I think if we're talking big name out of the blue, Kovalchuk is more probable.

I think if we're talking big name out of the blue, Kovalchuk is more probable.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Kovalchuck in a Pens uniform would be pretty great.

Before any possible trades:

Jake-Sid-Horn
Rust-Geno-Kovy
Hagelin-Brassard-Kessel
ZAR-Sheahan-Sheary

Me rikey

Glad you verified my observation. I feel so fulfilled.
- Grinder47

Kovalchuck in a Pens uniform would be pretty great.

Before any possible trades:

Jake-Sid-Horn
Rust-Geno-Kovy
Hagelin-Brassard-Kessel
ZAR-Sheahan-Sheary

Me rikey
- Rinosaur

I wonder what the asking price for Kovalchuk will be? He'll be a 35+ player too. Maybe a one or two year deal is probably worth the risk. Anything more than that would scare the sh*t out of me.

I wonder what the asking price for Kovalchuk will be? He'll be a 35+ player too. Maybe a one or two year deal is probably worth the risk. Anything more than that would scare the sh*t out of me.
- madmike71

There are teams that will pay a premium for him, no doubt, but if he wants to go to a true contender he'll have to limit his expectations. Most top contenders don't have a lot of cap space to play with even with the cap about to go up significantly.

I'd assume he's going to go get a 2yr/$5Mish deal. If I'm the Pens and that's his price, I'm probably looking more at Kane instead.

https://twitter.com/polil...status/995115887463190528

https://twitter.com/polililimi21/status/995115887463190528


- martox

Is there anyway to sign a player up without the draft?

If you're not planning to use Kovulchuk and that big shot on the top PP, is he going to be worth It? I don't think so.

If the Pens can unload Hunwick, do you guys think they should try and poach De Haan from the Isles?

Not sure how bad his season ending injury was, but if he comes back fine I think he'd be a good replacement for Cole.

(frank) life First Pittsburgh gets defeated in the stanley cup playoffs and now FC Barcelona's unbeaten season record gets stopped by a poop team. now Real Madrid only needs to win the Champions league final and I will be on suicide watch...

If the Pens can unload Hunwick, do you guys think they should try and poach De Haan from the Isles?

Not sure how bad his season ending injury was, but if he comes back fine I think he'd be a good replacement for Cole.
- Rinosaur

Agreed. I don't think Kovy is the right direction, but I do feel we need to shake up the wing position. It will be interesting watching JR this summer. I get the feeling he's going to more than just "tinker".

Agreed. I don't think Kovy is the right direction, but I do feel we need to shake up the wing position. It will be interesting watching JR this summer. I get the feeling he's going to more than just "tinker".
- madmike71

I just don't think the Pens need to do much up front. If a player becomes available and the Pens can make it work? Then sure. If not, I'd be looking to fix the back-end.

I just don't think the Pens need to do much up front. If a player becomes available and the Pens can make it work? Then sure. If not, I'd be looking to fix the back-end.
- Rinosaur

You have Letang, Dumo, Maatta and Schultz as guaranteed returns. Then you have Oleksiak who I also believe is guaranteed to return. What's to fix? 6th and 7h dmen? I think Ruhwedel is competent enough to take one of those spots.

JMO, but I think our defensive issues had more to do with team defense and commitment from the forwards. Second on the list is defensive gaffes and mental mistakes from our D....cough, cough Letang (although he's not entirely alone). If Letang is able to fix his mental mistakes, I'm satisfied with our D core.

When we look at our wings, I'm a believer in Phil, Hornie and Guentz. All the other guys have nice attributes but they're all replaceable. I'm a big fan of Rust and Hags, but neither guy is capable of potting 20. I'd move one of those two (preferably Hags). Sheary and Kuhn would be gone for sure. I wouldn't count on Simon at all.....dime a dozen player.

I would try to bring in a 5th D and a scoring wing with some size. Plus obviously replace a couple of those depth wingers.

Good read on Brassard...

http://pittsburghhockeyno...d-role-present-conundrum/

Why's that? Hossa actually did do that, didn't work out the way it was planned but he did do it.
- 668710

Why would anyone risk a career ending injury in the year of their big day? It would be an extremely high risk thing to do.

You have Letang, Dumo, Maatta and Schultz as guaranteed returns. Then you have Oleksiak who I also believe is guaranteed to return. What's to fix? 6th and 7h dmen? I think Ruhwedel is competent enough to take one of those spots.

JMO, but I think our defensive issues had more to do with team defense and commitment from the forwards. Second on the list is defensive gaffes and mental mistakes from our D....cough, cough Letang (although he's not entirely alone). If Letang is able to fix his mental mistakes, I'm satisfied with our D core.

When we look at our wings, I'm a believer in Phil, Hornie and Guentz. All the other guys have nice attributes but they're all replaceable. I'm a big fan of Rust and Hags, but neither guy is capable of potting 20. I'd move one of those two (preferably Hags). Sheary and Kuhn would be gone for sure. I wouldn't count on Simon at all.....dime a dozen player.

I would try to bring in a 5th D and a scoring wing with some size. Plus obviously replace a couple of those depth wingers.
- madmike71

Rust was actually on a 21 goal pace last year. He's shown some decent goal scoring ability but has been slowed down by injuries. If he were able to stay healthy, I'd hazard to guess he could get close to or even eclipse 20 goals. The guy as underrated hands. They're definitely not great, but they're not Hornqvist/Hagelin level bad. A ~20 goal scorer who brings the kind of speed, forechecking, grit, and defensive play that he does is pretty (frank)ing valuable at ~3.2 mil AAV.

Simon is unspectacular, but as long as he remains cheap, he's pretty valuable. He's not better than Sheary, but if Sheary's gonna be playing bottom 6 minutes, I'd rather downgrade to Simon and save the cap for that bottom 6 skill guy who can slot up.

You have Letang, Dumo, Maatta and Schultz as guaranteed returns. Then you have Oleksiak who I also believe is guaranteed to return. What's to fix? 6th and 7h dmen? I think Ruhwedel is competent enough to take one of those spots.

JMO, but I think our defensive issues had more to do with team defense and commitment from the forwards. Second on the list is defensive gaffes and mental mistakes from our D....cough, cough Letang (although he's not entirely alone). If Letang is able to fix his mental mistakes, I'm satisfied with our D core.

When we look at our wings, I'm a believer in Phil, Hornie and Guentz. All the other guys have nice attributes but they're all replaceable. I'm a big fan of Rust and Hags, but neither guy is capable of potting 20. I'd move one of those two (preferably Hags). Sheary and Kuhn would be gone for sure. I wouldn't count on Simon at all.....dime a dozen player.

I would try to bring in a 5th D and a scoring wing with some size. Plus obviously replace a couple of those depth wingers.
- madmike71

I do agree there was a team-defense issue along with probably a systematic issue that just wasn't working. These has become the dead horse, but the Pens played too deep, too much pinching and overplaying pucks. The result is getting caught and chasing back.

That being said, I feel about the 3rd pair the way I felt about the 4th line prior to the Pens getting Brass. I'm fine with ONE of Kuhn, Rowney or Reaves playing that line, not all of them.

I like the game Oleksiak brings as well as Ruhwedel, but together it doesn't work. It may seem like a minor thing to upgrade the 5th dman, but it can have a pretty steep ripple effect.

The defense is missing some of the speed they got from Daley and I'd love to see them go out and get someone in his mold. Personally, I'd move both Oleksiak and Ruhwedel.

Up front? I don't see much being necessary. Someone is definitely coming out with Sprong coming in. ZAR, Rust and Horn bring some physicality. If the Pens can manage the cap and get someone like Kane, then you have what you're looking for.

I'd bring Kunitz back for one year for the 4th line.

Tampa’s gonna get swept playing like this.

Tampa’s gonna get swept playing like this.
- Thorny87

I think they have completely underestimated the Caps. Caps are for real and may win it all this year.

Rust was actually on a 21 goal pace last year. He's shown some decent goal scoring ability but has been slowed down by injuries. If he were able to stay healthy, I'd hazard to guess he could get close to or even eclipse 20 goals. The guy as underrated hands. They're definitely not great, but they're not Hornqvist/Hagelin level bad. A ~20 goal scorer who brings the kind of speed, forechecking, grit, and defensive play that he does is pretty (frank)ing valuable at ~3.2 mil AAV.

Simon is unspectacular, but as long as he remains cheap, he's pretty valuable. He's not better than Sheary, but if Sheary's gonna be playing bottom 6 minutes, I'd rather downgrade to Simon and save the cap for that bottom 6 skill guy who can slot up.
- Victoro311

Outside the core players, Rust is my favorite Penguin. I'm a believer in the "clutch gene" and Rust has it.

I've flip-flopped on this a dozen times, but I think we should go hard after Kane and I don't think we're going to be able to magically remove a few contracts. Who's taking Sheary at 3mil, Hags at 4mil, Hunwick at 2.5? If we get rid of one those guys it will be a small miracle.

I've been trying to think of creative ways to come up with the cap space to add Kane. It won't be easy if we sign Rust and are stuck with those 3 players because we NEED to keep Oleksiak and Sheahan.

I kind of think we should trade Brass (a nice trade chip at 3mil) and bump Sheahan back up to 3c. Possibly trade Rust's rights (apparently other teams have asked about his availability in the past). That get's you most of the way there for Kane. Maybe we could move back into the first round by trading Brass.

I think Brass is over-kill at center. Sheahan is pretty damn close to Bone's equal and in some respects he's better. Lastly, we upgrade the 4c through FA or trade.

Kane/Guentz, Sid, Hornie
Kane/Guentz, Geno, Sprong/Kessel
Hags, Sheahan, Sprong/Kessel
ZAR, UFA, Sheary ('cause he's stuck to us like a booger)

This Washington thing is no fluke....

Tampa’s gonna get swept playing like this.
- Thorny87

I thought Boston would have beaten them.They will not get past the Caps.

John Tavares best option is to sign with the Leafs?? LOL!! Or maybe the Sharks let golden oldie Joe go away and then sign Kane AND Tavares. He then gets to stay in the country he's grown accustomed to and has a much better shot at a Cup than playing in LaBronto. Unless you think the Leafs can talk all their guys into signing for fifty cents on the buck. Bye Bye JVR. Bozak, Leo and who knows who else. And they still have no wheel man on defence. Last season was opportunity missed for the Leafs. Get real man

Any way the Pens think about trading Kessel to re-sign Rust, Sheahan, Oleksiak, Simon and give Guentzel an early extension?

How about Rick Nash? Apparently Boston won't be re-signing him. Is he a good fit for Sid or Geno @ $5M/per?

Any way the Pens think about trading Kessel to re-sign Rust, Sheahan, Oleksiak, Simon and give Guentzel an early extension?

How about Rick Nash? Apparently Boston won't be re-signing him. Is he a good fit for Sid or Geno @ $5M/per?
- Barnaby36

If you mean 5 Dollars, then yes..... 5 Million??? HELLLLLL NOOOOO


We don't need to trade Kessel to do any of those things. Rust will get maybe 3 million, nobody else has any leverage and are RFA's Guentzels extension won't kick in until Hags contract ends, thats where those $$ are coming from

John Tavares best option is to sign with the Leafs?? LOL!! Or maybe the Sharks let golden oldie Joe go away and then sign Kane AND Tavares. He then gets to stay in the country he's grown accustomed to and has a much better shot at a Cup than playing in LaBronto. Unless you think the Leafs can talk all their guys into signing for fifty cents on the buck. Bye Bye JVR. Bozak, Leo and who knows who else. And they still have no wheel man on defence. Last season was opportunity missed for the Leafs. Get real man
- Hardbalz

If Tavares were to somehow sign with the Leafs, they can afford to trade one of their assets (probably Nylander) for that "wheelman" on defense

They'd find themselves with a pretty stacked roster especially at Center. If Tavares WANTS to sign with you, you make it happen. Free Assets like that don't come around often

JVR and Bozak are gone anyways