Phil was a cap dump. Kessels contract is beyond this year (6.8M X 2 more years) and Chucky is a UFA at years end. Additionally it appears that malkin had enough of being in the middle. The rest of the team did get to see that the conn smythe runner up/92 point player was moved. so everyone was put on notice. then the coach got a 4 year deal. so its sullivans way or the highway.

We can all debate that GMJR got the team into cap hell by making other signings/trades (i.e. jack johnson at 3.25, gudbrandson at 4M) that didnt make the most sense but thats a different topic.

Galchenyuk will not be resigned so thats $5M back next year. I also hope bjugstad is moved. $4M for that production that could be spent elsewhere.

i will wear my #81 jersey tonight. thankful for what he did for the franchised. ok that he is gone to keep other players here.
- i'mjustafan

I still think Bjugstad has more in him this season. If we’re going to make a run I don’t want to trade away all our depth. When healthy Galchenyuk is the only person I’m comfortable moving and as Tojo mentioned before I think another defender would be prudent

While great and loved in the locker room- I sense that Phil was still toxic to that locker room - there definitely seems to be a new vibe to the room this year. The cap savings and year off the contract is what makes this trade acceptable and maybe good.

I still think Bjugstad has more in him this season. If we’re going to make a run I don’t want to trade away all our depth. When healthy Galchenyuk is the only person I’m comfortable moving and as Tojo mentioned before I think another defender would be prudent
- WSCTeton17

Ehhh, I would rather trade him for cap space / something better. He has exactly 1 goal and 0 assists in his last 14 games which includes a big goose egg in the playoffs and he has only had 1 healthy season out of the last 5. Too much cap space this year and next for underperforming and always injured.

Even if the cap doesn’t increase we’re looking at $22.75MM in cap space for next season without moving anyone. Here are the holes as I currently see them

Jake-Sid-Rust
(Kahun)-Malkin-Bjugstad
(Simon)-(McCann)-Hornqvist
Tanev-Blueger-ZAR

Dumo-Letang
_____-Marino
JJ-______
Ruhwedel

RFAs: Simon, McCann, Kahun, Lafferty, Petts, Kola, MM, Jarry

The way MM is currently playing his arbitration would likely result in no raise. Would give us plenty to re-sign everyone else. Only issue I see is if he rebounds like he did last year

Even if the cap doesn’t increase we’re looking at $22.75MM in cap space for next season without moving anyone. Here are the holes as I currently see them

Jake-Sid-Rust
(Kahun)-Malkin-Bjugstad
(Simon)-(McCann)-Hornqvist
Tanev-Blueger-ZAR

Dumo-Letang
_____-Marino
JJ-______
Ruhwedel

RFAs: Simon, McCann, Kahun, Lafferty, Petts, Kola, MM, Jarry

The way MM is currently playing his arbitration would likely result in no raise. Would give us plenty to re-sign everyone else. Only issue I see is if he rebounds like he did last year
- WSCTeton17

Jarry will not lose the net...

Ehhh, I would rather trade him for cap space / something better. He has exactly 1 goal and 0 assists in his last 14 games which includes a big goose egg in the playoffs and he has only had 1 healthy season out of the last 5. Too much cap space this year and next for underperforming and always injured.
- Hockey66

You just outlined exactly why other teams wouldn’t give us anything for him. At this point they would want us to add to take him on.

Ottawa is a budget team so they’re probably off the list. You’re probably looking at Detroit or LA taking him on. I just don’t see it 🤷🏼‍♂️

Jarry will not lose the net...
- hipcheck_goalie

Well he’s not signed and GMJR is our GM so I don’t think it’s safe to assume he’ll be back

With more and more young players coming into the league the wild card races are going to get tighter and tighter. We’ll see fewer bottom dwellers and fewer sellers mid season until the trade deadline gets closer

Speaking of basement dwellers - the Wild have points in 11 straight and are currently in a playoff spot

I always like to listen to the players talk after a player is traded away. Im sure we all remember how much the players talked about how hard it was losing hagelin and fleury and hell even cole bonino and sheary got talked about quite a bit... None of the players really mentioned much of when they were asked about losing Phil which says a lot to me. Letangs response to losing Kessel at the start of the year was "well we have brought in complete players that are gonna battle every night so I think we are gonna be a much harder team to play against this year..... Doesnt say he didnt like him or hated him but doesnt also give off the vibe he missed him either

I always like to listen to the players talk after a player is traded away. Im sure we all remember how much the players talked about how hard it was losing hagelin and fleury and hell even cole bonino and sheary got talked about quite a bit... None of the players really mentioned much of when they were asked about losing Phil which says a lot to me. Letangs response to losing Kessel at the start of the year was "well we have brought in complete players that are gonna battle every night so I think we are gonna be a much harder team to play against this year..... Doesnt say he didnt like him or hated him but doesnt also give off the vibe he missed him either
- pens4life-66

he was also traded off season as opposed to haglin and cole-

You just outlined exactly why other teams wouldn’t give us anything for him. At this point they would want us to add to take him on.

Ottawa is a budget team so they’re probably off the list. You’re probably looking at Detroit or LA taking him on. I just don’t see it 🤷🏼‍♂️
- WSCTeton17

That's fine. His cap space is more valuable to the Pens than he is as a player, IMO. If you add Bjug's and Galch's cap space, that's a cool $9M right there. Add in ZAR and that's $10M. That will get you a very nice player. All three of those guys are easily replaceable.

I always like to listen to the players talk after a player is traded away. Im sure we all remember how much the players talked about how hard it was losing hagelin and fleury and hell even cole bonino and sheary got talked about quite a bit... None of the players really mentioned much of when they were asked about losing Phil which says a lot to me. Letangs response to losing Kessel at the start of the year was "well we have brought in complete players that are gonna battle every night so I think we are gonna be a much harder team to play against this year..... Doesnt say he didnt like him or hated him but doesnt also give off the vibe he missed him either
- pens4life-66

That's about as big a dis as one could give without coming right out and saying it.

Kessel wanted out.

You just outlined exactly why other teams wouldn’t give us anything for him. At this point they would want us to add to take him on.

Ottawa is a budget team so they’re probably off the list. You’re probably looking at Detroit or LA taking him on. I just don’t see it 🤷🏼‍♂️
- WSCTeton17

I think Bjugstad will be easier to move than any think. For one, we're all fixated on 10 games where he possibly wasn't even healthy. Guys are also easier to move with one year left since there's no long-term risk. And teams always need centers.

I think Bjugstad will be easier to move than any think. For one, we're all fixated on 10 games where he possibly wasn't even healthy. Guys are also easier to move with one year left since there's no long-term risk. And teams always need centers.
- Tojo.

Bjugstad would be very easy to move. I thought he played well when first acquired and he's had a lackluster season thus far and never looked like himself once coming back from the injury, but nonetheless he's a solid player and a fair price.

Middle-six players like him are always in demand come the deadline and I think the Pens could get a decent return in a hockey trade, but not so much for futures.

Bjugstad would be very easy to move. I thought he played well when first acquired and he's had a lackluster season thus far and never looked like himself once coming back from the injury, but nonetheless he's a solid player and a fair price.

Middle-six players like him are always in demand come the deadline and I think the Pens could get a decent return in a hockey trade, but not so much for futures.
- Rinosaur

I don't think they will trade Bjugstad because I think he is going to get a legit shot at the top line RW when he gets healthy.

Jake Sid Bjugs
Simon Malkin Rust
Kahun McCann Horny
ZAR Bluegs Tanev

The most recent Athletic article basically confirmed the team doesn't care about Galchenyuk's cap hit and they won't play him if he isn't performing. So for now I'm not including him.

I don't think they will trade Bjugstad because I think he is going to get a legit shot at the top line RW when he gets healthy.

Jake Sid Bjugs
Simon Malkin Rust
Kahun McCann Horny
ZAR Bluegs Tanev

The most recent Athletic article basically confirmed the team doesn't care about Galchenyuk's cap hit and they won't play him if he isn't performing. So for now I'm not including him.
- burgh4life87

It's really hard to tell what the Pens will do or what they view as a need right now. IMO the Pens need another quality LD more than anything. While I don't disagree with you that Bjugstad could wind up there, he's also one of the better pieces to package to acquire an LD. How the Pens continue to play in the absence of Dumoulin the rest of the year will be very telling in how they decide to move forward.

I think Bjugstad will be easier to move than any think. For one, we're all fixated on 10 games where he possibly wasn't even healthy. Guys are also easier to move with one year left since there's no long-term risk. And teams always need centers.
- Tojo.

Yes, taking that into account I still don’t see it. Teams still use the eye test and scout players in their evaluations and he’s been largely invisible this season. The fancy stats show him negative relative to his teammates and the production shows him at a 33 point pace last season and 8 point pace this season.

It could happen, but I don’t see any contenders wasting their cap space on him when there are potential options like Anisimov, Lewis, Pageau, Janmark, Rask, Granlund, Soderberg, Cody Eakin - depending on what teams are looking for

Someone like Lars Eller could also become available if Washington decided they want to open cap space early for Backstrom

It's really hard to tell what the Pens will do or what they view as a need right now. IMO the Pens need another quality LD more than anything. While I don't disagree with you that Bjugstad could wind up there, he's also one of the better pieces to package to acquire an LD. How the Pens continue to play in the absence of Dumoulin the rest of the year will be very telling in how they decide to move forward.
- Rinosaur

Totally agree with this. I think they need a top 4 LD and between Bjug, Galch, and current cap space, they have over $10M to acquire one. JR seems to have a lot of flexibility right now.

It's really hard to tell what the Pens will do or what they view as a need right now. IMO the Pens need another quality LD more than anything. While I don't disagree with you that Bjugstad could wind up there, he's also one of the better pieces to package to acquire an LD. How the Pens continue to play in the absence of Dumoulin the rest of the year will be very telling in how they decide to move forward.
- Rinosaur

I know we keep talking about getting another LD, but the team is singing JJ's praises and has made it very clear they want Pettersson to remain in his spot. I just don't see who Sully would sit if one were acquired. I think if Jim does anything, it is move salary to get a true top 6 scoring winger to help down the stretch.

I liked Kessel.
Kessel was traded Galchenyuk.
Galchenyuk is not Kessel.
Therefore, I greatly dislike the trade and Galchenyuk.

I liked Kessel.
Kessel was traded Galchenyuk.
Galchenyuk is not Kessel.
Therefore, I greatly dislike the trade and Galchenyuk.
- jmatchett383

There really doesn't need to be anything more said. This is 100% spot on. (I'm being dead serious)

I know we keep talking about getting another LD, but the team is singing JJ's praises and has made it very clear they want Pettersson to remain in his spot. I just don't see who Sully would sit if one were acquired. I think if Jim does anything, it is move salary to get a true top 6 scoring winger to help down the stretch.
- burgh4life87

I think they are saying nice things about JJ when asked, because what else are they going to do? I think Sully would sit JJ in a heartbeat (as he did in game 1 of the playoffs last year) if he had a choice. With Dumo out long term with an injury (and seemingly injured a lot lately), Petts having a down year, JJ (enough said), and Riikola still a bit of a question mark, I think LD should absolutely be a priority. If they play their cards right, they might be able to get a quality LD and a RW.

Raanta starts for ARI, Rusty and Schultzy game time decision.

Penzzzz!!!! (in comparision: Phil!!)

Yes, taking that into account I still don’t see it. Teams still use the eye test and scout players in their evaluations and he’s been largely invisible this season. The fancy stats show him negative relative to his teammates and the production shows him at a 33 point pace last season and 8 point pace this season.

It could happen, but I don’t see any contenders wasting their cap space on him when there are potential options like Anisimov, Lewis, Pageau, Janmark, Rask, Granlund, Soderberg, Cody Eakin - depending on what teams are looking for

Someone like Lars Eller could also become available if Washington decided they want to open cap space early for Backstrom
- WSCTeton17

I'm thinking of a team just looking for a one year bandaid and looking at raises the next year. If Bjugstad can be had cheap, he's in a different category than those other guys because of not having to commit term.