On the Pens D situation...

It definitely needs tweaking, but there's a lot of issues in terms of what is realistic. JR will have to be creative via trade IMO.

Hunwick: If the Pens were able to move him by simply throwing in a pick and MAYBE retaining a LITTLE salary($1M max), then I think that would be the best worst-case scenario for the Pens.

Dumo/Maatta/Schultz: You don't touch them. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better 2-3-4 punch for the money in the NHL.

Oleksiak/Ruhwedel: You bring back ONE, not both and my guess it the Pens would lean toward Oleksiak.

Letang: What's to be said? I've been a Letang apologist for a long time, felt he deserved a lot of slack this year, but IMO in spite of the fact that the good things he does is better than most dmen in the NHL, his issues were more costly. Personally, I think it's time for a change of scenery, but that's not realistic.

The only scenario in which you move Letang is you have a similar caliber replacement coming back somehow. Maybe you move him out for picks/prospects and use them to get someone else, or he get you back someone like Karlsson or Doughty, but again, not very realistic. I remember reading rumors that LA may also want a change of scenery for Doughty, but not sure how true that was.

Letang is just an injury-ridden player, but maybe now that he's healthy and has a summer to rest up and really get back into shape he'll have a bounce-back year; that's the best situation we can hope for.

I'm going to bang my MDZ drum again and I'd look to move Sheary out for someone like MDZ or similar to lead the 3rd pairing.
- Rinosaur

He's signed through next year no?

So we're gonna pay Sheahan 3 mil+ to play 4C?

I loved Sheary and Rust on their ELC's. At 3 mil+, not so much. Rust is a better value but he'll probably get more than Sheary. When do they draw the line?
- Thorny87

https://www.capfriendly.c...m/armchair-gm/team/684839

This would be my guess. And them buying out Hunwick probably won't happen, but I clicked on it just to see what the benefits were and didn't know how to undo it lol

He's signed through next year no?
- Thorny87

Yeah Ruhwedel is still under contract.

Caps didn't win through luck. They outplayed their opponent and wanted it more.

Credit where credit is due

Sheary gets shipped out

Rust gets Shearys 3 million

Sprong takes Shearys spot at Rusts old salary

Sheahan gets a qualifying offer of 2.25 million, maybe he takes us to arbitration

Oleksiak gets 2 years 1.5 per

To Do:

Ship out Hags, Hunwick

Get some $$ socked away for Jakes next contract

Sign Jack Johnson for 3rd pair D? Grabner to replace Hags speed?
- RoloTahmasee

Hags stays. No to Jack Johnson.

I think the goalie situation is fine. Murray played well enough for the Pens to win. Goalies let in squeakers all the time. Fleury did for his entire tenure here. Pens goals dried up when they needed them. D needs a tweak? But how? Everyone loved Oleksiak. Letang/Dumo aren't going anywhere. Neither are Schultz/Maatta. Oleksiak was overrated on these boards IMO, Hunwick sucks, Ruhwedel was actually decent this year. The defense FA's are pretty ugly.
- j.boyd919

Honestly I fell out of love with Oleksiak after we got rid of Cole. He was bad with literally every other partner. He is TERRIBLE at moving the puck out of the defensive zone. His passes have no touch and are usually fumbled by the receiving forward when they’re accurate, and half the time they’re not even on target and are booted back to the opposing defensemen holding the line.

I think Oleksiak’s absolute ceiling is bottom pairing.

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/684839

This would be my guess. And them buying out Hunwick probably won't happen, but I clicked on it just to see what the benefits were and didn't know how to undo it lol
- j.boyd919

Interesting. I could live with those numbers although I hate seeing Kuhn there.

Interesting. I could live with those numbers although I hate seeing Kuhn there.
- Thorny87

So do I, but it's realistic? hahaha

Agree with all of that RW. Thanks for you work this season and I look forward to your blogs as the draft and free agency approach.

The Pens will be stronger* next year.


*Health pending
- MattStrat

I quickly read that as "The Pens will be Spronger next year"

Honestly I fell out of love with Oleksiak after we got rid of Cole. He was bad with literally every other partner. He is TERRIBLE at moving the puck out of the defensive zone. His passes have no touch and are usually fumbled by the receiving forward when they’re accurate, and half the time they’re not even on target and are booted back to the opposing defensemen holding the line.

I think Oleksiak’s absolute ceiling is bottom pairing.
- Victoro311

Nah, he's better than Provorov and Ghost.

Nah, he's better than Provorov and Ghost.
- j.boyd919

*Sees Oleksiak is 6’8*

There’s a serious chance he could develop into the next Chara!

EDIT: seriously though, the amount of second, third, and fourth chances the opposing cycle gets when Oleksiak is on the ice because he just boots it back to the other teams’ blue liners is crippling. He needs to fix that.

*Sees Oleksiak is 6’8*

There’s a serious chance he could develop into the next Chara!
- Victoro311

I think he will sooner develop into the next Steve McKenna

Caps didn't win through luck. They outplayed their opponent and wanted it more.

Credit where credit is due
- halo63

Can't argue with any of that. I felt the series was pretty even up until last night where the Caps clearly fought harder and wanted it more. They were relentless and battled without Backstrom and Wilson in the lineup.

Give credit to Trotz knowing how to play his team while missing those guys.

I would love for the Pens to find younger equivalent of Daley for the 3rd pair. They're missing that speed on the back-end.

I blame Sully on this Pens loss

After winning game 1, He rested on his laurels figuring getting a split in Washington was a win and rested Malkin for Game 2. Malkin was upset in practice when told he would sit, which leads you to believe he could go. At the very least, put him as the 4C and give him the PP time. That unit was lost without him. Didn't see game 2 as a "must win". They are all "Must win"

Couldn't take advantage of Washingtons depleted lineup. Had the "talent" spread out over 4 lines, Simon with Crosby, Hags with Malkin, Kuhnackel with Brassard. Didn't address it until the 3rd period of Game 6. Roll 3 lines, LOAD UP, get mismatches at HOME when you have last change. That 4th line was out way to much against OV

Whoever had the plan to have the D pinch so aggressively. Don't CHEAT FOR OFFENSE. Lead to way too many odd man rushes and breakaways, and they got burned way way too many times (and 1 time too many as it turns out)

Pens looked tired and complacent. Anyone who watched the last 2 playoff runs saw desperate hockey, tons of blocked shots and speed to burn. Wasn't the case in this playoffs for sure. Jake and Sid were the only cylinders firing

Sully wasn't a fan of Ian Cole, and he was thrown out at the trade deadline. He was they type of 3rd pairing D that we REALLY needed. Tough, Physical, Blocks Shots, Good on the PK. He should have been kept at all costs

There are some decent RFA dmen that I'd look into acquiring for Sheary.

I blame Sully on this Pens loss

After winning game 1, He rested on his laurels figuring getting a split in Washington was a win and rested Malkin for Game 2. Malkin was upset in practice when told he would sit, which leads you to believe he could go. At the very least, put him as the 4C and give him the PP time. That unit was lost without him. Didn't see game 2 as a "must win". They are all "Must win"

Couldn't take advantage of Washingtons depleted lineup. Had the "talent" spread out over 4 lines, Simon with Crosby, Hags with Malkin, Kuhnackel with Brassard. Didn't address it until the 3rd period of Game 6. Roll 3 lines, LOAD UP, get mismatches at HOME when you have last change. That 4th line was out way to much against OV

Whoever had the plan to have the D pinch so aggressively. Don't CHEAT FOR OFFENSE. Lead to way too many odd man rushes and breakaways, and they got burned way way too many times (and 1 time too many as it turns out)

Pens looked tired and complacent. Anyone who watched the last 2 playoff runs saw desperate hockey, tons of blocked shots and speed to burn. Wasn't the case in this playoffs for sure. Jake and Sid were the only cylinders firing

Sully wasn't a fan of Ian Cole, and he was thrown out at the trade deadline. He was they type of 3rd pairing D that we REALLY needed. Tough, Physical, Blocks Shots, Good on the PK. He should have been kept at all costs
- RoloTahmasee

Pens couldn't score. That's about all it comes down to.

I heard you guys are looking to get rid of Letang. So I will offer you Dekeyser. K Thanks. No trade backs.

Anyone see Ovi's post game interview on the ice last night? It reminded me of the Pens interviews after they won the cup. This was such a huge accomplishment for them.

Anyone see Ovi's post game interview on the ice last night? It reminded me of the Pens interviews after they won the cup. This was such a huge accomplishment for them.
- MattStrat

I'm stoked for him, I really hope he somehow wins the cup.

I'm definitely guilty of overrating Oleksiak. I thought he started very strong and then weaknesses became more glaring over time.
- Rinosaur

Can you really overrate a 5-6 dman? Did anyone really think at any point that he was more than that?

I heard you guys are looking to get rid of Letang. So I will offer you Dekeyser. K Thanks. No trade backs.
- Feds91Stammer

Good deal. The tang is under rated.

Can you really overrate a 5-6 dman? Did anyone really think at any point that he was more than that?
- joecool2931

Many said he was the next CHARA.

Can you really overrate a 5-6 dman? Did anyone really think at any point that he was more than that?
- joecool2931

Yes, a lot of people thought he was going to blossom into some top 4 dman. And someone here said he was better than Provorov and Ghost.

Good run fellas. See y'all next year.

Fin