The Penguins aren’t playing for another week and there isn't a lot going on so here is a mailbag.
I think he is definitely shopping Derick Brassard. The trouble with trading Brassard is the team would be looking for a third line center in return for trading away… a third line center. There are two ways to go about this. Trade Brassard by himself for futures in order to shed cap space and try to use those futures to get their third line center in a separate trade. The second option is package Derick Brassard with other pieces to entice another team to give them a “better” third line center.
He would certainly be a third line center upgrade. The Rangers seem content on sending him packing. I think he would be very good in Pittsburgh (I said the same about Brassard). In order to clear cap space I could see Brassard going the other way along with this year’s first round pick. Not sure that would be enough. You have to imagine that Hayes would be an ideal rental piece for a lot of teams. I have always thought highly of Hayes and wouldn’t be against the idea of trying to add him.
Brassard is definitely underperforming. He was brought in to play with Phil Kessel and create offense. He hasn’t done his job. His 5v5 points per 60 is 0.96. It’s pathetic. I think he has been given a calendar year to show if he’s a fit for the team. Whether it was because of the groin injury last year or other reasons he hasn’t performed well enough. His 0.96 points per 60 is in Max Lapierre, Dustin Jeffrey, Mike Comrie, Ryan Reaves, and this year’s Carl Hagelin. Not what the team had in mind. This is below replacement level. By definition moving him out shouldn’t be a lateral move unless they find somebody producing as poorly as him. That would be hard to do.
Schultz should be back by mid-February if my memory serves correct. He started light skating a few weeks ago so that is a good sign. As far as the pairings go I think there are a few options, but here is the one I think is most likely:
Dumoulin-Letang-
Maatta-Schultz
Pettersson-Johnson
Oleksiak (if on the team)
I think it is worth trying:
Maatta-Letang
Dumoulin-Schultz
Pettersson-Johnson (he’s not being benched)
This gives Olli “chameleon” Maatta a great partner to play with. This gives Schultz the best complimentary defenseman to help him ease back into a top four role.
Whatever they go with Jack Johnson will be playing so the team won’t be putting their best lineup out there. Schultz will help a lot though.
Ship has sailed on this one. I don’t know how they fit 6M into a third line center role with Guentzel and Hornqvist contracts. Moving Phil Kessel is asinine. He’s been very good and still provides value.
Jack Johnson is the same quality player in Pittsburgh that he’s been in every stop of his career. Jim Rutherford saw those results and saw value in him. I can’t imagine anything has changed in his opinion of the player. The problem is even if the Penguins want to move him they would have to navigate his full no-movement clause (his contract).
I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. Everybody knows to be a true hockey man you have to dabble in alcoholism and refrain from museums and intellectual activities.
He’s anchored to Jack Johnson. I’m really hoping that Justin Schultz’s pending return gives Geno Machino the proper support he needs to do the things he’s always done in his career. A big part of Malkin’s “defensive” game is having the puck himself and creating offense. Jack Johnson slaughters his team’s ability to create that offense, thus the limited Malkin results.
It’s impossible to know without being in the room to see the dynamics at play, but it’s tough to ignore some of the moves that have transpired since then. I’m not sure we see Ryan Reaves and Jack Johnson with the old setup.
If you were betting on this 0% would have the best odds.
I honestly have no idea.
It’s probably a little less than 50% odds. Sheary has seven goals and 19 points. He needs either 20 goals (less likely) or 40 points. The other stipulation is if the Sabres trade Matt Hunwick prior to the 2019 draft. Sheary lost his best chance to hit those milestones when Jeff Skinner caught fire with Jack Eichel. He has to hope that Casey Mittelstadt can find his footing otherwise the third round pick looks less likely. Another variable is what the Sabres do at the trade deadline. Either way the Penguins have Jack Johnson instead of Conor Sheary.
Thanks for reading!
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