Knowing that everyone else is passed out lol. And, I won't see any responses to this...I'm still going to state it. I ACTUALLY REALLY like the makeup of this team more than I have since the 2016 run.

Knowing that everyone else is passed out lol. And, I won't see any responses to this...I'm still going to state it. I ACTUALLY REALLY like the makeup of this team more than I have since the 2016 run.
- cranktheradio

I’m on the west coast, I was just getting my roommate into Suits which is now on Amazon Prime. She’s jacked about Bennett btw. Said she’s had a crush on him since high school

When we first signed JJ I said I hated it because the contract didn’t make any sense but also because he didn’t make sense for us, I also said we should see how it plays out. We did. It was bad. Schultz can’t elevate him. If he sees 8-9 minutes on the third pair it’s one thing but 18 minutes a game and dragging down Schultz plus all the forwards is just tough to swallow.

Also, with the influx of youth year over year basically everyone has tons of cost effective depth these days. The Caps could ice a 3rd line of Hagelin, Eller and Panik. Philly has Patrick, Lindblom and cap space for another forward and there’s a fair bit out there. Zajac Wood and Bratt is a solid third line in Jersey.

There were so many good free agents available this year, some of them even unpredictable but we knew there were going to be power shifts. Dallas, NYR, FLA, NJD, Vancouver, COL, CHI, AZ, and Philly are all looking it standings increases over this past season. Dallas and Chicago both look solid

I like Galchenyuk and Tanev. Galchenyuk can actually one time a shot unlike Phil. Lets see what he can do on the PP. I think he'll be dynamite with a skilled centre like Malkin. I'm guessing by 25 games fans will want him resigned just to get him possibly cheaper.

Tanev is a tenacious checker/skater, he'll prolly be a slightly better Hagelin. I dislike the term, I'm guessing they had to top someone so they went the distance. For the short future I think he will earn his money, the Pens were missing someone like him against teams like the Isles. JR has to dump a bad contract, I'll forgive him if he can get rid of JJ. Rust is an easy candidate to be gone alone or as well.

I love how Wilson thinks the locker room will be tore up about Phil. I’m sure Crosby just loved him undermining his captaincy and putting forth a bad example for the team. Cutting out the Kessel cancer, JR is having a great offseason. Now sign a scrapper.

I do have to wonder who we move out.

Rust - Seems logical especially because of his inconsistency; however, he is someone who plays the pk well. He also seems like the model player for JR's speed, effort, and youth movement.

Hornqvist - Is a rare player who plays quick and does a great job in front of the net. He is also a very good leader. Player is older and I wonder how much he fits JR's new ideal team of speed and youth. Does still have pretty good trade value because of his skill set.

Bjugstad - Probably has higher trade value due to his size and ability. JR apparently really likes player so I doubt he is moved. He also has potential as a net front presence if Hornqvist were moved. I could see him moved in a 1 - 1 deal if a cheap/younger 3rd line center were coming back.

Another player not listed - I think JR may do a 1 - 1 trade with a team for a younger player with a lower cap hit coming back. The Puljujarvi - Rust trade made some sense, but I am unsure what Puljujarvi would want cap hit wise (which was brought up earlier in the convo by others). I could also see JR potentially moving a RFA or a defenseman. He recently stated he feels there are some younger players who may make the jump to the NHL after camp which may make him feel he can deal a player or 2 because of it.

Side note: I wonder if JR offers Garrett Wilson or even Riley Sheahan a cheap one year deal towards the end of summer.

Well, I'm laughing at how salty you are about everything

You strike me as a guy who hates his boss but can't do anything about it and who has a history of girlfriends who cheat on him

And the girlfriends are probably 5's
- RoloTahmasee

(frank)ing get him Rolo!!! jboyd is an elite douche

Do the Pens now have the most expensive 4th line in the League? Yikes. This team is sunk. I wouldnt be surprised if Rutherford says Crosby is asking for a trade by the end of the year. Ide believe him.

Hmmmm. Apparently Jack Johnson is the best postseason Dman and we should all love him.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...,gte,1&sort=pointsPerGame

RW has become a total MORON, as well as a vocal portion of the Pens fanbase. All the twitter/message board clamoring about what a buffoon GMJR is. The team as it was forced his hand, CHANGE HAD TO TAKE PLACE. Also, for every imbecile who screeches, WHERE IS THAT POINT PER GAME GOING TO COME FROM, after the PK trade. I’ll tell you EXACTLY where it’s going to come from. It’s going to come from a much more defensively sound team and a goaltender poised to have a monster year! That’s where.
- LunaticFringe

And to be clear, in your utterly moronic train of thought, you believe that we will replace Phil Kessel's offensive numbers with better team defense and goaltending.

Delete your account you (frank)ing retard.

And to be clear, in your utterly moronic train of thought, you believe that we will replace Phil Kessel's offensive numbers with better team defense and goaltending.

Delete your account you (frank)ing retard.
- Guile

Your other personality is going to be upset with you.

And to be clear, in your utterly moronic train of thought, you believe that we will replace Phil Kessel's offensive numbers with better team defense and goaltending.

Delete your account you (frank)ing retard.
- Guile

You are exactly what I was talking about you petulant little child!

You are exactly what I was talking about you petulant little child!
- LunaticFringe

How so?

Explain how defense and goaltending = goals scored.

Your other personality is going to be upset with you.
- Reverend Killtaker

Meh, I've been behaving quite well, for me, for over a year

This tweet RW used is one of the best cherry-picked stat uses I've ever seen.

Tanev is 27 years old, has played less than 200 NHL games, has never hit 15 goals or 30 points, has never averaged more than 14 minutes/game, and has never had a positive Corsi Rel season.

This contract is certifiably insane.
Ha played less than 200 games...has 195
Never scored 15 goals....had 14
Never scored 30 points....had 29
Never averaged 14 min/game....had 14:07
Never had a positive corsi rel...was -0.1 last year and was slightly positive in rel Fenwick the past 2 years.

I mean, at least use thresholds he didn't come close to, not ones he barely missed.
- Tojo.

either way it’s one of the worst contracts of free agency.

(frank)ing get him Rolo!!! jboyd is an elite douche
- joecool2931

Love you too sweetheart.

RW has become a total MORON, as well as a vocal portion of the Pens fanbase. All the twitter/message board clamoring about what a buffoon GMJR is. The team as it was forced his hand, CHANGE HAD TO TAKE PLACE. Also, for every imbecile who screeches, WHERE IS THAT POINT PER GAME GOING TO COME FROM, after the PK trade. I’ll tell you EXACTLY where it’s going to come from. It’s going to come from a much more defensively sound team and a goaltender poised to have a monster year! That’s where. A team with SC, EM and yes, even KL is going to score goals, that’s the least of my concerns. My concern was a team that didn’t forecheck hard or effectively, those concerns are for now starting to get alleviated. I’m still concerned about our D, But the team only has so much money to spend, and there are only so many trades that are out there. Do I want to see JJ gone? In a NY minute! But if it doesn’t happen, oh well. His 2nd half last year wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t live with him this year if he plays like that or better.

I was watching the NHL Network last night (I don’t know why, it’s a worthless piece of s*** network), but they put up a graphic showing Nashville’s projected line combinations. Kyle Turris is projected to be their 3rd line center. KT makes SIX MILLION DOLLARS! Nick Bonino is projected to be their 4th line center. NB makes FOUR MILLION ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS! Welcome to today’s NHL folks! I then went to one of Nashville’s message boards. Not one complaint about how much they’re paying bottom 6 players. Gee common sense coming from an emerging hockey market, and lunacy coming from a so called established so called intelligent hockey market, actually Pittsburgh has become a spoiled, entitled, DUMB hockey market. I can’t stand Mark Madden’s shtick, but he’s right about hockey fans in Pittsburgh.
- LunaticFringe

Nah, to this whole post.

This tweet RW used is one of the best cherry-picked stat uses I've ever seen.

Tanev is 27 years old, has played less than 200 NHL games, has never hit 15 goals or 30 points, has never averaged more than 14 minutes/game, and has never had a positive Corsi Rel season.

This contract is certifiably insane.
Ha played less than 200 games...has 195
Never scored 15 goals....had 14
Never scored 30 points....had 29
Never averaged 14 min/game....had 14:07
Never had a positive corsi rel...was -0.1 last year and was slightly positive in rel Fenwick the past 2 years.

I mean, at least use thresholds he didn't come close to, not ones he barely missed.
- Tojo.

Man, good catch. I love how arrogant that tweet was to begin with.

GMJRs presser gave me some hope about the defense. when asked about his defense, he went out of his way to say he likes the "structure" of his defense...and that you can "always make it better".... its a far cry from the "best defense weve had since Ive been here" shtick a few months ago.

but as much as I'd love to improve the D, I'd rather just trade Horny/Rusty/Bjug/Johnson to clear space and trade a 2nd + Jarry or something for Gusev's rights. perfect way to replace Phil's points and add a true top 6.

GMJRs presser gave me some hope about the defense. when asked about his defense, he went out of his way to say he likes the "structure" of his defense...and that you can "always make it better".... its a far cry from the "best defense weve had since Ive been here" shtick a few months ago.

but as much as I'd love to improve the D, I'd rather just trade Horny/Rusty/Bjug/Johnson to clear space and trade a 2nd + Jarry or something for Gusev's rights. perfect way to replace Phil's points and add a true top 6.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Any defense with JJ and Gudbranson in regular playing time is not good structure.

Any defense with JJ and Gudbranson in regular playing time is not good structure.
- j.boyd919

Quite true. But I'll accept Guds on the 3rd pairing, playing at the level he did last year, if we get JJ gone.

An overpaid but above average 3rd pairing is something I think we all will happily accept.

GMJRs presser gave me some hope about the defense. when asked about his defense, he went out of his way to say he likes the "structure" of his defense...and that you can "always make it better".... its a far cry from the "best defense weve had since Ive been here" shtick a few months ago.

but as much as I'd love to improve the D, I'd rather just trade Horny/Rusty/Bjug/Johnson to clear space and trade a 2nd + Jarry or something for Gusev's rights. perfect way to replace Phil's points and add a true top 6.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

All he meant by this was that each pair had a righty and a lefty and that each pair had a skilled defender and a bruising defender. That’s it

Chucky might have a more elite one timer than Geno. It really is dirty. This may be the first time that two PP units actually looks good in Pitt. I’m serious too

Schultz, Galchenyuk, Crosby, Guentzel, Simon/McCann

Letang, Malkin, Hornqvist, Rust, Bjugstad

And to be clear, in your utterly moronic train of thought, you believe that we will replace Phil Kessel's offensive numbers with better team defense and goaltending.

Delete your account you (frank)ing retard.
- Guile

In theory they could take moves to improve themselves defensively to make up for the loss of offense. They just haven't made moves that actually do that.

Quite true. But I'll accept Guds on the 3rd pairing, playing at the level he did last year, if we get JJ gone.

An overpaid but above average 3rd pairing is something I think we all will happily accept.
- Guile

Yeah it seemed unfathomable but when Gudbranson went down hard into the boards during the Islanders series....I legit held my breath thinking we can't lose this dude...

to be honest, even at $4M, I wouldnt want to trade him (unless it was a surefire path to Gusev) because that just means Ruhwedel or Riikola get more minutes. It's unlikely we would trade him for a cheaper, bottom pair, puck moving D ...

Quite true. But I'll accept Guds on the 3rd pairing, playing at the level he did last year, if we get JJ gone.

An overpaid but above average 3rd pairing is something I think we all will happily accept.
- Guile

I would expect Gudbranson to regress a bit. I could be wrong but I definitely expect him to regress back to being bad at hockey given his history.