One more day until the Penguins play so here are some questions I answered
@GunnerStaal Could the Pens be looking at F? If so, who do you think are some realistic targets? Seems like Pens are back to 2 line team.
— Josh (@boyd919) November 15, 2016
I personally don't believe they are a two line team. While it's true that HBK isn't picking up where they left off last year the fact is that Sidney Crosby missed a good chunk of time. When the Penguins have a healthy Crosby and Malkin it does wonders for the forward depth. If Crosby or Malkin find themselves out of the lineup it is going to sting. If any team lost that kind of talent it would wreak havoc on a team's depth and Pittsburgh is no exception.
As for finding a forward I don't believe they will be seeking out a difference maker. At least I don't believe it will be cost effective and thus not pursued. I think if the Penguins are going to change the look of their forwards it will come from within. Jake Guentzel is having a great AHL season and Daniel Sprong has started skating again. I think the team will use one of those two players with Guentzel being the liklier option because of the CHL rules with Sprong.
@GunnerStaal DO you think the Pens are gonna package Maata for another Dman
— Ciletti (@CameronCiletti) November 15, 2016
I do. I don't think the team regrets signing him to an extension, but at the same time if they can find a top four defenseman to play on the right side the team will look into it. The good news is that Pittsburgh doesn't really have to do anything with Maatta. They can keep him and play him. The odds are low that he severely underperforms his 4M cap hit. If something comes up I think Pittsburgh would pull the trigger and if it doesn't they are content to stay the course. It's a good spot to be in.
@GunnerStaal Mvp prediction?
— chance (@Chayunce) November 15, 2016
I think if Sidney Crosby stays healthy he certainly has to be in the mix despite missing some games to start the year. In the minds of voters it is better to miss early than miss late and we can go back to the 2012-13 season as proof of that. I think if Montreal keeps winning Carey Price is going to be on the radar again. If the Oilers make the playoffs Connor McDavid will get some much deserved attention in the conversation.
@GunnerStaal any players/storylines flying under the radar that are worth keeping on eye on moving forward?
— Derek James Callow (@xoDeadpoolox) November 15, 2016
I think you can look at the Winnipeg Jets. That may sound weird because Patrik Laine and Jacob Trouba have been covered extensively, but there are some other Jets related items worth talking about. The fact that Winnipeg is currently in second place of the hotly contested Central Division a fifth of the way through the year is a bit of a surprise. Winnipeg has the NHL's leading scorer in Mark Scheifele. The Jets center got a little more recognition playing on a line with McDavid and Matthews for Team North America but I still find the buzz around him to be not as much as it should be. He's a fantastic player and at 23 years of age he is entering the statistical prime of his career. The only players the past two years to have a higher 5v5 points per 60 than Scheifele have been Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Patrick Kane. Yet, I don't find people talking about him being in that tier of player. He is and the Jets have him on a max term contract for only 6.1 million dollars.
@GunnerStaal who do you think the pens will resign this offseason. Kunitz for another year possibly?
— Austin Barnes (@Austin_Barnes00) November 15, 2016
I would give Kunitz a one-year two million dollar deal. He's a nice complimentary player at this stage of his career and 2M is a complementary price tag. Brian Dumoulin is going to get an extension from the team. Derrick Pouliot is another player I would re-sign. Matt Cullen is likely to retire and Nick Bonino will probably be looking for money that is outside of the price point that makes sense for Pittsburgh. Justin Schultz will be looking to get paid and will likely do so somewhere else. I could see the team giving Trevor Daley a one year contract to stick around if they have yet to find a top four right defenseman in the trade market.
@GunnerStaal Out of Trouba/Hamilton/Fowler, who would you rather acquire and what kind of package would it take to get that player?
— Ryan Ziegler (@LetsGoPens_67) November 15, 2016
1. Trouba: For now Trouba is a Jet, but I think if a team came strong with an offer that included a left defenseman the Jets would entertain it. For the Penguins that would be a Maatta-centric deal. This is something I would definitely do if I were Pittsburgh.
2. Hamilton: As I wrote yesterday I don't know why the Flames are looking to move this player. He's been good for them both offensively and on the possession front. There are rumors that Calgary wants to acquire a 'tougher nosed' defenseman so perhaps they are primed to make a weird trade. I don't know what Calgary would be looking for on this front. It makes little sense to move this player from where I am.
3. Fowler: There's a reason for the gap above and that is because I don't think Fowler is on the level of those other two players. The Penguins have no need for Fowler. He is a left defenseman and Pittsburgh already has Dumoulin and Maatta.
Thanks for reading!