I can’t imagine moving Shultz if JJ is still on the roster. Seems like a step backwards in an already backward situation.
- Doogs

It wouldn't be if they moved Schultz after signing Gardiner. The point of moving Schultz there is that it's much easier to do and he makes a salary in the same neighborhood as Gardiner in the same role, JJ does not.

They should move JJ just to move JJ, but that would just get them back under the cap, not clear enough room for Gardiner.

Their roster is brutal still. Z is 31 and was a dumb signing. They have Suter and Parise signed till they're 50. Not sure what they have in the system but no way they can get past the Avs, Blues, Preds, Stars, and Jets in that division. If they took Rust+JJ and a 1st+prospect they would be smart for Zucker. Nobody is taking Parise or Suter from them.
- sammy87

I agree. I think this season is going to force them to realize they are in for a long rebuild. Since they're not there yet, I don't see them taking JJ.

Zucker, if not traded soon, probably goes at the deadline, but he'll probably rebuild some value by then and will be harder to aquire. They also will likely lose Spurgeon.

The questions I have for Ryan Wilson are:

1. Have you ever covered a professional sporting event with a press pass and a seat in the press box for a recognized media outlet and written on deadline? If you have, when and for what media outlet?

2. Have you ever interviewed Mike Sullivan, or Jim Rutherford, or any Penguins player, in a one-on-one setting?

3. Or do you sit at home, wherever that might be, look up stats and analytics, and spout opinions without any journalistic background, experience, or credibility as a beat writer for a professional team?
- MarioCrosby

Why does any of this matter? None of these means a god damn thing when evaluating on-ice play.

They could make most of the room they'd need for Gardiner by trading Schultz. If you did that, you'd elevate Gudbranson to second pair and have Pettersson with Ruhwedel or if he's still here JJ on the third pair, unless another RD was brought in.
- Tojo.

A safer move is if you can move out JJ and sign B. Smith for around 2M to compete with Gudbranson, you can run:

Dumo-Letang
Gardiner-Gudbranson/Smith
Pettersson-Gudbranson/Smith

For roughly the same salary on defense we have now.

Zucker would be a great get. If we got Zucker, I’m not sure who touches our top 6.
- Grizzsh

Yeah, it's not like the Pens ever had anyone like Kessel up there before.

It wouldn't be if they moved Schultz after signing Gardiner. The point of moving Schultz there is that it's much easier to do and he makes a salary in the same neighborhood as Gardiner in the same role, JJ does not.

They should move JJ just to move JJ, but that would just get them back under the cap, not clear enough room for Gardiner.
- Tojo.

I understand. My point was more towards subtracting JJ and (ZAR or Rust) and keeping/resigning Shultz and have a decent D including Gardiner.

Pipedreams I am sure.

Josh Yohe
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Was informed that @MarkMaddenX has been suspended from twitter for a week for abusive tweets. You may not like Mark, but I’ve seen the things people say to him, and I think Twitter is being pretty selective. Besides, what fun would Twitter be if we all got along? #freemarkmadden

Anyone aware of what these tweets were?

Anyone aware of what these tweets were?
- Rinosaur

Nah I rarely visit his twitter because he generally spews a bunch of poopty opinions anyways. I unfollowed him a few years ago because his l bullying radio tactics are annoying and his opinions are general off and poopty.

I understand. My point was more towards subtracting JJ and (ZAR or Rust) and keeping/resigning Shultz and have a decent D including Gardiner.

Pipedreams I am sure.
- Doogs

Not impossible, but they'd have to move one more salary just to make it work this year. Let's say they more Gudbranson as well.

The question becomes who do you move next year if you paid Schultz and Murray's raises, Galchenyuk, McCann, Kahun, and Simon need new deals? And that's if you're happy with Malkin's line.

So I'm going to agree with you, it sounds nice, maybe they can even make it work for one year, but it's probably a pipe dream to have 3 defensemen around 7M.

Not impossible, but they'd have to move one more salary just to make it work this year. Let's say they more Gudbranson as well.

The question becomes who do you move next year if you paid Schultz and Murray's raises, Galchenyuk, McCann, Kahun, and Simon need new deals? And that's if you're happy with Malkin's line.

So I'm going to agree with you, it sounds nice, maybe they can even make it work for one year, but it's probably a pipe dream to have 3 defensemen around 7M.
- Tojo.

Simon please. I really just don’t get their fascination with him. Not a bad player, but doesn’t deserve top line minutes IMHO.

Simon please. I really just don’t get their fascination with him. Not a bad player, but doesn’t deserve top line minutes IMHO.
- Doogs

Because Simon is a stud and scoring chances happen on a regular basis wherever he slots in the lineup. I absolutely do not want to get rid of Simon.

Because Simon is a stud and scoring chances happen on a regular basis wherever he slots in the lineup. I absolutely do not want to get rid of Simon.
- j.boyd919

When he was on the 3rd line, I thought he was at his best. Not next to Sid.

Simon please. I really just don’t get their fascination with him. Not a bad player, but doesn’t deserve top line minutes IMHO.
- Doogs

I like Simon as a bottom six who can move up with injuries or help a poor possession line stabilize.

What is really concerning is that's 3 or 4 forwards in your top 9 that might need raises, yet Murray and Schultz will get raises bigger than the cap. So if McCann or Kahun does play like a top 6, how will we pay them? Pens absolutely need some of the WBS players to be ready for spots next year, maybe even prominent ones.

When he was on the 3rd line, I thought he was at his best. Not next to Sid.
- Doogs

I thought he was great next to Sid.

Because Simon is a stud and scoring chances happen on a regular basis wherever he slots in the lineup. I absolutely do not want to get rid of Simon.
- j.boyd919

He’s absolutely a stud. He gets the Hagelin treatment around here because he struggles to finish.

Can’t say I agree with you guys. But hey different perceptions.

Can’t say I agree with you guys. But hey different perceptions.
- Doogs

https://www.google.com/am...lp-the-penguins-p1b1/amp/

Give this article a gander

I thought he was great next to Sid.
- Rinosaur

He was.

Crosby

SCF% with: 62.4
SCF% without: 54.87

HDCF% with: 67.96
HDCF% without: 54.72

Simon-Crosby-Guentzel has the potential to be the best line in the NHL.

Can’t say I agree with you guys. But hey different perceptions.
- Doogs

Hate to do this to you but, Stats > Eye Test

He was.

Crosby

SCF% with: 62.4
SCF% without: 54.87

HDCF% with: 67.96
HDCF% without: 54.72

Simon-Crosby-Guentzel has the potential to be the best line in the NHL.
- Feds91Stammer

This is my aggravation with Sullivan. All coaches resort to line-toggling when things go stale, but I felt he took it to another level. Aside from keeping Guentzel glued to Sid, he doesn't give things a lot of time to gel.

Can’t say I agree with you guys. But hey different perceptions.
- Doogs

^This.

It is fine to differ in opinions.

He was.

Crosby

SCF% with: 62.4
SCF% without: 54.87

HDCF% with: 67.96
HDCF% without: 54.72

Simon-Crosby-Guentzel has the potential to be the best line in the NHL.
- Feds91Stammer

Can you get the goals for with and without as well?

Because all I remember of Simon's time up there was a few gold chances being whiffed.

Can you get the goals for with and without as well?

Because all I remember of Simon's time up there was a few gold chances being whiffed.
- Guile

Simon will probably never crack more than 15 goals in a season, but that shouldn't overshadow the offense he helps generate for everyone else.

I feel we tend to focus too much on the wingers who can score next to Sid and Geno. Yes, clearly you want a winger who can finish the opportunities they help create, but you also need facilitators.

Players who help create time and space for them by taking the brunt of certain roles off their hands can be as valuable as a winger who can score 30+ goals.

Can you get the goals for with and without as well?

Because all I remember of Simon's time up there was a few gold chances being whiffed.
- Guile

GF is tough because of the small sample of 264 mins together

GF% dipped a bit with Simon for Crosby but was still at 63.64 (66.30) xGF% goes up with Simon to 63.05 (54.69)

GF60

with Simon: 4.77

without Simon: 3.7

Simon will probably never crack more than 15 goals in a season, but that shouldn't overshadow the offense he helps generate for everyone else.

I feel we tend to focus too much on the wingers who can score next to Sid and Geno. Yes, clearly you want a winger who can finish the opportunities they help create, but you also need facilitators.

Players who help create time and space for them by taking the brunt of certain roles off their hands can be as valuable as a winger who can score 30+ goals.
- Rinosaur

I preferred him in the third line role with Bjugstad and (can’t remember who was the other wing). I thought that line played well. And the premise of all of this is I would prefer to move him over Rust.