Ready. Set. Fight!

When the Pens were playing crappy hockey, I would have never considered dealing Sprong. Now that they're killing it, I agree.......adding Brassard gives us unmatched center depth for two playoff runs.

I still prefer to move Gustavsson if given the choice.
- madmike71

This means a lot. Brassard is the cherry on the top here.

I say do it.

Question: would Bozak make you guys happy?

This means a lot. Brassard is the cherry on the top here.

I say do it.

Question: would Bozak make you guys happy?
- Barnaby36

I think it depends on cost, but yeah I'd be down with Bozak for the playoffs.

Towards the end of the article there's a Twitter Pic of it.
- MattStrat

Not showing up on mine, but I'll take your word for it. Who is it quoting?

I think it depends on cost, but yeah I'd be down with Bozak for the playoffs.
- j.boyd919

Can we expect from Bozak the same kind of play as Sheahan's? Seems to me he's right in between Brassard and Sheahan in quality of play.

I think it depends on cost, but yeah I'd be down with Bozak for the playoffs.
- j.boyd919

You think they'd trade him here? I don't.

Can we expect from Bozak the same kind of play as Sheahan's? Seems to me he's right in between Brassard and Sheahan in quality of play.
- Barnaby36

Maybe? If not... he's then on the 4th line.. which is an improvement over Rowney IMO. Either way, he just pushes someone who's replacement level out of the lineup, which makes it a win for me. Bozak+Sheahan > Sheahan+Rowney

The thing for me with getting Brassard now is to keep as many cheap young wingers as possible so we can fit Rust and Sheahan extensions under the cap this offseason. I think extending Sheahan for 3/4 years is pretty damn important. He'll be the 4th C on depth charts after Crosby, Malkin, and Brassard, but then after next year, Brassard's contract is up, and he's of "one last pay day" age. We need to keep Sheahan on this team as a post-Brassard contingency, either as our actual 3C, or as a trade chip to get a 3C. I don't want a repeat of the debacle that was the first half of this season and scrambling to find a 3C in a seller's market.

So I am very hesitant to give up Sprong at this moment. Any other prospect that's further away, sure, even if its Gusstavson, who I don't want to give up at all.
- Victoro311

I'm totally with you. Brassard to give the Pens unmatched depth down the middle for the next 2 years. Then Sheahan steps back in as 3C.

Also agree about trying to keep the cheap in-house wing options to stay under the cap. I'd try to steer a team away from guys like ZAR, Simon, and Sprong. More willing to give up something years away like Gustavsson or a 1st or a guy like Sheary with some salary.

You think they'd trade him here? I don't.
- madmike71

I do think Toronto holds onto him, he's more important to their playoff run. If they were out of the picture it'd probably be doable. Unless the Pens do a Cole for Bozak swap, but I don't think it benefits TOR much.

As an aside, if the Pens got Brassard, I could see them aiming for Grabner to replace Rowney's PK spot with a useful player who fits the system. Not sure they feel as good with their depth guys like Guentzel, ZAR, Crosby. Sheahan, Hags, and Rust are all solid but might want one more guy to keep Kuhnhackl and Rowney out of the line-up.

Can we expect from Bozak the same kind of play as Sheahan's? Seems to me he's right in between Brassard and Sheahan in quality of play.
- Barnaby36

The appeal of Bozak is he has proven chemistry with Phil. They probably put up better numbers though Sheahan is far superior defensively. With Hags on Malkin's line they might need a guy like Rust to balance or else count on them over-whelming depth matchups. Don't see Toronto trading him though.

- j.boyd919

Kuhn... Ouch

Not showing up on mine, but I'll take your word for it. Who is it quoting?
- Tojo.

SensCentral

Kuhn... Ouch
- MattStrat

4th line is rough as (frank).

SensCentral
- MattStrat

Thanks.

No clue what that is.

Kuhn... Ouch
- MattStrat

The more stats I see, the more I become convinced that Kuhnhackl has been the biggest anchor on that line. Other guys are suspect too, but he's at another level.

- j.boyd919

Rust, Sprong, Simon --- my gawd

This means a lot. Brassard is the cherry on the top here.

I say do it.

Question: would Bozak make you guys happy?
- Barnaby36

Bozak is a tough one for me. Despite decent points per game average, TOR fans say he fell off a cliff this year.

Thanks.

No clue what that is.
- Tojo.

No sweat.

Me neither haha.

Bozak is a tough one for me. Despite decent points per game average, TOR fans say he fell off a cliff this year.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Couple of my bestest buds in life are die hard Leaf fans and they're praying the Pens take him hahah

posting these fancy pictures on here requires more effort than I thought....

but Domi's looks pretty bad. In fact, Glendening's chart looks better.

edit: to be fair, if you look at the whole team view for a bad team like Arizona or Buffalo, for example, its pretty much all red haha

Couple of my bestest buds in life are die hard Leaf fans and they're praying the Pens take him hahah
- MattStrat

If Toronto gave us Bozak I'm pretty sure they'd be all over Brassard.

Plekanec is a player I always liked and he might be a good pick up if the Brassard deal falls through.

Domi is a no brainer for the right price too.

Rust, Sprong, Simon --- my gawd
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yeah, it's disappointing that Sprong isn't up right now given his small sample size and his results. Kuhn and Reaves could BOTH be out of the lineup.

Simon-Sid-Sprong
Guentzel-Geno-Kessel
Rust-Sheahan-Sprong
ZAR-Rowney-Hornqvist

get a decent 4C and boom. That should absolutely be the playoff roster.

posting these fancy pictures on here requires more effort than I thought....

but Domi's looks pretty bad. In fact, Glendening's chart looks better.

edit: to be fair, if you look at the whole team view for a bad team like Arizona or Buffalo, for example, its pretty much all red haha
- YouMeAndDupuis9

best thing to do is take a screen shot of the charts and upload it ti IMGUR.com, no account needed. That's what I do.