be in the rental market this year.

I love the idea of getting Landeskog....although I know it won't happen.

Nearly every team wants top 4 D help. It's a sellers market. Gonna cost a lot. I think we'll be in the rental market this year.

I love the idea of getting Landeskog....although I know it won't happen.
- madmike71

Landeskog would be great, but he's a RW and they are weak at LW after this year. Not to mention Hags kinda sucks. I think Rantanen will be a good F in the future, but CO sucks so bad. Barrie is their best Dman and he's pretty brutal in his own end.

Where the h..e..double hockey sticks is the new blog?

Landeskog would be great, but he's a RW and they are weak at LW after this year. Not to mention Hags kinda sucks. I think Rantanen will be a good F in the future, but CO sucks so bad. Barrie is their best Dman and he's pretty brutal in his own end.
- sammy87

Landeskog plays the left wing.

Nearly every team wants top 4 D help. It's a sellers market. Gonna cost a lot. I think we'll be in the rental market this year.

I love the idea of getting Landeskog....although I know it won't happen.
- madmike71

Landeskog would be good for the long term, but I don't thinkt he Pens have the assets to make it work. I think Vanek could be an intriguing option. I think he can play both the left and right side, although he's listed as a left wing. And the dude is an absolute stud on the PP. He can wreak all the havoc in front that Horny and Kunitz can, but dude's got some soft hands in tight. His prorated salary is like.. under 2mil. Also, I think their RW is much weaker than their left side.

Sheary is on pace for over 50 points
Hags is on pace for his career avg, like 35-40
Kunitz is on pace for another 30-35
Wilson is on pace to chip in 20-25 points.

On the right side...
Phil is on pace for 70-75ish (if he cools down from his almost PPG)
Horny is on pace for 50
Rust is on pace for somewhere between 30-40

Kuhn and Rust are kinda bleh since they've been rotating in and out, have been injured. Fehr with 7 points and Kuhn with 5...

Just imagine replacing those guys with Vanek.

Sheary-Sid-Rust
Kunitz-Geno-Horny
Hags-Bones-Kessel
Wilson-Cullen-Vanek

Guentzel/Kuhn as the scratch. Could probably switch Horny with Sid, and Vanek with Geno, and have a 4th line of Wilson-Cullen-Rust... that 4th line could be a nightmare.

Landeskog would be good for the long term, but I don't thinkt he Pens have the assets to make it work. I think Vanek could be an intriguing option. I think he can play both the left and right side, although he's listed as a left wing. And the dude is an absolute stud on the PP. He can wreak all the havoc in front that Horny and Kunitz can, but dude's got some soft hands in tight. His prorated salary is like.. under 2mil.
- j.boyd919

No we don't have the assets. Rumors say they're looking for over-payment including high end D.

Vanek is interesting but he's a pretty mercurial player. He's had effort issues over the years. Maybe he'd thrive here with a legit contender. Certainly more likely than Landeskog however.

No we don't have the assets. Rumors say they're looking for over-payment including high end D.

Vanek is interesting but he's a pretty mercurial player. He's had effort issues over the years. Maybe he'd thrive here with a legit contender. Certainly more likely than Landeskog however.
- madmike71

Vanek hasn't had a season under 40 points since entering the NHL and is on pace for around 50 this season, I still don't know why Minny bought him out. Sure he's not a top line player, but I think in a reduced role and given PP time, he could for sure be a contributor.