BUF has to trade at least 1 valuable piece.
- Feds91Stammer

The book is still out on Nylander, I think he will be good

I'd consider dealing with St.Louis.

Tarasenko for Kessel+

Or Dallas

J.Benn for Kessel+

I've said it before, but I think Pitt is in no mans land.

They cant go for it again, because the constant going for it and being a perennial cup contender has finally caught up, there is very little in terms of system depth.

Can't rebuild because trading Crosby/Malkin is career suicide.

I compare it to the Sedins in Van. Can't trade them because they are the heart and soul of the franchise.


3 cups is worth it though.
- ImThatGuy

Pens aren’t, well, weren’t in that bad of a position in the off-season. It’s just questionable roster additions that make this team look average. They had legit opportunities to improve through FA and either moved laterally or got worse in areas.

I'd consider dealing with St.Louis.

Tarasenko for Kessel+
- Barnaby36

It would have to be ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ you get the point

Blog with no mention of last night's game?

Is it cause horny scored a hatty?

No mention of Wilson getting laid out?

Are you even a blogger at this point?

I Miss Ryan Reaves

Blog with no mention of last night's game?

Is it cause horny scored a hatty?

No mention of Wilson getting laid out?

Are you even a blogger at this point?
- pensfan024

Hahaha I would have to agree with this post lol it’s pretty sad as to where the majority of these blogs have fallen to.

Problem with the Pens is "going for it" every year

Every 3rd or 4th year should be viewed as a "1 year re-tool"

-Keep your 1st round pick
-Trade any valuable expiring contracts for prospects of more picks
-Hit the offseason with capspace and change up the flavor of the team

With this roster, you'd still make the playoffs, probably as the 6th or 7th seed, maybe you catch fire, probably get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round but the ends justify the means over a large enough timeline

This way, in theory, you can have a constant influx of hungry youth on cheap contracts, (Like we had in 15/16, 16/17) you get assets for the guys you trade away and add FA pieces at no cost

"Going for it" every year is bad strategy - it gets us where we are today with a roster full of guys getting paid "retail" (minus Malkin/Crosby), no youth, no sign of youth, and a bunch of guys due for pay increases (Jake, Brass if we want to keep him)

Outlook does not look good

Personally, I'd wash this season, Trade Brass, Trade Kessel if there's a deal around youth and picks out there, Trade Maatta, Trade Horny. If the combo of these players could net 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 good prospects along with our own 2018 1st we'd be sitting in a nice spot sooner than later with young cheap players in the pipeline and $$$ to spend in Free Agency this summer and next

As a fan of neither team, i think a straight swap of Kessel for Panarin would make some sense, if Pitt is just looking for a change

Panarin doesn't want to re-sign there, maybe he would in Pitt

CBJ gets a scoring winger under contract

Would Kessel want to go there? idk

As a fan of neither team, i think a straight swap of Kessel for Panarin would make some sense, if Pitt is just looking for a change

Panarin doesn't want to re-sign there, maybe he would in Pitt

CBJ gets a scoring winger under contract

Would Kessel want to go there? idk
- jcragcrumple

PIT gets a few years younger while not having certainty Panarin will be re-upped here and even if he is, would likely cost more than Phil is costing us.

Also, I bet Kessel and Torts would just looooove each other.

PIT gets a few years younger while not having certainty Panarin will be re-upped here and even if he is, would likely cost more than Phil is costing us.

Also, I bet Kessel and Torts would just looooove each other.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

That could be the #1 breakout reality show in the 8 pm time slot on the NHL Network

Problem with the Pens is "going for it" every year

Every 3rd or 4th year should be viewed as a "1 year re-tool"

-Keep your 1st round pick
-Trade any valuable expiring contracts for prospects of more picks
-Hit the offseason with capspace and change up the flavor of the team

With this roster, you'd still make the playoffs, probably as the 6th or 7th seed, maybe you catch fire, probably get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round but the ends justify the means over a large enough timeline

This way, in theory, you can have a constant influx of hungry youth on cheap contracts, (Like we had in 15/16, 16/17) you get assets for the guys you trade away and add FA pieces at no cost

"Going for it" every year is bad strategy - it gets us where we are today with a roster full of guys getting paid "retail" (minus Malkin/Crosby), no youth, no sign of youth, and a bunch of guys due for pay increases (Jake, Brass if we want to keep him)

Outlook does not look good

Personally, I'd wash this season, Trade Brass, Trade Kessel if there's a deal around youth and picks out there, Trade Maatta, Trade Horny. If the combo of these players could net 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 good prospects along with our own 2018 1st we'd be sitting in a nice spot sooner than later with young cheap players in the pipeline and $$$ to spend in Free Agency this summer and next
- RoloTahmasee

This is way easier said than done. Its hard to rely on the FA market to have consistent talent to sign. I do agree they should "retool" this year if they are unable to make a significant turnaround by the new year, but not to the extent you suggest. Moving Brass and Maata makes a lot of sense, but trading Horny and Kessel will only make the team worse for the immediate future. All those picks will not make significant contributions for 3-5 years, and Malkin very well may have gone back to Russia at that point.

As a fan of neither team, i think a straight swap of Kessel for Panarin would make some sense, if Pitt is just looking for a change

Panarin doesn't want to re-sign there, maybe he would in Pitt

CBJ gets a scoring winger under contract

Would Kessel want to go there? idk
- jcragcrumple

Kessel won’t play for the coach that kept him off team USA

This is way easier said than done. Its hard to rely on the FA market to have consistent talent to sign. I do agree they should "retool" this year if they are unable to make a significant turnaround by the new year, but not to the extent you suggest. Moving Brass and Maata makes a lot of sense, but trading Horny and Kessel will only make the team worse for the immediate future. All those picks will not make significant contributions for 3-5 years, and Malkin very well may have gone back to Russia at that point.
- abasin

You replace the departing players with Free Agents and who says 3-5 years for youth? Teams are getting guys up in 1-2, the prospects you trade for could potentially be ready now

The only "significant" (ie: hard to replace player) I suggested moving is Kessel, Take his 6.8 million and Horny's 5.3 and you have 12 million to spend right there. Add another 7 in Maatta/Brass and you shouldn't have a hard time finding any FA's. You have the prospects and future picks to compensate for any overpay and have the flexibility to re-tool the entire team

I'm up 180-160 rino
- Feds91Stammer

I'm down 225 - 218.50 : /

I'm not worried about "winning" a Kessel trade

We already won that trade

We traded a late 1st, and Kapanen for 2 Stanley Cups minus whatever we would recoup in a trade

That's a fleecing in hindsight

Kassel for E Kane. Get more of that grit we need to protect Crosby on the top line.

Say it aint so!

Shamblesburgh

As a fan of neither team, i think a straight swap of Kessel for Panarin would make some sense, if Pitt is just looking for a change

Panarin doesn't want to re-sign there, maybe he would in Pitt

CBJ gets a scoring winger under contract

Would Kessel want to go there? idk
- jcragcrumple

I was just thinking that Panarin would look good on a line with Crosby. I was thinking Kessel for RNH, then Malkin+ for Seth Jones and Panarin.
As much as it's great to have both Malkin and Crosby on the same team, they've been riding the heavy middle without any real superstars on their wings forever and they're only going to get slower with age. Kessel is too fast to be effective with someone like Malkin 5 on 5. Imagine McDavid having someone like Phil who can keep up with him coming over the blue line that can finish...itd be a nightmare to try and defend. Everyone would win.

You replace the departing players with Free Agents and who says 3-5 years for youth? Teams are getting guys up in 1-2, the prospects you trade for could potentially be ready now

The only "significant" (ie: hard to replace player) I suggested moving is Kessel, Take his 6.8 million and Horny's 5.3 and you have 12 million to spend right there. Add another 7 in Maatta/Brass and you shouldn't have a hard time finding any FA's. You have the prospects and future picks to compensate for any overpay and have the flexibility to re-tool the entire team
- RoloTahmasee

Horny is a consistent 20 goal and ~50 point player, and his game will age well. Kessel is still a top 10 winger in the league, and how do you expect late 1st and 2nd round picks to contribute in 1-2 years? It is too little too late for this type of strategy. For better or for worse, the Pens core is what it is now for the most part. You also have the pressure of ownership probably not wanting to move certain players that generate significant merchandise revenue. Im not saying its a bad strategy, but it should have been happening while Crosby an Malkin were in their mid to late 20's, not in their early 30's.

I was just thinking that Panarin would look good on a line with Crosby. I was thinking Kessel for RNH, then Malkin+ for Seth Jones and Panarin.
As much as it's great to have both Malkin and Crosby on the same team, they've been riding the heavy middle without any real superstars on their wings forever and they're only going to get slower with age. Kessel is too fast to be effective with someone like Malkin 5 on 5. Imagine McDavid having someone like Phil who can keep up with him coming over the blue line that can finish...itd be a nightmare to try and defend. Everyone would win.
- sudburyboy

hahaha

Horny is a consistent 20 goal and ~50 point player, and his game will age well. Kessel is still a top 10 winger in the league, and how do you expect late 1st and 2nd round picks to contribute in 1-2 years? It is too little too late for this type of strategy. For better or for worse, the Pens core is what it is now for the most part. You also have the pressure of ownership probably not wanting to move certain players that generate significant merchandise revenue. Im not saying its a bad strategy, but it should have been happening while Crosby an Malkin were in their mid to late 20's, not in their early 30's.
- abasin

No... no way in hell it will. His game will fall off hard and fast once his body can't take that beating in front of the net anymore.

hahaha
- MattStrat

You can tell he has seen a lot of the Kessel Geno duo

I was just thinking that Panarin would look good on a line with Crosby. I was thinking Kessel for RNH, then Malkin+ for Seth Jones and Panarin.
As much as it's great to have both Malkin and Crosby on the same team, they've been riding the heavy middle without any real superstars on their wings forever and they're only going to get slower with age. Kessel is too fast to be effective with someone like Malkin 5 on 5. Imagine McDavid having someone like Phil who can keep up with him coming over the blue line that can finish...itd be a nightmare to try and defend. Everyone would win.
- sudburyboy

Zero chance this happens. Panarin wants to go back to a large market, which Pittsburgh is not, and Malkin has a full NMC, which makes it nearly impossible to trade him for anything close to a fair value. Short of moving Malkin for another superstar center that is younger, i.e. Matthews, Eichel, MacKinnon, they will not win the trade.