The PP will be fine with Galchenyuk...possibly even better than with Kessel. There were surely criticisms of Galchenyuk's game in MTL, but he was awesome on the PP. He's got so much more to work with in PIT! I think he will have a career year and many more to come in PIT. This was a great trade for the Pens.
- JLO961

You must not come around here too often. Optimism is frowned upon in these parts.

You must not come around here too often. Optimism is frowned upon in these parts.
- madmike71

Lol, its actually frustrating to try and read some of these posts. I like people being optimistic and hoping for the best. The fact of the matter is, nobody really knows how well this team could or could not do. Be excited about things. We have 3 cups since 09'. That's pretty exciting to me.

The PP will be fine with Galchenyuk...possibly even better than with Kessel. There were surely criticisms of Galchenyuk's game in MTL, but he was awesome on the PP. He's got so much more to work with in PIT! I think he will have a career year and many more to come in PIT. This was a great trade for the Pens.
- JLO961

lololol okay

Tanev wasn’t a need for the Pens lol it was a waste of cap space.
- j.boyd919

You must have missed the Islanders playoff series. It is definitely a need. The team played with anything but spark. The got pushed all over the place, no one played with any energy or smarts, especially, Malkin and Kessel

You must have missed the Islanders playoff series. It is definitely a need. The team played with anything but spark. The got pushed all over the place, no one played with any energy or smarts, especially, Malkin and Kessel
- PENS1989

4 game sample sizes are a hell of a drug.

Something stinks...

If he re-ups on Jan 1 for 4 years 20 million or whatever, you know what was up.....
- RoloTahmasee

The thing is that he’s probably worth the 4 years/$20 mil right now. A 23 year old player who has improved every year through his ELC and came off a 56 pt season. I’d much rather give that kid $5 mil a year rather than Tanev at $3.5

What would a comparable be to Tanev?

I have heard a Young Kunitz. If true than I think he would be a player they very much needed. Speed, grit...Honey Badger type stuff.
- Doogs

Play style similar to Kunitz is pretty accurate. Less skill obviously, but plays a similar way.

I hope we can enjoy his game without someone bringing up his contract every time his name comes up, but I kind of doubt it, because he is a fun player to watch.

And Jordie Benn went for a couple years for $2M each. Would’ve been a nice get.
- Barnaby36

Hopefully we got a better version in Joseph and he's pushing for JJ's job by the end of the season.

Hopefully we got a better version in Joseph and he's pushing for JJ's job by the end of the season.
- Tojo.

Yep. Joseph seems like a guy who should be in our lineup by Oct./2020.

The thing is that he’s probably worth the 4 years/$20 mil right now. A 23 year old player who has improved every year through his ELC and came off a 56 pt season. I’d much rather give that kid $5 mil a year rather than Tanev at $3.5
- drummer829

That's why it's shady

If there's an extension in a drawer somewhere to be signed and submitted in January in order to keep this years cap hit down, I'm pretty sure that's not allowed.

Hopefully we got a better version in Joseph and he's pushing for JJ's job by the end of the season.
- Tojo.

Ya, I read a few articles about Joesph. Says he has potential to be top 4, but he needs to gain some muscle and weight. Anyone know anything about him?

Sure, it’s a risk but it’s a risk I’m willing to take because I don’t care about those prospects and don’t expect them to make an impact before the window of Geno/Sid get smaller and less likely to make a deep run.

I’d prefer the risk of loading up the forwards with Gusev and shipping out JJ or Gudbranson as cap dumps, which would also be addition by subtraction. Moving JJ/Guddy+1st+Prospect for Gusev makes the team better for the next 2-3 years and that’s what I’m all for.
- j.boyd919

You can't move either of JJ or Gudbranson to Vegas in the Gusev deal since they need to SHED money, not take more on. So after you acquire Gusev, you've either got to lose Rust (who I think a lot of people on here undervalue), or package more picks/prospects to move one of JJ/Gudbranson/Hornqvist. It's almost like you're trading for his rights twice.

Hope the league takes a look at this and makes sure there wasn't any wink, wink, nudge, nudge, get you back next year in this deal
- RoloTahmasee

He didn't have any leverage at all in his negotiations once he received his Q.O.

Next offseason, he'll cash in.

Ya, I read a few articles about Joesph. Says he has potential to be top 4, but he needs to gain some muscle and weight. Anyone know anything about him?
- nateca44

That's the general consensus. Is putting up some damn impressive numbers in juniors, but he's definitely thin (by hockey standards) for a big man.

Sure, it’s a risk but it’s a risk I’m willing to take because I don’t care about those prospects and don’t expect them to make an impact before the window of Geno/Sid get smaller and less likely to make a deep run.

I’d prefer the risk of loading up the forwards with Gusev and shipping out JJ or Gudbranson as cap dumps, which would also be addition by subtraction. Moving JJ/Guddy+1st+Prospect for Gusev makes the team better for the next 2-3 years and that’s what I’m all for.
- j.boyd919

Fine then. Trade the Flyers your next 400 first rounders for Shayne Gostisbehere, because he'll help you window for the next 3-4 years.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1148337300700614656

If we trade Gudbranson, a first, and a top prospect for Gusev and he turns out to be Conor Sheary (a finesse 40-50 point winger that Sullivan doesn't like) does that make us better? No, and I'm sure there will be many laughing at Rutherford for it.

If he turns out to be an 80 point guy and a PP catalyst, sure it makes us better.

But wouldn't it be a safer bet to trade some combo of those assets Rust/1st/top prospect to get Zucker?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Mike Sullivan didn't not like Conor Sheary lol. it was actually quite the opposite. Sheary is dating/married to his niece, they are for all intensive purposes family. Sheary was also the first of the "young players" to get a real shot with Crosby. We lost Sheary because of the poopty hunwick contract...

Bones wasnt that good in the second season or second run man. He didnt even play the last couple of games vs the Preds in the final and the Preds didnt get one goal in those games.

He had a few timely goals and everyone has warm fuzzy memories of them but over all he wasnt that good the 2nd year.
- MattStrat

To be fair, our entire team got dominated that playoffs. minus the Ottawa series.

You can't move either of JJ or Gudbranson to Vegas in the Gusev deal since they need to SHED money, not take more on. So after you acquire Gusev, you've either got to lose Rust (who I think a lot of people on here undervalue), or package more picks/prospects to move one of JJ/Gudbranson/Hornqvist. It's almost like you're trading for his rights twice.
- jmatchett383

I believe there can be a taker found for Gudbranson or JJ.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1148337300700614656
- MattStrat

Sprong is silky smooth. I think it was heybarber on Instagram last off season that was working out with him and had a bunch of videos on him and his skating is pretty good damn smooth.

I believe there can be a taker found for Gudbranson or JJ.
- j.boyd919

Without taking back a bad contract or adding additional assets? I doubt it.

That's the general consensus. Is putting up some damn impressive numbers in juniors, but he's definitely thin (by hockey standards) for a big man.
- jmatchett383

Yup that’s what I read. I also read he actually moved in with the teams nutritionist to get some bulk and has been taking the weight gain very seriously. They raved about his leadership skills as well. I’m really hoping this kid can make the team soon because he seems like a hard ass worker.

So PO Jo is going to start the season in the AHL this year? He's 20 so I'm thinking he has to.

So according to the Leafs blog, Kadri nixed a deal that would have sent him with Brown to Calgary for Brodie and Janikowski.

Considering they were willing to absorb an extra contract and send a good young player with him, I wonder if they would take a Bjugstad for Brodie deal straight up? That would at least give the Pens a good option for the 2nd pair LD.

So PO Jo is going to start the season in the AHL this year? He's 20 so I'm thinking he has to.
- MattStrat

He could play an overage year in the CHL if he wanted to.