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.
- Guile

He is a very similar player to Tomas Holmstrom, who put up consistent numbers up into his late 30's. I also think the Pens only care about the next three years, and I do not see his body significantly deteriorating over that time horizon. He would have got more than $5.3 million on the FA market this pass summer, and potentially more term.

TIOPS stating this is Kessel’s last season unless they go very deep.

TIOPS stating this is Kessel’s last season unless they go very deep.
- Rinosaur

Man he's gonna retire?

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

They won cups in their late 20's. Rust, Sheary, Schultz, Jake were that roster depth. Now the only option is to get a roster constructed for their mid 30's run where they can still compete as a top team

San Jose has been a consistent top team and Thornton is in his late 30's

There are this way because they constantly injected youth into their lineup. The entire roster can not age at the same rate and expect to be competitive. Time to move out some of the old(er) players and find a way to get some up and coming youth

Kessel because he's older and is gonna slow down
Horny because he is older and is gonna slow down
Maatta because he sucks and his perceived value is greater than actual value
Brass because he's gonna be too expensive to resign

These players still have value now, they won't once their decline begins and becomes evident

I'd look at

Schultz - Try to reallocate that money to a more well rounded D man
Sheahan - Not gonna spend 2 million on a 4C - Let him walk as a FA

He is a very similar player to Tomas Holmstrom, who put up consistent numbers up into his late 30's. I also think the Pens only care about the next three years, and I do not see his body significantly deteriorating over that time horizon. He would have got more than $5.3 million on the FA market this pass summer, and potentially more term.
- abasin

You can have your opinion. It's a wrong opinion which is quite a feat, but you are welcome to have it.

Man he's gonna retire?
- Feds91Stammer

Lol

He is a very similar player to Tomas Holmstrom, who put up consistent numbers up into his late 30's. I also think the Pens only care about the next three years, and I do not see his body significantly deteriorating over that time horizon. He would have got more than $5.3 million on the FA market this pass summer, and potentially more term.
- abasin

Yeah that is wrong on pretty much every point you made.

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.
- abasin

Trading Malkin for Jones alone would work out better for the Penguins in the long run. The guy is 24 years old and is already considered one of the best Dmen in the league. I'm sure if Panarin was to get a taste of playing with someone like Crosby, you could easily get him to re-sign for at least 5-6 years.

They won cups in their late 20's. Rust, Sheary, Schultz, Jake were that roster depth. Now the only option is to get a roster constructed for their mid 30's run where they can still compete as a top team

San Jose has been a consistent top team and Thornton is in his late 30's

There are this way because they constantly injected youth into their lineup. The entire roster can not age at the same rate and expect to be competitive. Time to move out some of the old(er) players and find a way to get some up and coming youth

Kessel because he's older and is gonna slow down
Horny because he is older and is gonna slow down
Maatta because he sucks and his perceived value is greater than actual value
Brass because he's gonna be too expensive to resign

These players still have value now, they won't once their decline begins and becomes evident

I'd look at

Schultz - Try to reallocate that money to a more well rounded D man
Sheahan - Not gonna spend 2 million on a 4C - Let him walk as a FA
- RoloTahmasee

Talking trade right? UFA class is weak

Trading Malkin for Jones would alone would work out better for the Penguins in the long run. The guy is 24 years old and is already considered one of the best Dmen in the league. I'm sure if Panarin was to get a taste of playing with someone like Crosby, you could easily get him to re-sign for at least 5-6 years.
- sudburyboy

Just go ahead and hit the logout button at the top right.

Yeah that is wrong on pretty much every point you made.
- Feds91Stammer

Dont you dare agree with me on things. It feels weird.

Dont you dare agree with me on things. It feels weird.
- Guile

Just go ahead and hit the logout button at the top right.
- Feds91Stammer

Lol.

Lol.
- shoreorrpark

yo why did you have to beat me in HBSL the other week?

They won cups in their late 20's. Rust, Sheary, Schultz, Jake were that roster depth.

- RoloTahmasee

Rust: 3rd round pick in 2010, did not make a significant contribution until 2015.
Sheary: undrafted, did not make a significant contribution until age 23.
Schultz: traded for a 3rd at age 26, and was not big part of the first cup run.
Guentzal: 2013 3rd round pick, did not start contributing until 2017.

Your idea of 18-20 year old players being able to come in and contribute is far fetched. Outside of the truly elite talents, McDavid, Matthews, Laine, ect. Teenagers and kids in their early 20's are usually not heavily relied upon. I was also talking about a year like 2015, when they barely made the playoffs, to implement something like what you were suggesting.

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.
- Guile

For a minute I thought you were talking about Kessel lol

Rust: 3rd round pick in 2010, did not make a significant contribution until 2015.
Sheary: undrafted, did not make a significant contribution until age 23.
Schultz: traded for a 3rd at age 26, and was not big part of the first cup run.
Guentzal: 2013 3rd round pick, did not start contributing until 2017.

Your idea of 18-20 year old players being able to come in and contribute is far fetched. Outside of the truly elite talents, McDavid, Matthews, Laine, ect. Teenagers and kids in their early 20's are usually not heavily relied upon. I was also talking about a year like 2015, when they barely made the playoffs, to implement something like what you were suggesting.
- abasin

Congrats you missed his entire point.

Yeah that is wrong on pretty much every point you made.
- Feds91Stammer

He already misses about 10+ games a year, and he doesn't appear to have a nagging injury that follows him into every season, so its not like any specific part of his body has became susceptible to injury yet. Also how would a guy who was a key piece to a back to back cup champion, putting up a 29 goal season in 70 games, showing super consistent production, not get more than 5 years for $5.3 million on the open market?

He already misses about 10+ games a year, and he doesn't appear to have a nagging injury that follows him into every season, so its not like any specific part of his body has became susceptible to injury yet. Also how would a guy who was a key piece to a back to back cup champion, putting up a 29 goal season in 70 games, showing super consistent production, not get more than 5 years for $5.3 million on the open market?
- abasin

Just because he could have gotten it on the open market doesn't mean you should give the deal to him.

Give it another year or so...

Rust: 3rd round pick in 2010, did not make a significant contribution until 2015.
Sheary: undrafted, did not make a significant contribution until age 23.
Schultz: traded for a 3rd at age 26, and was not big part of the first cup run.
Guentzal: 2013 3rd round pick, did not start contributing until 2017.

Your idea of 18-20 year old players being able to come in and contribute is far fetched. Outside of the truly elite talents, McDavid, Matthews, Laine, ect. Teenagers and kids in their early 20's are usually not heavily relied upon. I was also talking about a year like 2015, when they barely made the playoffs, to implement something like what you were suggesting.
- abasin

If they did it now, they's be ready in 2-3 years (Crosby 33). Any prospects they get could be ready now, or a year away, they can replace the $$$ they trade out with FA's that can play now

How hard is this to comprehend? We aint winning the cup this year with this roster and it aint gonna look better next year (Brass gone, Jake getting paid) with the same group, we don't have any youth in the pipeline. Horn and Kessel are just going to get older and slower and their trade value is gonna go down, not up

Make the moves now

Standing still is the same as moving backwards

If they did it now, they's be ready in 2-3 years (Crosby 33). Any prospects they get could be ready now, or a year away, they can replace the $$$ they trade out with FA's that can play now

How hard is this to comprehend? We aint winning the cup this year with this roster and it aint gonna look better next year (Brass gone, Jake getting paid) with the same group, we don't have any youth in the pipeline. Horn and Kessel are just going to get older and slower and their trade value is gonna go down, not up

Make the moves now

Standing still is the same as moving backwards
- RoloTahmasee

DET did that and look at them now.

Talking trade right? UFA class is weak
- Feds91Stammer

Ya, most likely. You never know who might be available but the picks and prospects (and capspace) would be the ammunition you'd need to make a deal

Schultz is nothing special, There are UFA's that would probably come cheaper that are close enough to Schultz, but I'd be looking to take the 5.5 we pay him and add 2 million more and try to find an upgrade

DET did that and look at them now.
- Feds91Stammer

Detroit had that late surge in Yzermans career with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom and others being the engine behind those teams, and especially with those teams depth. They really went all in for Lidstroms final seasons and overpaid a lot of pretty average guys with both dollars and term

I think the same can be done with Malkin and Crosby (especially because even as they get older their contracts will still be good value) but you got to get the young player somehow, and you won't get them by trading your 1sts every year and you can't count on late rounders becoming superstars

For a minute I thought you were talking about Kessel lol
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Nah, Kessels game has a very high chance to not drop off until his late 30s in mu opinion.

That being a game with limited checking and defense, high speed (the one part that should drop first) and a strong wrist shot. Being a sniper via a wrister ages well almost always.

Detroit had that late surge in Yzermans career with Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom and others being the engine behind those teams, and especially with those teams depth. They really went all in for Lidstroms final seasons and overpaid a lot of pretty average guys with both dollars and term

I think the same can be done with Malkin and Crosby (especially because even as they get older their contracts will still be good value) but you got to get the young player somehow, and you won't get them by trading your 1sts every year and you can't count on late rounders becoming superstars
- RoloTahmasee

Zetterberg and Datsyuk are unicorns. They were 7th and 6th round picks who turned into hall of fame talents.