If Phil wants to join the retire a Penguin party, he’s more than welcome too, haha.
- Victoro311

Oh I agree 100%. I'd love that, and I think the majority of the Pens fans have adopted him into the circle too given that he helped us win b2b. I'm game for that for sure. That trade was 100% a win and I'm glad GMJR read my comments on here before acquiring him and decided it was a good idea.

A Broken clock is right at least twice a day. If he keeps chirpin it, it'll eventually come true. Hahahaha
- j.boyd919

And I definitely never seriously said the window was closed after back to back cups.

Oh I agree 100%. I'd love that, and I think the majority of the Pens fans have adopted him into the circle too given that he helped us win b2b. I'm game for that for sure. That trade was 100% a win and I'm glad GMJR read my comments on here before acquiring him and decided it was a good idea.
- j.boyd919

I really hope they don’t move Kessel, but I’ve reserved myself to the idea it’s more than likely.

I just hope that if he does move Kessel it’s not for some reclamation project and someone that can actually help this team.

One thing I don't understand is why not just use a buyout on Jack Johnson? All the talk is about moving him. Why not just cut your losses and keep whatever assets you would have given up to move him and cut ties with Mr. Johnson. Watch I can see it now, a draft pick and Bryan Rust along with Jack Johnson to I don't know to Arizona for sake of argument.
- MaDdMuNk87

The Pens DO NOT buy out players. Haven't in the salary cap era and are not going to start now.

One thing I don't understand is why not just use a buyout on Jack Johnson? All the talk is about moving him. Why not just cut your losses and keep whatever assets you would have given up to move him and cut ties with Mr. Johnson. Watch I can see it now, a draft pick and Bryan Rust along with Jack Johnson to I don't know to Arizona for sake of argument.
- MaDdMuNk87

With JJ they can put him in the minors and eat a cap hit of 2.25 for 4 years or buy him out and eat a cap hit of 1.16 for 8 years

I probably go the minors route, because who knows, maybe we hit massive injuries and can call him back up

Any appetite for trying to flip him to Montreal for Karl Alzner who's in the same boat there?

Trade Maatta, Dump Guddy, Trade JJ for Alzner - Would we be any better?

The Pens DO NOT buy out players. Haven't in the salary cap era and are not going to start now.
- Thunderbolt

Again, the assumption here is that JR think JJ is an issue in this lineup. We don’t know that.

Just saying I have already seen this movie.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah I hear ya and they will obviously decline I just dont think sharply in the next few years. Crosby and Kessel had one of their best seasons this year...Letang was headed for it then injured. Malkin probably looked the most off all season be even then was over a ppg. Starting goalie is only 24 years old.

And I definitely never seriously said the window was closed after back to back cups.
- Feds91Stammer

What I was referring to was the age 29 stuff you were posting about back then and Aussi would bring it up almost every time you commented on this blog even when your comment had nothing do with age of players or declines haha.

A Broken clock is right at least twice a day. If he keeps chirpin it, it'll eventually come true. Hahahaha
- j.boyd919

hahaha

Maata, Hornquest, Kessel, are the big ticket items that free cap and have value.

You guys should sign Wayne Simmonds. I hear he can turn around a struggling PP?

What I was referring to was the age 29 stuff you were posting about back then and Aussi would bring it up almost every time you commented on this blog even when your comment had nothing do with age of players or declines haha.
- MattStrat

Oh the age curve is a real thing and elite players are effected later and lesser in general.

I am just saying at their ages I would expect a slight decrease in production and an increase in missed games due to injury.

Maata, Hornquest, Kessel, are the big ticket items that free cap and have value.
- sammy87

You scratched Maatta to hurt his value.

Horny has a bad contract to hurt his value.

Kessel has a NTC to hurt his value.

Assuming you can get an even remotely competent return what are you doing with the cap savings?

You scratched Maatta to hurt his value.

Horny has a bad contract to hurt his value.

Kessel has a NTC to hurt his value.

Assuming you can get an even remotely competent return what are you doing with the cap savings?
- Feds91Stammer

If JR listens to Malkin and decides to commit to speed, there’s a chance that there’s a JR-like GM that will take Hornqvist. GMs love that guy. Hornqvist is incredibly valuable to our PP, but after the season he just had I think I’m willing to take the hit to the PP for a better even strength product.

You scratched Maatta to hurt his value.

Horny has a bad contract to hurt his value.

Kessel has a NTC to hurt his value.

Assuming you can get an even remotely competent return what are you doing with the cap savings?
- Feds91Stammer

IDK, i dont have the time to really follow the league any more but those are the pieces that have some value. No clue what they would return on hte market. Its not like ZAR or Simon turn it all around.

Oh the age curve is a real thing and elite players are effected later and lesser in general.

I am just saying at their ages I would expect a slight decrease in production and an increase in missed games due to injury.
- Feds91Stammer

That’s not significan decline, though. That’s just normal decline. I’m talking about none of our stars are in danger of falling off a cliff and becoming non-stars yet.

You scratched Maatta to hurt his value.

Horny has a bad contract to hurt his value.

Kessel has a NTC to hurt his value.

Assuming you can get an even remotely competent return what are you doing with the cap savings?
- Feds91Stammer

Spend it on more jack Johnsons

Again, the assumption here is that JR think JJ is an issue in this lineup. We don’t know that.
- Rinosaur

The question should be, does Mario think that JR is the issue.

Spend it on more jack Johnsons
- Guile

If they would have kept Cole we wouldn’t be in this dilemma.

JJ was the first attempt to replace him, then Gudbranson. Cole sounded like a lot of money back then, but looking at what they’re spending on both JJ and Guds, even though I like Guds, I’d rather have kept and paid Cole.

If JR listens to Malkin and decides to commit to speed, there’s a chance that there’s a JR-like GM that will take Hornqvist. GMs love that guy. Hornqvist is incredibly valuable to our PP, but after the season he just had I think I’m willing to take the hit to the PP for a better even strength product.
- Victoro311

*Signs Hagelin*

We were water-cooling it here this morning... probably WAY more time invested than we should, LOL... but aside from say trying to move Guds, JJ, etc.(cap moves), I liked the idea of putting Malkin and yes, Letang on the block. NOT because this series disaster is their fault, but maybe because they would draw the most attention on the market and give GMJR some fleixibility for a retool. Even with some salary retained, we could be looking at $12M in cap space which could go a long way. And you still have Sid, Jake, Phil, and 4 and 8 on D... still a pretty good core.
My premise for this suggestion? One, IMHO this group is done chemistry-wise, and I think it showed in a YUGE way against the Isles. There was just NO drive or energy. And two, in this day and age, you don't keep players around for life no matter what. Well, accept Sid. My bad. Sh!t if we keep adding players to the lifer list like y'all are, there'll be 20 of them before the draft even gets here, and y'all will be old men b!tching about THAT someday on RW"s blog, LOL!

If JR listens to Malkin and decides to commit to speed, there’s a chance that there’s a JR-like GM that will take Hornqvist. GMs love that guy. Hornqvist is incredibly valuable to our PP, but after the season he just had I think I’m willing to take the hit to the PP for a better even strength product.
- Victoro311

Hornqvist still has value and you are right, he can be moved. The decision should be, who do we want Rust or Hornqvist. With the emergence of McCann. only one is going to play the right side. Even though I am a big Hornqvist fan, Rust is the correct answer here.

Now jump the bridge 🌉 and make us all happy.

Hey Ryan I kept reading for weeks how the Islanders would be such a favorable matchup for your beloved Penguins. Over and over you were begging for the Penguins first series to be against the Islanders. Well, you just learned a hard lesson, be careful what you wish for! And it amazes me the only thing you see about the series is all the Penguins' failures. Almost no credit for a team that played incredibly solid hockey, the New York Islanders!

That’s not significan decline, though. That’s just normal decline. I’m talking about none of our stars are in danger of falling off a cliff and becoming non-stars yet.
- Victoro311

Declining enough that they cannot drag a supporting cast of corpses to a championship though?