It's a luxury in terms of he is more of a specialist. Very good offensively and not great in his own zone. Can't eat a ton of minutes and gets very favorable zone starts. As I said, I'm fine at his current salary for another 3 years, just preferably not longer than that.

There are teams where it would make sense giving him a 6/$36 deal but I don't think the Pens are one of them.
- MacPatty

But what are you going to spend to replace him and what do you expect to get?

But what are you going to spend to replace him and what do you expect to get?
- Rinosaur

But what are you going to spend to replace him and what do you expect to get?
- Rinosaur

I expect Calen Addison to be a solid 2nd Pair Offensive Dman by 22-23. An interim replacement can be procured for 20-21 and 21-22.

I expect Calen Addison to be a solid 2nd Pair Offensive Dman by 22-23. An interim replacement can be procured for 20-21 and 21-22.
- Za Warudo

Have anybody in mind who's gonna be a top-4 RHD UFA who will sign a 2-year deal for less than Schultz?

Here's the list for easy browsing:

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/ufa/desc/1/right

I expect Calen Addison to be a solid 2nd Pair Offensive Dman by 22-23. An interim replacement can be procured for 20-21 and 21-22.
- Za Warudo

Oh can it? Who?

I love these blanket “they can find someone” statements. Who are the options? What will they cost via trade or in ufa?

Where’s this box with all these available players the Pens can just go out and get when they need.

We all know affordable 2nd pairing RDs are just out there for the taking.

Who would you rather? PK at $9 and minus what you would have to give up or Shultz at $6?

I'd take Shults

Who would you rather? PK at $9 and minus what you would have to give up or Shultz at $6?

I'd take Shults
- sammy87

PK. 100%

PK. 100%
- jmatchett383

Yup. All day everyday.

Have anybody in mind who's gonna be a top-4 RHD UFA who will sign a 2-year deal for less than Schultz?

Here's the list for easy browsing:

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/ufa/desc/1/right
- jmatchett383

I think you could get Stralman on a 2-3 year deal for much less than Schultz.

You can't look at it in a vacuum. I don't think giving away Schultz is the answer. Its altogether possible a Kessel trade brings in a replacement like Pesce.

Who would you rather? PK at $9 and minus what you would have to give up or Shultz at $6?

I'd take Shults
- sammy87

At face value I'd say Schultz but if Nashville wants Kessel and JJ and the Pens can get a 1st and a solid prospect for Schultz I'd take PK.

At face value I'd say Schultz but if Nashville wants Kessel and JJ and the Pens can get a 1st and a solid prospect for Schultz I'd take PK.
- MacPatty

The only player the Pens could trade where they can add on JJ would be Geno.

I love Phil, but nobody is taking JJ to get him.

I think you could get Stralman on a 2-3 year deal for much less than Schultz.

You can't look at it in a vacuum. I don't think giving away Schultz is the answer. Its altogether possible a Kessel trade brings in a replacement like Pesce.
- MacPatty

I think Stralman, in his prime, was a better overall defenseman than Schultz. But Schultz' game is his offense, and Stralman is allergic to offense at this point in his career.

I don't think "giving away" Schultz is a good idea, and I don't think anyone has said otherwise. But the idea was that you can just grab a guy to replace Schultz, and I don't think it's as easily done as the OP made it seem.

At face value I'd say Schultz but if Nashville wants Kessel and JJ and the Pens can get a 1st and a solid prospect for Schultz I'd take PK.
- MacPatty

If Nashville gives you PK for Kessel and JJ, Rutherford should be named mayor of Pittsburgh for life.

If Nashville gives you PK for Kessel and JJ, Rutherford should be named mayor of Pittsburgh for life.
- jmatchett383

Weren’t we just talking about how JJ’s buyout isn’t all that significant? I don’t think Nashville would take it on but I could see MN taking Kessel and JJ for Brodin. From AZ I would give you Oesterle, Crouse and a third lol - they have too many question marks in their roster to give up much more this offseason. I think there’s certainly a handful of teams that would take JJ with Kessel but it’s obviously going to severely neuter the return

Weren’t we just talking about how JJ’s buyout isn’t all that significant? I don’t think Nashville would take it on but I could see MN taking Kessel and JJ for Brodin. From AZ I would give you Oesterle, Crouse and a third lol - they have too many question marks in their roster to give up much more this offseason. I think there’s certainly a handful of teams that would take JJ with Kessel but it’s obviously going to severely neuter the return
- WSCTeton17

I think a JJ buyout would be a smart move, honestly. But that's not gonna happen. He's going to be part of the top-6 next year, so there's no point in any scenario that suggests otherwise.

I think a JJ buyout would be a smart move, honestly. But that's not gonna happen. He's going to be part of the top-6 next year, so there's no point in any scenario that suggests otherwise.
- jmatchett383

I absolutely agree. I’m just saying for those suggesting we couldn’t package him up with Kessel that it’s a pretty ridiculous statement. Would the return be great? Of course not, but it is possible

I absolutely agree. I’m just saying for those suggesting we couldn’t package him up with Kessel that it’s a pretty ridiculous statement. Would the return be great? Of course not, but it is possible
- WSCTeton17

Right....yes, you could trade Kessel and JJ to Philly for Andrew MacDonald, but why would you?

The proposed one (presented as an "if") was those 2 for PK Subban, which seems outlandish to me.

Sometimes players just leave because they want more. It wouldn’t surprise me, and I’ve said this before, that Schultz would want to play on a team with a better D partner and where he has a shot at PP1. If he goes to NSH maybe he gets both opportunities and re-signs.

There will a line of teams wanting him next offseason likely including Vegas, Nashville (if they want to move on from PK), Colorado if Barrie prices himself out (Hi Cole!), St.Louis if they move Pietrangelo (let’s not pretend like these rumors ever went away), Winnipeg, etc etc. Point is there are more ideal fits for him if he wants out

Right....yes, you could trade Kessel and JJ to Philly for Andrew MacDonald, but why would you?

The proposed one (presented as an "if") was those 2 for PK Subban, which seems outlandish to me.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, he said “if Nashville wants.” I think we can all agree Nashville no want. I also believe I recall Rino stating earlier that Geno is the only one good enough to be packaged up with JJ

Yeah, he said “if Nashville wants.” I think we can all agree Nashville no want. I also believe I recall Rino stating earlier that Geno is the only one good enough to be packaged up with JJ
- WSCTeton17

Yes, he did say that, but I think he meant it to imply for a Subban-esque return.

The only player the Pens could trade where they can add on JJ would be Geno.

I love Phil, but nobody is taking JJ to get him.
- Rinosaur

Lol

Lol
- Barnaby36

Knock if off, you bully!

I don’t like bullies..

To take everyone’s mind off this I will remind everyone that I thought a deal revolving around Brassard for Spezza could’ve made sense for both sides

I would also like to remind everyone that Ian Cole is no longer a Penguin

I absolutely agree. I’m just saying for those suggesting we couldn’t package him up with Kessel that it’s a pretty ridiculous statement. Would the return be great? Of course not, but it is possible
- WSCTeton17

I made the statement and agree it borders on ridiculous. That being said, ridiculous poop happens all of the time.

Panarin was traded for Saad.
Hall was traded for Larson.
Seguin for Eriksson.

Why can't I dream about the Pens massively winning a trade?

Also, I think our best hope for this coming season is to hope that someone like Kola takes a step forward and passes JJ on the depth chart. If that happens and he has chemistry with Guds and Petts plays with Schultz then maybe Schultz is happy, has a good year and signs an extension. If it’s more JJ, my guess is he moves on or extension talks go nowhere and we move on from him

I made the statement and agree it borders on ridiculous. That being said, ridiculous poop happens all of the time.

Panarin was traded for Saad.
Hall was traded for Larson.
Seguin for Eriksson.

Why can't I dream about the Pens massively winning a trade?
- MacPatty

For sure. That’s fine except you’re referring to Chiarelli and Bowman for all of those trades lol. The joke that we could’ve used Chiarelli to unload JJ has been made, and it’s a fair statement