Ryan Wilson: Penguins make smart bet on former fourth overall pick Penguins make smart bet on former fourth overall pick

Agreed. Great job getting him in on a PTO and he earned his spot after the stint in WBS. Was thinking they should keep him down in the minors for another month or so to get him more minutes on the ice but that might not have been an option.

He is going to be hungry on that $800k contract... I'd expect two good years out of him.

I was surprised a bit to hear Crosby raving about the job Tocchet and JR have done in Vancouver. Obviously all credit due... it probably wasn't but sounded a bit like a "wish you were here" kind of quote.

“They’ve done a great job,” Crosby added. “I think Jim and Tocchet have done a great job helping them and their whole staff. They’re playing really well as a team and individually their players been performing well. I think a lot of people deserve credit for that.”

Dumpster diving.

I was surprised a bit to hear Crosby raving about the job Tocchet and JR have done in Vancouver. Obviously all credit due... it probably wasn't but sounded a bit like a "wish you were here" kind of quote.

“They’ve done a great job,” Crosby added. “I think Jim and Tocchet have done a great job helping them and their whole staff. They’re playing really well as a team and individually their players been performing well. I think a lot of people deserve credit for that.”
- MacPatty

Raving? He was asked about it and gave a vanilla professional answer haha

Dumpster diving.
- dstewart

Quality post.

I haven't been a big fan of Dubas, but having the terms of the contract offer to Jake leak is a really good move. The longer things drag out toward the trade deadline, the more leverage Jake and his agent have.

$8.5M for 6 years is a good hometown discount offer. No team would be scared away by Jake turning that down if they are thinking of trading for him and signing to an extension. Obviously its dictated by the buyers in the market, but the deadline Dubas should have for Jake is 3 weeks before the deadline to agree to terms or a trade is likely.

I think it is also possible a Jake re-signing could be dependent on other moves. I don't think this is the right "mix" of players. So keeping all of out big players/contracts and just resigning Jake and rolling with the same group just older are more expensive is not an option.

Rak wasn't scoring but Geno and Smith seemed to work better with him on their line. I like DOC but it seems forced to have him and Rak flipped and on their off wing.

4th line I dub thee the HAC(K) line

Raving? He was asked about it and gave a vanilla professional answer haha
- MattStrat

Maybe it was less than raving but it was definitely more than vanilla.

They are prohibited about talking about money or term

They can say, "We want you here" "We really want to be here"
- RoloTahmasee

That's what I thought. You can ask him his thoughts on retiring in Pittsburgh. Dubas should let him know the moves he needs to make are based upon that. If Sid hedges, Dubas will have clarity (not certainty) on what he needs to do.

All the speculation I've heard is Sid is the kind of guy who will want to stay/retire a Penguin. They should be having that conversation. He's the lynchpin. No reason to give up futures (or even worse) miss out on future picks if Sid is going to leave.

That's what I thought. You can ask him his thoughts on retiring in Pittsburgh. Dubas should let him know the moves he needs to make are based upon that. If Sid hedges, Dubas will have clarity (not certainty) on what he needs to do.

All the speculation I've heard is Sid is the kind of guy who will want to stay/retire a Penguin. They should be having that conversation. He's the lynchpin. No reason to give up futures (or even worse) miss out on future picks if Sid is going to leave.
- madmike71

I think Sid will be fine here even during the dark years. His role will change to that of mentor. Just like how Mario stayed till he could pass the torch to Sid. I’m sure that is still remembered in his mind.

Maybe it was less than raving but it was definitely more than vanilla.

- MacPatty

French vanilla?

French vanilla?
- 10inchTerror

hahaha

French vanilla?
- 10inchTerror

Haha, perfect!

They’ve had 5 straight first round exits, miss last yr, not in a spot now….these are the dark years.

If Crosby is t a mentor at this point….something is wrong.

Trying to manifest Valeri Nichushkin out of thin air here. Where’s my guy Dupuis at?

They’ve had 5 straight first round exits, miss last yr, not in a spot now….these are the dark years.

If Crosby is t a mentor at this point….something is wrong.
- sammy87

Nah these are the in between years. It’s gonna get a whole lot darker

Nah these are the in between years. It’s gonna get a whole lot darker
- 10inchTerror

With the proper mind set rebuilds can be fun, granted that they don’t last multiple decades.

That's what I thought. You can ask him his thoughts on retiring in Pittsburgh. Dubas should let him know the moves he needs to make are based upon that. If Sid hedges, Dubas will have clarity (not certainty) on what he needs to do.

All the speculation I've heard is Sid is the kind of guy who will want to stay/retire a Penguin. They should be having that conversation. He's the lynchpin. No reason to give up futures (or even worse) miss out on future picks if Sid is going to leave.
- madmike71

I had always hoped the Pens would be competitive when Sid's contract was up and he'd take 1 million/year deals to free up room to acquire another top player

Can't see him take much of a discount given the state of the roster. 2 years from now an extra couple of million aint gonna put them over the top. Gonna have to pay him to stick with the mediocrity

They’ve had 5 straight first round exits, miss last yr, not in a spot now….these are the dark years.

If Crosby is t a mentor at this point….something is wrong.
- sammy87

Not even close to the dark years. You do realize, before a season begins, every team has the goal, and hope, of at least making the playoffs and around half of the teams in the league do not get in?

Dark years would be basement dwelling for consecutive years....like from 2002 to 2005.

Nah these are the in between years. It’s gonna get a whole lot darker
- 10inchTerror

These are definitely not the dark years lol that dude is such a clown.

They’ve had 5 straight first round exits, miss last yr, not in a spot now….these are the dark years.

If Crosby is t a mentor at this point….something is wrong.
- sammy87

Dark years are when you start looking forward to the draft by early December.

https://www.instagram.com...igsh=MTdrMmEycHgxZWsydQ==

The Penguins PP talk!

https://www.penguinslates...ment-Clause-for-Two-Teams

Saw this go across my facebook feed.... on a scale of 1 to EK5, how full of poop is this rumor? Neither team has any cap space, so I don't see any realistic way this can happen unless we bend over backwards for them.

Would have to be a fully retained Crosby (or some 3 team trade stuff) for EK/Hyman or to CO... i think Johansen or Colton would just barely work... if not would have to be Lehkonen's money.

These past 6 years would be the all-time high point for many NHL franchises.

Yohe said today in The Athletic that no contract offer has been made to Jake. Plan is to finalize decision there close to the TDL.