Bottom pairing guys? Like Streit or Hainsey?

Yeah, but they won't be giving up only Maatta for Duchene. If they could get MD for Maatta and maybe Aston-Reese who scouting projects to be a bottom 6 forward and depth player, and even a late pick thrown in, then that works for me, but Sprong's potential is too high to give up for a 3rd line center for two years no matter who it is really, even if Sprong is not ready until next year. I mean; three no. 1 lines sounds great (especially on paper), but at what cost?

Honestly, I think they will probably want more than Maatta and even Sprong for Duchene seeing as how things are going for them more recently in that organization and there's no reason the Pens can't find an adequate two-way center in trade or other that won't cost them as much as MD will in prospects or cap space, even if it means paying a little more for Bonino than he's really worth.
- NJPensfan

The Pens have won back-to-back Cups with a middling D. Having a stacked D is a little over-rated, and the Pens proved that this season. Adding Duchene adds to the formula that the Pens have been successful with over the last 2 seasons in a big way.

If it costs Maatta, Sprong, and a 1st to land Duchene, you do it in a heartbeat. Yes, Sprong has potential, but scoring wingers are a lot easier to find than good, all around centers. Hell, Bonino is probably going to get paid 5M+ on Saturday. The Pens would be that much more difficult to defend with Duchene, which is scary because they are already the toughest team to defend in the NHL, winning 2 Cups because of it.

The Pens have won back-to-back Cups with a middling D. Having a stacked D is a little over-rated, and the Pens proved that this season. Adding Duchene adds to the formula that the Pens have been successful with over the last 2 seasons in a big way.

If it costs Maatta, Sprong, and a 1st to land Duchene, you do it in a heartbeat. Yes, Sprong has potential, but scoring wingers are a lot easier to find than good, all around centers. Hell, Bonino is probably going to get paid 5M+ on Saturday. The Pens would be that much more difficult to defend with Duchene, which is scary because they are already the toughest team to defend in the NHL, winning 2 Cups because of it.
- cap1681

Like I said a couple blogs ago, trying to do what we did last season again is probably not going to lead to success. You have to understand how fantastic of playoffs Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, and our goaltenders all had at the same time. If one of them falls into a rut, which is probable over a ~24 game long miniseason, we go home. We were bounces away from going home during the Washington and Ottawa series is.

As fantastic as Crosby and Malkin are, we can't just tell them "Alright guys, carry us to the promise land single handily" and expect to win. Its great that it worked this year, but it didn't work after 2009 and probably won't work again. Losing Letang rendered the rest of our offense outside our big guns almost completely ineffective. We need to upgrade our defense so that we have at least competent breakout abilities when Letang is done so that our offense can work and we don't have rely on Sid, Geno, and Phil to pull rabbits out of asses, clutch goals from Guentzel, and elite brick wall goaltending to win playoff series.

Yeah but they are also losing Daley, Cole next year, Letang has health issues, Dumo regressed and Maata is meh....DP is a bust as well. I think upgrading D would be priority #1. Hornquest most likely would be out after next year so a top 6 RW spot opens up and Sprong potentially fills that.

I think keeping Bonino at 4 and not parting with picks assets is better than Duchene at 6 for 2 yrs.

Wonder what it would cost to get Bozak. He would be much cheaper than Duchene and has good chemistry with Kessel. Would a 2nd and a mid level prospect get that done?

Yeah but they are also losing Daley, Cole next year, Letang has health issues, Dumo regressed and Maata is meh....DP is a bust as well. I think upgrading D would be priority #1. Hornquest most likely would be out after next year so a top 6 RW spot opens up and Sprong potentially fills that.

I think keeping Bonino at 4 and not parting with picks assets is better than Duchene at 6 for 2 yrs.
- sammy87

Cole will resign this season. Don't seeing him going anywhere and he isn't going to break the bank.

Bonino is going to get more than 4. Guy deserves to cash in; he's been criminally underpaid his entire career.

Cole will resign this season. Don't seeing him going anywhere and he isn't going to break the bank.

Bonino is going to get more than 4. Guy deserves to cash in; he's been criminally underpaid his entire career.
- cap1681

I think bonino and Hanzal get paid the same, which is why I'd rather see them go after Hanzal.

Trading Maatta, sprong, and a 1st for 2 years of duchene is silly.

Convince me our cup window is 2 years and then I will be fine with the trade. We have a 5 year window. So overpaying for assets today for that one cup chance isn't important. We have time to let guys develop.

Anton Reese shouldn't be in trade discussions. You can't trade a UFA guy a couple months after signing him and he never played for you. Good luck ever getting a college guy to sign with you again.

Cole will resign this season. Don't seeing him going anywhere and he isn't going to break the bank.

Bonino is going to get more than 4. Guy deserves to cash in; he's been criminally underpaid his entire career.
- cap1681

Bonino has 2 cups now so if he's smart he will cash in. I have no clue what a team would be willing to pay him.

I see the Duchene trade proposals as pretty dumb. Pens are thin at D so moving one of their top 4 with no way to replace him is dumb. Avs are terrible at D and parting with their #2 forward for an average mid 4 dman is dumb.

I like Duchene, it would be sick to have him as a 3C, i just dont see it happening.

I think bonino and Hanzal get paid the same, which is why I'd rather see them go after Hanzal.
- drummer829

It will be interesting to see what Hanzal gets paid. He is coming off a very good season, and was making 3.5M on his last contract. Probably gets 4.5-5M

Nash makes more sense for Duchene. They have better D and more of them to offer. and they need C support.

Wonder what it would cost to get Bozak. He would be much cheaper than Duchene and has good chemistry with Kessel. Would a 2nd and a mid level prospect get that done?
- cap1681

I hated on Bozak a lot when he and Kessel were running mates in Toronto, but that was mostly because he was way above his pay grade as a 1C with Phil. I think Bozo would be a good trade target as a stop gap 3C. He only has one year of term, so I don't think he'd be too expensive to acquire if the Leafs want to trade him for assets.

Bonino has 2 cups now so if he's smart he will cash in. I have no clue what a team would be willing to pay him.

I see the Duchene trade proposals as pretty dumb. Pens are thin at D so moving one of their top 4 with no way to replace him is dumb. Avs are terrible at D and parting with their #2 forward for an average mid 4 dman is dumb.

I like Duchene, it would be sick to have him as a 3C, i just dont see it happening.
- sammy87

Maatta isn't top 4 on this team. Letang, Dumo, Schultz, and Cole are all above him. There are a lot of options in UFA for bottom 2 D-men. Getting a guy in Duchene's caliber is rare, and should be jumped on if possible.

The Pens have won back-to-back Cups with a middling D. Having a stacked D is a little over-rated, and the Pens proved that this season. Adding Duchene adds to the formula that the Pens have been successful with over the last 2 seasons in a big way.

If it costs Maatta, Sprong, and a 1st to land Duchene, you do it in a heartbeat. Yes, Sprong has potential, but scoring wingers are a lot easier to find than good, all around centers. Hell, Bonino is probably going to get paid 5M+ on Saturday. The Pens would be that much more difficult to defend with Duchene, which is scary because they are already the toughest team to defend in the NHL, winning 2 Cups because of it.
- cap1681

One can easily say the 3-center model is over-rated seeing as how the Pens won exactly one cup with Staal and two cups with Bonino as center, no?

BTW: I think Bonino gets more term over top dollar and it's closer to $4 million

Sorry, but as much as I'd like to see MD on the team, I'd rather see them hold onto Sprong because he can hopefully be here for a long time and there's no guarantee MD will mean the difference between another cup in the next two years or not. We have two of the best centers in the world right now and supplying them with cheap home grown drafted talent at wing like JG, BR, CS and hopefully DS for the next 7 years or so is more critical I think than a great 3rd line center for the next 2 years. Just my opinion obviously.

I mean; it sounds great for sure, but I've seen a lot of "sounds great" things not pan out the way it was expected over the years to get too caught up in it. ZA-R or some other offensive prospects I'm ok with, but I have a gut feeling Sprong can be the most exciting winger this team has had in a long time and trading him for a two year rental in a bottom 6 capacity doesn't sit right with me. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and Sprong turns into a dud, but I don't think so.

One can easily say the 3-center model is over-rated seeing as how the Pens won exactly one cup with Staal and two cups with Bonino as center, no?

BTW: I think Bonino gets more term over top dollar and it's closer to $4 million

Sorry, but as much as I'd like to see MD on the team, I'd rather see them hold onto Sprong because he can hopefully be here for a long time and there's no guarantee MD will mean the difference between another cup in the next two years or not. We have two of the best centers in the world right now and supplying them with cheap home grown drafted talent at wing like JG, BR, CS and hopefully DS for the next 7 years or so is more critical I think than a great 3rd line center for the next 2 years. Just my opinion obviously.

I mean; it sounds great for sure, but I've seen a lot of "sounds great" things not pan out the way it was expected over the years to get too caught up in it. ZA-R or some other offensive prospects I'm ok with, but I have a gut feeling Sprong can be the most exciting winger this team has had in a long time and trading him for a two year rental in a bottom 6 capacity doesn't sit right with me. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and Sprong turns into a dud, but I don't think so.
- NJPensfan

I understand the excitement for Sprong, but he is still an unknown commodity. The QMJHL is a heaving scoring league. Max Talbot put up huge numbers when he was in the Q, but it doesn't always translate to NHL. If you can give up an unknown for a known producer in the NHL, you do it. I think people undervalue how good Duchene is, and how well he would fit into the Pens style of play.

One can easily say the 3-center model is over-rated seeing as how the Pens won exactly one cup with Staal and two cups with Bonino as center, no?

BTW: I think Bonino gets more term over top dollar and it's closer to $4 million

Sorry, but as much as I'd like to see MD on the team, I'd rather see them hold onto Sprong because he can hopefully be here for a long time and there's no guarantee MD will mean the difference between another cup in the next two years or not. We have two of the best centers in the world right now and supplying them with cheap home grown drafted talent at wing like JG, BR, CS and hopefully DS for the next 7 years or so is more critical I think than a great 3rd line center for the next 2 years. Just my opinion obviously.

I mean; it sounds great for sure, but I've seen a lot of "sounds great" things not pan out the way it was expected over the years to get too caught up in it. ZA-R or some other offensive prospects I'm ok with, but I have a gut feeling Sprong can be the most exciting winger this team has had in a long time and trading him for a two year rental in a bottom 6 capacity doesn't sit right with me. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and Sprong turns into a dud, but I don't think so.
- NJPensfan

We really migt just have to play guentzel at center. Either that or trade horn for a 3c. I don't see horns rule in the top 6 if he's not with crosby. if you keep horn then we could do

Sheary - crosby - horn
rust - malkin - sprong
hagelin - guentzel - kessel

I do believe in fresh blood. So I'd trade horn for a 3c if we can't get hanzel, bones, thornton. I don't love guentzel as a 3c mostly because he doesn't have size and I think we need a physical 3c who can kill penalties. But offensively that could be 3 number 1 lines.

I understand the excitement for Sprong, but he is still an unknown commodity. The QMJHL is a heaving scoring league. Max Talbot put up huge numbers when he was in the Q, but it doesn't always translate to NHL. If you can give up an unknown for a known producer in the NHL, you do it. I think people undervalue how good Duchene is, and how well he would fit into the Pens style of play.
- cap1681

You're ignoring the fact that Duchene as 3C is super overkill. We can probably acquire a fine 3C of Bonino caliber for a much smaller price tag and use our big ticket assets to acquire a top line defenseman. We have multiple needs and while 3C is a high priority, its not the highest.

I understand the excitement for Sprong, but he is still an unknown commodity. The QMJHL is a heaving scoring league. Max Talbot put up huge numbers when he was in the Q, but it doesn't always translate to NHL. If you can give up an unknown for a known producer in the NHL, you do it. I think people undervalue how good Duchene is, and how well he would fit into the Pens style of play.
- cap1681

MD would be a 70ish point guy in Pittsburgh. He is very, very good but his stats have taken a hit in the dumpster fire that is the Avs.

There's a reason he was selected to team Canada and won gold with them twice...and he's only 26.

Sprong is an unknown at the NHL level. What concerns me about him is that he seems like the type of player that if he doesn't excel on the top two lines he wont be effective on the bottom two ie Yakupov

One can easily say the 3-center model is over-rated seeing as how the Pens won exactly one cup with Staal and two cups with Bonino as center, no?

BTW: I think Bonino gets more term over top dollar and it's closer to $4 million

Sorry, but as much as I'd like to see MD on the team, I'd rather see them hold onto Sprong because he can hopefully be here for a long time and there's no guarantee MD will mean the difference between another cup in the next two years or not. We have two of the best centers in the world right now and supplying them with cheap home grown drafted talent at wing like JG, BR, CS and hopefully DS for the next 7 years or so is more critical I think than a great 3rd line center for the next 2 years. Just my opinion obviously.

I mean; it sounds great for sure, but I've seen a lot of "sounds great" things not pan out the way it was expected over the years to get too caught up in it. ZA-R or some other offensive prospects I'm ok with, but I have a gut feeling Sprong can be the most exciting winger this team has had in a long time and trading him for a two year rental in a bottom 6 capacity doesn't sit right with me. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong and Sprong turns into a dud, but I don't think so.
- NJPensfan

I love the idea as a short-term move. But Duchene helps our 2 year window. We have atleast a 5 year window. So giving up our youth has its problems.

We really migt just have to play guentzel at center. Either that or trade horn for a 3c. I don't see horns rule in the top 6 if he's not with crosby. if you keep horn then we could do

Sheary - crosby - horn
rust - malkin - sprong
hagelin - guentzel - kessel

I do believe in fresh blood. So I'd trade horn for a 3c if we can't get hanzel, bones, thornton. I don't love guentzel as a 3c mostly because he doesn't have size and I think we need a physical 3c who can kill penalties. But offensively that could be 3 number 1 lines.
- sditulli

What 3C are you getting for 1 year of Honrquest? I love the dude, but he's injured a lot and only 1 year left. Not sure who would buy that.

What 3C are you getting for 1 year of Honrquest? I love the dude, but he's injured a lot and only 1 year left. Not sure who would buy that.
- sammy87

We traded garbage ass Brandon Sutter for Bonino +. There's a trade to be had out there for a value 3C. I want to save Hornqvist for a defenseman trade.

I understand the excitement for Sprong, but he is still an unknown commodity. The QMJHL is a heaving scoring league. Max Talbot put up huge numbers when he was in the Q, but it doesn't always translate to NHL. If you can give up an unknown for a known producer in the NHL, you do it. I think people undervalue how good Duchene is, and how well he would fit into the Pens style of play.
- cap1681

^^^This.

You're ignoring the fact that Duchene as 3C is super overkill. We can probably acquire a fine 3C of Bonino caliber for a much smaller price tag and use our big ticket assets to acquire a top line defenseman. We have multiple needs and while 3C is a high priority, its not the highest.
- Victoro311

Does Duchene have any type of NMC? IDK an athlete of his caliber isn't going to want to be a 3C. Dude is a 1C on a ton of teams.

MD would be a 70ish point guy in Pittsburgh. He is very, very good but his stats have taken a hit in the dumpster fire that is the Avs.

There's a reason he was selected to team Canada and won gold with them twice...and he's only 26.

Sprong is an unknown at the NHL level. What concerns me about him is that he seems like the type of player that if he doesn't excel on the top two lines he wont be effective on the bottom two ie Yakupov
- MattStrat

The guy can absolutely fly and has great hands/skill. I'm in the camp that we can aim lower for a 3C and do fine. I think Gagner would be a good fit, he seems to be very similar to Bones. He could run the 2nd PP as well.

MD would be a 70ish point guy in Pittsburgh. He is very, very good but his stats have taken a hit in the dumpster fire that is the Avs.

There's a reason he was selected to team Canada and won gold with them twice...and he's only 26.

Sprong is an unknown at the NHL level. What concerns me about him is that he seems like the type of player that if he doesn't excel on the top two lines he wont be effective on the bottom two ie Yakupov
- MattStrat

Depends on where he is in the lineup. If he's slotted 3C.. I don't think he hits 70. I think ~50 is more accurate. If he rides shotgun with Sid.. then yeah 70 is possible.

The guy can absolutely fly and has great hands/skill. I'm in the camp that we can aim lower for a 3C and do fine. I think Gagner would be a good fit, he seems to be very similar to Bones. He could run the 2nd PP as well.
- Thorny87

I would be game for Gagner has 4C if Cullen retires... But I'm not sure if I want him at 3C. But... there are worse options. All depends on term/dollars too.