I'm unclear. Are you upset because the Pens didn't go all in? We didn't go all in because we don't have the assets to go all in anymore after half a decade of going all in and failing at it
- Victoro311

Where does this team sit today? What is the plan?

Even if Ladd was "perfect" for this team, who and what would we have had to give up to get him? He won't fit under the cap and he's not a difference maker on his own. He is a top tier complimentary player and we have no room for him. Dano is 20 years old and is going to be a very good player. The Jets are now stacked with very good under 23 year old players. If they can find a decent goalie or Hellebyuk reaches his potential then they are going to be a powerhouse very soon. They are the Minnesota TimberWolves of the NHL. The Jets and the Oilers are really close to being formidable.
- Dcoms

And yet, you are running your mouth about acquiring Hansen over Grabner, someone who would cost a heck of a lot more.

Do you think teams that do not spend to the cap compete in the first place?
- jfkst1

If there was an ignore feature on this site, the guy you are responding to would be on ignore for me.

I'm unclear. Are you upset because the Pens didn't go all in? We didn't go all in because we don't have the assets to go all in anymore after half a decade of going all in and failing at it
- Victoro311

It all goes back to Ray Shero. He f'n mangled it. Injuries of course were a major factor, but Shero sh1t the bed. Your system needs to produce something. Ours didn't under him.

Not to mention sticking with his buddy and coach entirely too long after he repeatedly got owned in the post season.

Where does this team sit today? What is the plan?
- Weisenheimer

Our only choice now is to hold onto our futures so we can start having some semblance of life post-Malkin/Crosby and hope that through hockey trades and UFA signings we can ice a contending team. We don't have the pieces for high end rentals anymore.

Well take solace in the fact that Ovi hasn't even win a cup yet.


Can't compare Hawks to Pens the variants in the teams are far too great & say what you want, but the Hawks have underpaid high end talent, & young good players wanting to play for them by choice. Pens have neither. Hawks are this year starting what would be the Crosby Malkin era contract wise so lets see how they go.
- Aussiepenguin

People keep saying the Pens drafting has been so terrible and I guess they are talking about the first 2 rounds but we have gotten a few steals later in the draft that will be good NHL players like Rust, Wilson, Jarry, Murray, Sundqvist, Blueger, Simon, Taylor, Maquire. Those all came from 2-3 years of drafting under Shero and represent a decent amount of homegrown NHL talents. The difference is the Hawks pick well in the first 2 rounds and then they develop those players almost as well as Detroit does so every year at the TDL they can sell off their first round pick for a rental or 2 because they know they will always have summer salary dumps that will get them a pick or 2 back and they have young guys waiting in the wings to take the departed players place. This strategy will work as long as they have Kane and Toews and free agents like Panarin want to play for a winning team. They have a lot of politics at play, but it is really working for them. They are what the Leafs hope to be in 5 years if they get lucky in the draft to find a couple of franchise players to build around.

I'm unclear. Are you upset because the Pens didn't go all in? We didn't go all in because we don't have the assets to go all in anymore after half a decade of going all in and failing at it
- Victoro311

Maybe Im just frustrated because the supporting cast as currently constructed is more than likely not going to get it done, and when you see teams that are already extremely successful adding perfect pieces imo (Ladd), it just becomes more discouraging.

If there was an ignore feature on this site, the guy you are responding to would be on ignore for me.
- Oneonta Penguin

If there was an ignore feature on this site, the guy you are responding to would be on ignore for me.
- Oneonta Penguin

I think it is an honest question. What teams can consistently compete without spending to the max? I personally don't think it is possible.

Our only choice now is to hold onto our futures so we can start having some semblance of life post-Malkin/Crosby and hope that through hockey trades and UFA signings we can ice a contending team. We don't have the pieces for high end rentals anymore.
- Victoro311

Do you think that is how ownership/management see things?

Our only choice now is to hold onto our futures so we can start having some semblance of life post-Malkin/Crosby and hope that through hockey trades and UFA signings we can ice a contending team. We don't have the pieces for high end rentals anymore.
- Victoro311

We really need Pouliot, Maatta and Sprong to develop into good/very good players.....and quickly. If that happens I think they can compete for a cup with the addition of a decent FA or two. If not.....well.....fvck.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about Pouliot and Maatta these days.

Is there any big young defensive dman that can skate well and move the puck but also blocks shots and hits?


Bc that's who the pens should look for....










after they trade Pouliot for Drouin and Cole for picks

Do you think that is how ownership/management see things?
- Weisenheimer

I hope not. Living safe to arrive at death healthy is a terrible philosphy. Trust your instincts and go balls out. Shero did atleast have a set.

The Hawks best trades would been sharp for picks. Resigned saad with savings from sharp. And maybe signed Soderberg in free agency. Actually think the cap hits would have been close on those moves. They really mismanaged their assets this year. Would have totally blown it if their reputation wasn't tops in the league which allowed them to land panarin.

Ladd is a good piece which might make a difference in a key series. The price is astronomical though as will hurt them with depth. Next year is going to be tough when they have lost a lot of assets and have to pay panarin.

They turned Saad into Anisimov, Dano
Sharp into Scuds and caps space
Dano and cap space into Ladd

This is perfect asset management for a team taking advantage of their window.
- stackthepads

They turned Saad and a 1st into Anisimov and Ladd. Would you trade Saad for Ladd and a 1st for Anisimov? And yes I realize there were cap issues they had to deal with but that is what the return currently is....

We really need Pouliot, Maatta and Sprong to develop into good/very good players.....and quickly. If that happens I think they can compete for a cup with the addition of a decent FA or two. If not.....well.....fvck.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about Pouliot and Maatta these days.
- madmike71

Worried is an understatement, especially with regards to Maatta. I really would like to be a bug on the wall during those contract negotiations . . . At least Pouliot is cheap for the time being

They turned Saad and a 1st into Anisimov and Ladd. Would you trade Saad for Ladd and a 1st for Anisimov? And yes I realize there were cap issues they had to deal with but that is what the return currently is....
- willi

You have to look at what Saad was demanding in contract negotiations, there was no way Chicago could afford him, they did what they could in a trade.

In addition, they dont have time to wait for a 1st round pick to develop, Anisimov gives them an immediate #2 center.

So yes, they did exactly the right things.

Is there any big young defensive dman that can skate well and move the puck but also blocks shots and hits?


Bc that's who the pens should look for....










after they trade Pouliot for Drouin and Cole for picks
- nh4442

Hawks could have easily resigned Saad at the price Columbus paid but probably less since their a better team. The Hawks took on two contracts in the sharp trade and didn't get anything from those guys. They also paid anisimov. Very easily could have put that salary into saad and been a better team

Only assumption I'm making is they could have moved sharp for picks. If they did that they may have had the cash for Oduya too.

- Reverend Killtaker

I was jk about the bottom part but I'm serious about a big young defensive dman who can skate and move the puck but can also block shots and hit.

That's what the pens need imo

Our only choice now is to hold onto our futures so we can start having some semblance of life post-Malkin/Crosby and hope that through hockey trades and UFA signings we can ice a contending team. We don't have the pieces for high end rentals anymore.
- Victoro311

See I think we shouldn't be doing this at all. We have the pieces to win a cup now, after Crosby and Malkin we aren't going to have the pieces to win a cup.
If you want to see what life is after Crosby and Malkin look at Winnipeg, a team whos big victory is getting a nice return trading their captain.

The team post Crosby era is a mediocre team at best for decades. We should be all in for the next 5 years, whatever that takes.

I was jk about the bottom part but I'm serious about a big young defensive dman who can skate and move the puck but can also block shots and hit.

That's what the pens need imo
- nh4442

The player that you think Pittsburgh needs is going to cost an arm and a leg to get.

See I think we shouldn't be doing this at all. We have the pieces to win a cup now, after Crosby and Malkin we aren't going to have the pieces to win a cup.
If you want to see what life is after Crosby and Malkin look at Winnipeg, a team whos big victory is getting a nice return trading their captain.

The team post Crosby era is a mediocre team at best for decades. We should be all in for the next 5 years, whatever that takes.
- stackthepads

When Sid and Geno are done it will be Simon sunds Sprong line to the rescue

The player that you think Pittsburgh needs is going to cost an arm and a leg to get.
- jfkst1

Oh I never said that they will get or have the assets to get. I'm just saying that's what they need to contend

I think it is an honest question. What teams can consistently compete without spending to the max? I personally don't think it is possible.
- jfkst1

He must be thinking baseball - Kansas City and Pittsburgh.

In hockey, very few can compete if they aren't close to the max of the cap.