https://twitter.com/EastlinkKris/status/833160513269936128

Sprong with a dirty angle snipe job.
- j.boyd919

How the heck did that puck get in there? Wow.

https://twitter.com/EastlinkKris/status/833160513269936128

Sprong with a dirty angle snipe job.
- j.boyd919

It's so weird having two promising top 6 forward prospects, one of which is practically a done deal. A potential Guentzel-Malkin-Sprong line in one or two years is really fun to think about.

If cost to acquire were the same, I would take Duchene or Landeskog both over Shattenkirk. I just feel like after Shero, we should never pay premium assets for a rental ...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I understand peoples hesitation but no one can tell me when Shero paying assets for rentals ever hurt the team. they just won the cup despite all those trades, with a team over 50% still Shero's. If it enables the pens to go for another give up anotehr 1st, or a sprong/guentzel. Crosby can make top 6'ers out of sheary and duper and armstrong. I'm not saying give those assets away but if it puts the pens at the top of the list for stanleys fav's then go for it... they can afford to do that for a few years yet...

I understand peoples hesitation but no one can tell me when Shero paying assets for rentals ever hurt the team. they just won the cup despite all those trades, with a team over 50% still Shero's. If it enables the pens to go for another give up anotehr 1st, or a sprong/guentzel. Crosby can make top 6'ers out of sheary and duper and armstrong. I'm not saying give those assets away but if it puts the pens at the top of the list for stanleys fav's then go for it... they can afford to do that for a few years yet...
- ChrisMS

Guentzel should be near untouchable and you'd have to convince me really hard to give up Sprong. With the expensive core we have too six production out of ELC guys is invaluable especially if we end up having to overpay for a 3C or top 4D in free agency this offseason. The team we have can win the cup, but a top 4 D man can really really help right now but we shouldn't expend our future on rental shattenkirk. I think there's certainly a right price for him though.

Guentzel should be near untouchable and you'd have to convince me really hard to give up Sprong. With the expensive core we have too six production out of ELC guys is invaluable especially if we end up having to overpay for a 3C or top 4D in free agency this offseason. The team we have can win the cup, but a top 4 D man can really really help right now but we shouldn't expend our future on rental shattenkirk. I think there's certainly a right price for him though.
- Victoro311

I'd give up one or the other for shat... and a conditional 1st if pens make finals. A cup is worth it. Pens have 2-3 more years barring injuries that they can afford to lose these assets for rentals. And pens would have negotiating rights and could choose 2 of maatta Schultz and shat in off season potentially

Guentzel should be near untouchable and you'd have to convince me really hard to give up Sprong. With the expensive core we have too six production out of ELC guys is invaluable especially if we end up having to overpay for a 3C or top 4D in free agency this offseason. The team we have can win the cup, but a top 4 D man can really really help right now but we shouldn't expend our future on rental shattenkirk. I think there's certainly a right price for him though.
- Victoro311

I really hope they just pull a Schultz-like move and acquire Brendan Smith. Everything about his underlying numbers is solid. He'd be the perfect guy to pair with Maatta if/when he returns and drop Daley to 7D

Dumo-Letang
Smith-Maatta
Cole-Schultz
Daley

is a solid, solid Defense.

I'd give up one or the other for shat... and a conditional 1st if pens make finals. A cup is worth it. Pens have 2-3 more years barring injuries that they can afford to lose these assets for rentals. And pens would have negotiating rights and could choose 2 of maatta Schultz and shat in off season potentially
- ChrisMS

Nahhhh, I can't agree with that. Guentzel is already playing well in a top 6 role. Sprong is projecting well. I would only move Sprong/1st for a guy with term. Having Shatty for a few weeks and then playoffs is a no go for me. There can be other moves that help bolster the Pens (maybe not to the extent of Shattenkirk, but can add solid players for years to come) without getting rid of top players like G and Sprong.

I really hope they just pull a Schultz-like move and acquire Brendan Smith. Everything about his underlying numbers is solid. He'd be the perfect guy to pair with Maatta if/when he returns and drop Daley to 7D

Dumo-Letang
Smith-Maatta
Cole-Schultz
Daley

is a solid, solid Defense.
- j.boyd919

I'm on board with you because I think Maatta's biggest problem this year has been that he has bad chemestry with Daley.

I'm on board with you because I think Maatta's biggest problem this year has been that he has bad chemestry with Daley.
- Victoro311

Yep, gotta agree with that. I'd be curious to how Maatta-Letang, and Dumo-Daley could play. I have been unimpressed with Dumo this season too. But I'm also not sure throwing him with Daley would help anything either. But it could help Maatta's game putting him with Tanger.

I'd give up one or the other for shat... and a conditional 1st if pens make finals. A cup is worth it. Pens have 2-3 more years barring injuries that they can afford to lose these assets for rentals. And pens would have negotiating rights and could choose 2 of maatta Schultz and shat in off season potentially
- ChrisMS

Gotta agree with Boyd on this one. I like our chances of winning the cup this year already. We don't NEED Shattenkirk he'd just help a ton. We need cheap production in the top 6 from talented players as Crosby and Malkin age to extend our Cup window as much as possible. I think our Cup window can realistically last at least 5, maybe even 6 more seasons if we play our cards right.

Yep, gotta agree with that. I'd be curious to how Maatta-Letang, and Dumo-Daley could play. I have been unimpressed with Dumo this season too. But I'm also not sure throwing him with Daley would help anything either. But it could help Maatta's game putting him with Tanger.
- j.boyd919

Dumsday was a good pairing last year. I'd be all for trying out a shakeup to see if everyone can improve with different partners. Maatang was good at times last year as well. If not, we could always just give Coltz run as the second pairing and drop Maatta-Daley down to the bottom pairing. Cole is more bottom than mid pairing, but Cole and Schultz together are a middle pairing caliber duo.

Nahhhh, I can't agree with that. Guentzel is already playing well in a top 6 role. Sprong is projecting well. I would only move Sprong/1st for a guy with term. Having Shatty for a few weeks and then playoffs is a no go for me. There can be other moves that help bolster the Pens (maybe not to the extent of Shattenkirk, but can add solid players for years to come) without getting rid of top players like G and Sprong.
- j.boyd919

fair enough... but nobody remembers prospects picks given up in years you win... and I'd take the shot with the 2-3 year window we have left. and I agree that a depth move or two might be all thats necessary. but if GMJR did make a move like I Volunteered I would certainly not be upset either.

Gotta agree with Boyd on this one. I like our chances of winning the cup this year already. We don't NEED Shattenkirk he'd just help a ton. We need cheap production in the top 6 from talented players as Crosby and Malkin age to extend our Cup window as much as possible. I think our Cup window can realistically last at least 5, maybe even 6 more seasons if we play our cards right.
- Victoro311

If we play our cards right every year should be a window... but Sid and Genos window of being dominant centers that dont need superstars just solid good players is a few more years. solid good players can be later picks as we see with our current team or FA. A couple depth moves would be nice but no complaints here if GMJR swings for the fences... again... Shero doing so didnt do anything to hurt this teams cup chances... GMJR wont hurt our chances for the coming years if he does it this year.

Isn't LW a need next season?

Kunitz gone
Hags is meh
Sheary is hurt.

Not sure who the other LW is at the moment but yeah they need some help there as well.

So 3C, LW, Top 4 Dman.

If we play our cards right every year should be a window... but Sid and Genos window of being dominant centers that dont need superstars just solid good players is a few more years. solid good players can be later picks as we see with our current team or FA. A couple depth moves would be nice but no complaints here if GMJR swings for the fences... again... Shero doing so didnt do anything to hurt this teams cup chances... GMJR wont hurt our chances for the coming years if he does it this year.
- ChrisMS

Shero's moves created a span of about three years where we weren't Cup contedners because our lack of young players in the pipeline lead to having some of the worst depth in the lead. GMJR doesn't get enough credit for how quickly he was able to retool and restock. We can't go down that road again. Crosby and Malkin are getting too old to waste their time.

I don't mind if The Old Man swings for the fences on a high profile rental, but Guentzel is untouchable and Sprong really shouldn't be moved for a rental unless it's a really good deal. Guentzel, Sprong, and Sundqvist are really important for us keeping the cap hit of the supporting cast down especially since it looks like we may have to overpay to have a good blue line and 3C.

Again, we're not up poops creek so that we absolutely need Shattenkirk. This defense won the cup last year. There's a right price for us and Shattenkirk. Guentzel isn't it and I don't really think Sprong is either.

You say Crosby and Malkin only have 2-3 years left where they can make bottom six guys top six wingers. That makes it even more important to keep young, cheap talent in the organization.

Isn't LW a need next season?

Kunitz gone
Hags is meh
Sheary is hurt.

Not sure who the other LW is at the moment but yeah they need some help there as well.

So 3C, LW, Top 4 Dman.
- sammy87

Sheary and Guentzel with Hagelin able to spot up is fine. 3C and top 4 D is much more pressing.

If we play our cards right every year should be a window... but Sid and Genos window of being dominant centers that dont need superstars just solid good players is a few more years. solid good players can be later picks as we see with our current team or FA. A couple depth moves would be nice but no complaints here if GMJR swings for the fences... again... Shero doing so didnt do anything to hurt this teams cup chances... GMJR wont hurt our chances for the coming years if he does it this year.
- ChrisMS

I dunno, I disagree. It was 7 years between 2009 and 2016 when when the Pens won the cup, and a lot of that could be attributed to Shero giving bad contracts out, trading picks and prospects, etc. While I do agree, he was trying to give his team the BEST opportunity to win the cup on any given year, sometimes the lack of depth due to "loyal contracts" he gave out could have been replaced with draft picks had he not sent them all away, or even players with term as opposed to going big name guys. If the roster had properly been constructed, I don't think it would have taken 7 years for the Pens to win a 2nd cup with Geno and Sid. But yeah, injuries also (frank)ed those teams a lot of the years too. And average/below average goaltending in the playoffs, and bad coaching from Disco.

Sheary and Guentzel with Hagelin able to spot up is fine. 3C and top 4 D is much more pressing.
- Victoro311

I hope they resign Kunitz cheap as well. I would like to see him on the 4th line LW for 1-1.5 mil

Shero's moves created a span of about three years where we weren't Cup contedners because our lack of young players in the pipeline lead to having some of the worst depth in the lead. GMJR doesn't get enough credit for how quickly he was able to retool and restock. We can't go down that road again. Crosby and Malkin are getting too old to waste their time.

I don't mind if The Old Man swings for the fences on a high profile rental, but Guentzel is untouchable and Sprong really shouldn't be moved for a rental unless it's a really good deal. Guentzel, Sprong, and Sundqvist are really important for us keeping the cap hit of the supporting cast down especially since it looks like we may have to overpay to have a good blue line and 3C.

Again, we're not up poops creek so that we absolutely need Shattenkirk. This defense won the cup last year. There's a right price for us and Shattenkirk. Guentzel isn't it and I don't really think Sprong is either.

You say Crosby and Malkin only have 2-3 years left where they can make bottom six guys top six wingers. That makes it even more important to keep young, cheap talent in the organization.
- Victoro311

I disagree on Sundqvist, I think he projects to a bottom 6 C at best, and while those are needed, I think he is expendable if a better option for a more impact roster spot is found. 1st+Sundqvist for impact D/3C (Johnson) could be a very good move, if GMJR can get the cap to workout.

This defense did win the cup last year, but they also had Dumo, Lovejoy, and Daley all player over their head. Although the emergence of Schultz and Cole as a pairing has helped soften the regression of Dumo and Daley and Maatta to an extent.

Nice suit mario