Well you go from 1 top pair LD and 3 third pair LD to 1 top pair, 1 second pair and 2 third pair.

Really, the problem with the trade I was proposing was they don't have a great right shot option to fill Kessel spot on the PP. Schultz maybe?
- MacPatty

Brodin is way overpaid compared to Maatta, Zucker is an immediate downgrade from Kessel as well. If you do anything with Minnesota you talk about Spurgeon, hes UFA, to bolster the right side.

Are you guys seriously talking about moving Kessel?
- Rinosaur

Yeah Ill admit, I wasnt a huge fan of the trade at first, but its paid off immensly. WIth his cap hit and production, its a good deal. Not sure if he finishes out here or not but Kesel and Jake are legit, Rust is ok then you have Hornquest and Simon in yoru F group. I dont see him moving. Pens are too weak upfront.

Yeah Ill admit, I wasnt a huge fan of the trade at first, but its paid off immensly. WIth his cap hit and production, its a good deal. Not sure if he finishes out here or not but Kesel and Jake are legit, Rust is ok then you have Hornquest and Simon in yoru F group. I dont see him moving. Pens are too weak upfront.
- sammy87

I actually think they're pretty deep at forward with the 2 new additions and everyone healthy.

Its the D that leaves a bit to be desired.

I actually think they're pretty deep at forward with the 2 new additions and everyone healthy.

Its the D that leaves a bit to be desired.
- MattStrat

They're plenty deep at forward. The big issue right now is how Sullivan is utilizing those forwards.

And yes, defense is a major issue.

I actually think they're pretty deep at forward with the 2 new additions and everyone healthy.

Its the D that leaves a bit to be desired.
- MattStrat

I think its a maybe....Bjugstad and Mcann could be good. Pearson still sucks. If the new guys can pick it up, yeah they are good.

I think its a maybe....Bjugstad and Mcann could be good. Pearson still sucks. If the new guys can pick it up, yeah they are good.
- sammy87

There’s no team, no matter how good, that has a perfect forward or d-core. You’ll always have a couple of players who’s play is to be desired.

Bjugstad just needs to play 3C and the rest will funnel around them nicely.

They're plenty deep at forward. The big issue right now is how Sullivan is utilizing those forwards.

And yes, defense is a major issue.
- Rinosaur

I think they're just deep enough. We don't need to bring anyone in, but if we send anyone out we'll be thin. I wouldn't move any rostered forward at the deadline unless someone is really selling low on a defenseman. Would love to get Faulk but I really don't see how to make that trade work. The only two forwards we could send out to make that work are Pearson and Hornqvist, and Pearson doesn't have value and we're not in a position to trade Hornqvist.

I think its a maybe....Bjugstad and Mcann could be good. Pearson still sucks. If the new guys can pick it up, yeah they are good.
- sammy87

I already think they're both a better fit and have shown more promise than Brass ever did in a Pens sweater and I was one of the ones always backing and really held hope for Brass with the Pens...right until a week or so before he was traded. They're both certainly looking better than Sheahan did in a Pens sweater this year, but Sheahan looked pretty damn good to me after his first 8ish games with Pens last year in the 3C role....then they signed Cullen...then Grant...and Sheahan at 3C was never to be seen again. Regardless, I think both McCann and Bjugs both have a higher skill set at their disposal than Sheahan.

I think its a maybe....Bjugstad and Mcann could be good. Pearson still sucks. If the new guys can pick it up, yeah they are good.
- sammy87

Mcann is looking good for a ceiling of a 3rd liner. Bjugstad could use more than 2 games in a row in the same spot, but hes got talent.

Pearson... I blame Malkins slump on him. He had a good start here and then died with Geno. However if he "needs" Malkin as his center, then that is an issue. We can't have so many players on the roster needing our two stud centers.

Johnson with Shultz in line rushes. Cool cool cool.

At least everyone’s playing their natural side.

EDIT: Oh and Pearson is scratched in favor of Blueger who’s playing on the third line. Don’t mind that.

Wilson’s really getting lazy. Jack Johnson needs another blog about him.

Johnson with Shultz in line rushes. Cool cool cool.

At least everyone’s playing their natural side.

EDIT: Oh and Pearson is scratched in favor of Blueger who’s playing on the third line. Don’t mind that.
- Victoro311

How'd you feel about

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Bjugstad-Malkin-Kessel
Blueger-McCann-Hornqvist
Aston-Reese-Cullen-Wilson

Dumoulin-Letang
Schultz-MacDonald
Pettersson-Ruhwedel

How'd you feel about

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Bjugstad-Malkin-Kessel
Blueger-McCann-Hornqvist
Aston-Reese-Cullen-Wilson

Dumoulin-Letang
Schultz-MacDonald
Pettersson-Ruhwedel
- jmatchett383

You only need to deal with the MacDonald contract for one more year. What would be the point of exchanging it for Johnson’s 5 years of cap suction?

You only need to deal with the MacDonald contract for one more year. What would be the point of exchanging it for Johnson’s 5 years of cap suction?
- Victoro311

I'm not, I exchanged it for Pearson.

I'm not, I exchanged it for Pearson.
- jmatchett383

GTFO

GTFO
- Victoro311

Hey, he's your spare/healthy scratch forward, right?

Johnson with Shultz in line rushes. Cool cool cool.

At least everyone’s playing their natural side.

EDIT: Oh and Pearson is scratched in favor of Blueger who’s playing on the third line. Don’t mind that.
- Victoro311

Poor Schultz.

Johnson with Shultz in line rushes. Cool cool cool.

At least everyone’s playing their natural side.

EDIT: Oh and Pearson is scratched in favor of Blueger who’s playing on the third line. Don’t mind that.
- Victoro311

I'm not saying JJ is a good player, but I've felt all along that his attempt to play the right side made him tragically bad. In my opinion, this has been Sully's biggest failure behind the bench this season. Not giving Ruhwedel some games when it was obvious all those LHD were pretty brutal in that spot. Not saying Ruhwedel is great, but at least he doesn't look completely incompetent most of the time like JJ did.

I'm not saying JJ is a good player, but I've felt all along that his attempt to play the right side made him tragically bad. In my opinion, this has been Sully's biggest failure behind the bench this season. Not giving Ruhwedel some games when it was obvious all those LHD were pretty brutal in that spot. Not saying Ruhwedel is great, but at least he doesn't look completely incompetent most of the time like JJ did.
- madmike71

I guess he didn't feel JJ could get worse than "absymal" so, why not let him be abysmal on his off hand and let the others play the correct side...maybe?

I guess he didn't feel JJ could get worse than "absymal" so, why not let him be abysmal on his off hand and let the others play the correct side...maybe?
- jmatchett383

Idunno i think I agree with Mike here. I always thought Johnson was bad but I’m not sure I ever thought he was subreplacement level like he’s been this year and a good bit of that may be due to playing his offside. If Johnson’s going to be in the lineup regardless, him going from subreplacement to just replacement would be a big swing.

Well you go from 1 top pair LD and 3 third pair LD to 1 top pair, 1 second pair and 2 third pair.

Really, the problem with the trade I was proposing was they don't have a great right shot option to fill Kessel spot on the PP. Schultz maybe?
- MacPatty

Bjugstad? But we aren't trading Kessel.

There is always one player that Pens fans always circle in on and cry about and this year it's JJ. He is on a bad contract and he has not been good, but in reality he has been an average bottom pairing D man so far.

The Pens didn't bring him in expecting him to light it up in the regular season. They brought him in to be their new Ian Cole come playoff time. Once the Pens actually tighten up and playing 2 way hockey I would rather have Johnson going than Petterson or Maata. At least he can clear the net and add some kind of physical presence on the back end.

I guess he didn't feel JJ could get worse than "absymal" so, why not let him be abysmal on his off hand and let the others play the correct side...maybe?
- jmatchett383

We only had one RHD. We had two guys playing their weak side. Ruhwedel playing his strong side is better than all the guys they tried with the possible exception of Oleksiak.....and he wasn't good either.

Bjugstad?
- 668710

Yeah, I guess he would fit too!

Brodin is way overpaid compared to Maatta, Zucker is an immediate downgrade from Kessel as well. If you do anything with Minnesota you talk about Spurgeon, hes UFA, to bolster the right side.
- burgh4life87

Brodin is basically the same cap hit as Maata and a much better player. Spurgeon would be a great pickup.