I think we all agree with what you said? (That can't be right). Compete for a wild card was the expectation. Falling apart like this is a disappointment. But nobody expected a true contender. Past couple weeks have made it look worse because they aren't even competitive and even Sid seems shot.
- Tojo.

Lol

Did anyone really think this was going to be a good team back in August? At best it could have been a wild card. I really didn’t expect them to be battling for last in the division.
- sammy87

Considering the team missed the playoffs last year by 1 point (I think), I thought this team on paper looked better than last year. The bottom 6 looked a tad better with Eller and Acciari.

The defense was supposed to be a massive upgrade. Letang/Pettersson and Graves/Karlsson looked like a 1A and 1B pairing.

My issue for next season is that this clearly didn’t work and it seems like A LOT of changes are needed. They most likely won’t have a 2025 1st. Probably won’t trade their 2026 1st in case they continue to suck. Prospects are meh. I can’t see them landing any significant trades

Considering the team missed the playoffs last year by 1 point (I think), I thought this team on paper looked better than last year. The bottom 6 looked a tad better with Eller and Acciari.

The defense was supposed to be a massive upgrade. Letang/Pettersson and Graves/Karlsson looked like a 1A and 1B pairing.

My issue for next season is that this clearly didn’t work and it seems like A LOT of changes are needed. They most likely won’t have a 2025 1st. Probably won’t trade their 2026 1st in case they continue to suck. Prospects are meh. I can’t see them landing any significant trades
- drummer829

I saw it as older and overpaid plugs in the bottom 6. Trading for a 32 yr old smith was dumb.

While I don’t think ek sucks, I don’t think he’s worth 11m. I’d probs rather have petry or rutta and have his deal expire this yr than more of graves.

Sully should have been canned by Christmas and then trade Jake at the asg if they didn’t improve. What will really sting is Ty smith belonging a nhl reg.

I saw it as older and overpaid plugs in the bottom 6. Trading for a 32 yr old smith was dumb.

While I don’t think ek sucks, I don’t think he’s worth 11m. I’d probs rather have petry or rutta and have his deal expire this yr than more of graves.

Sully should have been canned by Christmas and then trade Jake at the asg if they didn’t improve. What will really sting is Ty smith belonging a nhl reg.
- sammy87

Do you mean next year, because Petry and Ruutta both have another year after this one. Neither effect Graves because it's LD v RD.

Do you mean next year, because Petry and Ruutta both have another year after this one. Neither effect Graves because it's LD v RD.
- Tojo.

He's said this before and he's already been told that their deals are not expiring. Dude's just going out of his way to be wrong and annoying on purpose.

Considering the team missed the playoffs last year by 1 point (I think), I thought this team on paper looked better than last year. The bottom 6 looked a tad better with Eller and Acciari.

The defense was supposed to be a massive upgrade. Letang/Pettersson and Graves/Karlsson looked like a 1A and 1B pairing.

My issue for next season is that this clearly didn’t work and it seems like A LOT of changes are needed. They most likely won’t have a 2025 1st. Probably won’t trade their 2026 1st in case they continue to suck. Prospects are meh. I can’t see them landing any significant trades
- drummer829

The problem with the defense is that both Letang and Karlson need defensively minded partners that are also good skaters to really excel. Dumoulin was that in his prime. Pettersson currently is that. But Graves is absolutely not that at all. He's mediocre to begin with and skews towards offensive minded. POJ is interesting because I don't think he developed particularly defensively minded but he's kind of been thrust into that role out of necessity due to Graves flopping and done OK. I think our only real course of action here is hoping that POJ keeps growing into that and just treat Graves as sunk cost cus he doesn't fit our top 4 at all.

The problem with the defense is that both Letang and Karlson need defensively minded partners that are also good skaters to really excel. Dumoulin was that in his prime. Pettersson currently is that. But Graves is absolutely not that at all. He's mediocre to begin with and skews towards offensive minded. POJ is interesting because I don't think he developed particularly defensively minded but he's kind of been thrust into that role out of necessity due to Graves flopping and done OK. I think our only real course of action here is hoping that POJ keeps growing into that and just treat Graves as sunk cost cus he doesn't fit our top 4 at all.
- Victoro311

I felt the opposite about POJ. Coaches were always trying to get him to press for more offense. But he has always been inclined towards playing safe. I think his defensive is way ahead of his offensive one, despite a physical skill set that should go towards offense.

Or has J.Boyd named him, black Petterson.

POJ just sucks.

I felt the opposite about POJ. Coaches were always trying to get him to press for more offense. But he has always been inclined towards playing safe. I think his defensive is way ahead of his offensive one, despite a physical skill set that should go towards offense.

Or has J.Boyd named him, black Petterson.
- Tojo.

Hahaha Black Petterson.... I thought that was Feds that labeled him that... Wonder how Feds is doing, been a while.

Jeff, you know, we'll see where he is at," Dubas said. "He's contributed a lot for us this year on and off the ice. He's not scoring like he was when he was in his early 20s and into his early 30. But penalty-killing, competitiveness, and what he's brought to the locker room has been tremendous for us."

Don’t know if any of you caught this from Dubas. Bring him back!!

Jeff, you know, we'll see where he is at," Dubas said. "He's contributed a lot for us this year on and off the ice. He's not scoring like he was when he was in his early 20s and into his early 30. But penalty-killing, competitiveness, and what he's brought to the locker room has been tremendous for us."

Don’t know if any of you caught this from Dubas. Bring him back!!
- Grinder47

Lol

Jeff, you know, we'll see where he is at," Dubas said. "He's contributed a lot for us this year on and off the ice. He's not scoring like he was when he was in his early 20s and into his early 30. But penalty-killing, competitiveness, and what he's brought to the locker room has been tremendous for us."

Don’t know if any of you caught this from Dubas. Bring him back!!
- Grinder47

hahaha if he comes back on like a one year league minimum this place will be unfit... would totally fly in the face of that we have to get younger stuff, though.

hahaha if he comes back on like a one year league minimum this place will be unfit... would totally fly in the face of that we have to get younger stuff, though.
- MattStrat

He has to just be being nice, there's no (frank)ing way he should be back.

I thought we needed to focus on value trades for the bottom six rather than gassing cap space on UFAs that almost never live up to their billing
- Victoro311

Fair enough, but we didn't really have much to trade either.

I think the strategy was OK if the goal was to ice a team capable of competing for a wild card spot for a few years. The problem was the execution of the plan, namely the coaches not being able to figure out how to integrate a 101-point Dman into the PP, or in general how to make a functional PP, the total failure of Graves, and to a lesser extent Smith underperforming.

With an average PP, if they'd signed an average 2LD instead of Graves, and with Smith performing at his career average, they easily make the playoffs with their d-focused bottom 6. Ned and Eller were very good this year, and Acciari was overpaid by $1M but still OK on the PK, etc.

Dude this bobble head story is perfect for this year lmaoooo

"The Penguins announced today that the shipment carrying the Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads for tonight’s game against the San Jose Sharks has been stolen after its arrival in California. As a result, the bobbleheads are not in Pittsburgh and will not be distributed at tonight’s game, but will be distributed at a later date.
The Penguins learned that they were victims of cargo theft after failing to receive the shipment as scheduled. The team worked with the manufacturer and transportation companies to alert the appropriate state and federal authorities who are currently working to locate the cargo. This is an open investigation and no further comment will be made in order to not hamper with the recovery of the goods.

“We were shocked to be a victim of cargo theft, and we are working closely with local and federal authorities on the investigation,” said Penguins President of Business Operations Kevin Acklin. “While this unfortunate incident adds to the legend of Jaromir Jagr, who will be in attendance as our guest at tonight’s game, we look forward to resolving this theft and delivering the prized Jagr bobbleheads to their rightful homes, with our fans,” said Acklin.

All fans in attendance will receive a voucher that includes a one-time scannable bar code that will be required to pick up the bobblehead at a later date. Location and dates for pickup will be announced when the items are safely located or new bobbleheads are produced and available for distribution. Only fans in attendance are eligible to receive the voucher."

Dude this bobble head story is perfect for this year lmaoooo
- Brownsoldier

hahaha wild stuff

The hockey gods gave us Crosby and a lot of good years... now they are taking our bobbleheads.

Being able to play O’Conner on the 4th line would be excellent but I doubt we are able to put ourselves in such a good position with forwards.
- Victoro311

Just depends on if they are able to dump Reilly Smith and Eller.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/4993092

(frank) defense in my proposed team by the way.

He's said this before and he's already been told that their deals are not expiring. Dude's just going out of his way to be wrong and annoying on purpose.
- Victoro311

When RW came down from the rafters like Sting in the WCW to dunk on that dummy I was dying.

Jeff, you know, we'll see where he is at," Dubas said. "He's contributed a lot for us this year on and off the ice. He's not scoring like he was when he was in his early 20s and into his early 30. But penalty-killing, competitiveness, and what he's brought to the locker room has been tremendous for us."

Don’t know if any of you caught this from Dubas. Bring him back!!
- Grinder47

They key to Grinder's heart.

They key to Grinder's heart.
- j.boyd919

Jeff Carter, penguins head coach 2024-2025. Brings back team parties and fun.

Jeff Carter, penguins head coach 2024-2025. Brings back team parties and fun.
- Grinder47

that'd be sick if he became "Reggie Dunlop" and busted out cocaine and action figures.

anybody know where a guy can sell 17,000 identical bobbleheads? Asking for a friend.

anybody know where a guy can sell 17,000 identical bobbleheads? Asking for a friend.
- BINGO!

hahaha