...he just praised the Phil and credited him/that trade as a major factor in the two cups back to back live on national TV and radio...

He's building that relationship back up hahah

Man I like that defense. Cole was always need too good to be a top 6, yet both Schultz and Oleksiak were better off with him over Maatta 🤔. Kept the wrong defenseman there, an Oleksiak woul have been fine at #6 and not created the hole they needed Gudbranson to fill.
- Tojo.

That D corps is effective for what we need, it’s mobile, and it’s cost effective. A third pair for maybe $3.75MM, a solid second pair for $10MM (until next year) and maybe Schultz signs at a reasonable price knowing he continues to play with Cole and then Petts down the road

RW has been a horrible blogger for a long time now. Finally letting it slip in more and more obvious ways. 90 percent of it is negative...I would do it better.....kinda blogs. One can easily write about how they may prefer a team to act regarding player transactions and still remain positive toward the people making the decisions. Since being a writer for this blog he has whined and complained about everything, often forgetting a plethora of hurdles that get in the way of making all these fantasy trades and transactions he wants. He has zero regard for the human aspect of players moving teams(their families or a basic interest in playing for the penguins). He has reduced the amazing sport of hockey and the extreme randomness of events into math. Some.of the most analytical forward ppl in the game have absolute poop rosters(looking at your arizona). Another analytical whiz kid dubas in toronto cant manage his way out of a wet paper bag. Oh and the PIECE (botterill...he was the reason for Ruth's cups right??)that moved on to buffalo is not exactly killing it these days either.

Happy to see the rest of the community begin to see what's been bothering me for years.

Another blog one could only read in a whiny little girl voice.

Another blog one could only read in a whiny little girl voice.
- Grinder47

We finally agree on something.

Out of curiosity, what happens to Pettersen? Idk how that tagged stuff works. Does he not accept and goes to arbitration then gets more money? Can the Pens offer him a better contract? What do you guys see his worth being?

Out of curiosity, what happens to Pettersen? Idk how that tagged stuff works. Does he not accept and goes to arbitration then gets more money? Can the Pens offer him a better contract? What do you guys see his worth being?
- nateca44

We offered the minimum so he can accept or counter... if counter and we dont accept... we can counter again (this part can go back and forth) and also arbitration can/will likely be filed. It seems that almost all the time no one wants to rely on the arbitrators decision so I believe a deal will be struck well before that.

RW has been a horrible blogger for a long time now. Finally letting it slip in more and more obvious ways. 90 percent of it is negative...I would do it better.....kinda blogs. One can easily write about how they may prefer a team to act regarding player transactions and still remain positive toward the people making the decisions. Since being a writer for this blog he has whined and complained about everything, often forgetting a plethora of hurdles that get in the way of making all these fantasy trades and transactions he wants. He has zero regard for the human aspect of players moving teams(their families or a basic interest in playing for the penguins). He has reduced the amazing sport of hockey and the extreme randomness of events into math. Some.of the most analytical forward ppl in the game have absolute poop rosters(looking at your arizona). Another analytical whiz kid dubas in toronto cant manage his way out of a wet paper bag. Oh and the PIECE (botterill...he was the reason for Ruth's cups right??)that moved on to buffalo is not exactly killing it these days either.

Happy to see the rest of the community begin to see what's been bothering me for years.
- taleisyreXIII

I agree with you until you get to AZ. Arizona has been a budget team for a long time and they’re finally pulling away from that and just got new ownership. Chayka inherited a pretty bad roster with aged veterans that needed to be moved for a rebuild. He took Smith and his league average save percentage and replaced him with two very capable goalies who unfortunately have seen some injuries. He moved on from other vets and has compiled a team that was just short of the playoffs despite having the second most injuries in the league. There are also a ton of good prospects in the system, the D corps is solid, the depth is good. It’s really just been lacking star power, right? They’re one of the top teams defensively they just didn’t score a lot which makes sense given the injuries. This is how it looks now before adding a top 6 forward which everyone knows they’re doing:

Chucky-Schmaltz-Hinostroza
Keller-Dvorak-Soderberg
Garland-Stepan-Cousins
Grabner-Richardson-Crouse
Fischer

OEL-Demers
Chychrun-Hjalmarsson
Oesterle-Goligoski
Lyubushkin

Raanta-Kuemper

They’re legit a top 6 forward away from competing for a playoff spot

RW has been a horrible blogger for a long time now. Finally letting it slip in more and more obvious ways. 90 percent of it is negative...I would do it better.....kinda blogs. One can easily write about how they may prefer a team to act regarding player transactions and still remain positive toward the people making the decisions. Since being a writer for this blog he has whined and complained about everything, often forgetting a plethora of hurdles that get in the way of making all these fantasy trades and transactions he wants. He has zero regard for the human aspect of players moving teams(their families or a basic interest in playing for the penguins). He has reduced the amazing sport of hockey and the extreme randomness of events into math. Some.of the most analytical forward ppl in the game have absolute poop rosters(looking at your arizona). Another analytical whiz kid dubas in toronto cant manage his way out of a wet paper bag. Oh and the PIECE (botterill...he was the reason for Ruth's cups right??)that moved on to buffalo is not exactly killing it these days either.

Happy to see the rest of the community begin to see what's been bothering me for years.
- taleisyreXIII

We offered the minimum so he can accept or counter... if counter and we dont accept... we can counter again (this part can go back and forth) and also arbitration can/will likely be filed. It seems that almost all the time no one wants to rely on the arbitrators decision so I believe a deal will be struck well before that.
- Guile

I believe you have to qualify your players in order to take them to arbitration, yes?

Feel free to disagree but I don’t see why AZ wouldn’t once again be a top 5-10 defensive team with a top P.K. A lot will change moving forward but even with their existing roster I have them today ahead of Anaheim, Edmonton, and LA and I think they’ll be in the thick of it with Calgary, Vancouver, and SJ while Vegas looks like theyll be the dominant team in that division

Right now I still think the Pens and Caps will duke it out as division champs but I think we’re still marginally better overall. I think Philly is right behind us assuming they get their RFAs signed. I think the tandem of Elliott/Hart is enough with the team they have in front of them to get back into the postseason under AV, Therrien and Yeo lol

Feel free to disagree but I don’t see why AZ wouldn’t once again be a top 5-10 defensive team with a top P.K. A lot will change moving forward but even with their existing roster I have them today ahead of Anaheim, Edmonton, and LA and I think they’ll be in the thick of it with Calgary, Vancouver, and SJ while Vegas looks like theyll be the dominant team in that division

Right now I still think the Pens and Caps will duke it out as division champs but I think we’re still marginally better overall. I think Philly is right behind us assuming they get their RFAs signed. I think the tandem of Elliott/Hart is enough with the team they have in front of them to get back into the postseason under AV, Therrien and Yeo lol
- WSCTeton17

Didn’t they have one of the better records of the last half of the season once they got healthy? Biz kept calling them a wagon on Chiclets but I didn’t really pay much attention to their standings.

Feel free to disagree but I don’t see why AZ wouldn’t once again be a top 5-10 defensive team with a top P.K. A lot will change moving forward but even with their existing roster I have them today ahead of Anaheim, Edmonton, and LA and I think they’ll be in the thick of it with Calgary, Vancouver, and SJ while Vegas looks like theyll be the dominant team in that division

Right now I still think the Pens and Caps will duke it out as division champs but I think we’re still marginally better overall. I think Philly is right behind us assuming they get their RFAs signed. I think the tandem of Elliott/Hart is enough with the team they have in front of them to get back into the postseason under AV, Therrien and Yeo lol
- WSCTeton17

I remember thinking during the games vs them last season that they're on the cusp of being a very consistent strong great team. They played a great brand of hockey.

Didn’t they have one of the better records of the last half of the season once they got healthy? Biz kept calling them a wagon on Chiclets but I didn’t really pay much attention to their standings.
- j.boyd919

Same story last two seasons, yup. Just way too many injuries. I don’t like how Tocchet aligns the PP units but a healthy Schmaltz should help there. He looked so confident running the PP from the half wall while he was healthy. The P.K. should remain effective and with Soderberg (Sodes > Panik imo) and a top 6 forward I think this team is ready to make the jump

I believe you have to qualify your players in order to take them to arbitration, yes?
- WSCTeton17

We offered him... qualifying offer...

Looks like I did mention that part. But yes, if a team doesnt make an offer to a RFA, they become an UFA... which is rare if the player is going to continue playing in the NHL/AHL

We offered him... qualifying offer...

Looks like I did mention that part. But yes, if a team doesnt make an offer to a RFA, they become an UFA... which is rare if the player is going to continue playing in the NHL/AHL
- Guile

I remember a couple guys not being qualified in the past and some guys on other teams this year aren’t being qualified. The team is instead going in other directions

Roberto Luongo is a lock for the HHOF imo

JR will make 2 more moves this summer then another move by the end of the year. Pens will fight for the Divisional lead and make it to the conf finals minimum.....You know cuz JR is a HOF GM and knows what he's doing. RW does not.

JR will make 2 more moves this summer then another move by the end of the year. Pens will fight for the Divisional lead and make it to the conf finals minimum.....You know cuz JR is a HOF GM and knows what he's doing. RW does not.
- sammy87

Could be 2-3 moves during the season imo. If he finds a Schultz replacement in season that could be one route. I still like the Shattenkirk idea

- j.boyd919

this is not nice

Yeah, he's a bit of a drama queen all the times.
- Rinosaur

fixed

Tell me about it, hes sounding like a typical Leafs fan.
- Reverend Killtaker

shots fired

Out of curiosity, what happens to Pettersen? Idk how that tagged stuff works. Does he not accept and goes to arbitration then gets more money? Can the Pens offer him a better contract? What do you guys see his worth being?
- nateca44

Don't believe he's arbitration eligible yet, usually doesn't happen after an ECL. My guess is 2 years at 1.5M per or 3 at 2M.

Friedman reporting Perry has the Pens on his radar

Friedman reporting Perry has the Pens on his radar
- kfinl170

ANY CHANCE it’s Vet min or best wishes? LMAO