I do like Pageau because he brings speed, scoring ability and some defense/pk ability. I do worry though because we have traded with Ottawa previously in the past for a center which I believed would excel here. I do think that Galch gets swapped one for one and I think JR makes another move. I have a gut feeling it will be for Zucker if he becomes available. I think JR wants to acquire talent so he can also forecast the cap space for next season. I think he has an idea what he wants to sign a few of our FA's to cap hit wise, but bringing in Pageau I could see him wanting a significant raise from his current 3 mil cap hit (potentially 6 million which is a bit much for a 3rd line center for our team). I could see a potential Galch swap for Mikael Granlund (I never realized how poor his scoring stats were this season).


Maybe JR makes a Bjugstad type trade with Nashville.
- 123Kid

I wouldn't worry about the Ottawa / center connection - Brassard didn't like playing 3C and then he injured his groin.

I think you're right about JR wanting a player with term (I think it was reported somewhere that this is the case). I'm pretty sure he would view Pageau as a rental with no intention of extending him, so it seems unlikely.

I do think the Galch for Granlund swap is very compelling for both sides. Nashville could use a LW and they definitely need PP help. The Pens need a RW and get some versatility as Granlund can play center if need be. As I think you are inferring, he is a good 'buy low' candidate, too.

Galchenyuk for Granlund I'd do it. Change of scenary for both players...although I don't see much difference between them production wise. The difference would be in type of play and Granlund would help us more imo.

Bjugstad + B Prospect should be enough to bring Zucker for sure but I don't feel like we need to trade #27. He's a good 3rd line player and defensively responsible.
- Barnaby36

Zucker has 14 G and 28 points in just 40 games. Bjugstad's value is probably pretty low. I'd be surprised if that was enough even though Billy G got a good look at him playing well last year.

Maybe they don't *need* a shutdown center, but if one is available, I'd kick the tires at least. I'd like McCann to be 1LW and Bjug to be gone, so I'd be pretty stoked about Pageau as 3C. As it is, McCann can play 3C, but he should really be in the top 6. Bjug can also play it, but he's not the best center and he's always hurt - I don't want to rely on him being healthy when it matters.
- Hockey66

Trading Bjugstad while his value is low and replacing him with Pageau whose value is inflated due to a high shooting percentage probably isn't worth the swap of assets.

Galchenyuk for Granlund I'd do it. Change of scenary for both players...although I don't see much difference between them production wise. The difference would be in type of play and Granlund would help us more imo.

Bjugstad + B Prospect should be enough to bring Zucker for sure but I don't feel like we need to trade #27. He's a good 3rd line player and defensively responsible.
- Barnaby36

I have a feeling it will take more than that, either an A Prospect or a 2nd/3rd. I am guessing Bjug has neutral to negative trade value. He's a good player when healthy, for sure, but he's always injured and he's making north of $4M so it's not like he's on a good contract.

He's almost like the Maatta of forwards - he shows flashes of good play but also has stretches of unproductive/bad play and is injured a lot. Both make ~$4.1M on multi-year deals. But Maatta is still young and Chicago was desperate for a top 4 defensemen. I doubt Minnesota is eager to bring in a soon-to-be out of his prime oft-injured 2nd/3rd line tweener for what looks like should be a rebuild.

Trading Bjugstad while his value is low and replacing him with Pageau whose value is inflated due to a high shooting percentage probably isn't worth the swap of assets.
- Tojo.

Good point, you're probably right and I doubt it happens, but damn I'd love to see even more speed and tenacity in this lineup.

While I would rather use Bjug's roster spot and salary on a different player, of course I will be rooting hard for him when he comes back. It looks as though Crosby has come back well from the same surgery, so here's hoping!

Im not sure on Pageau, but if the Pens feel McCann and Bjugstad could both be effective on wing then it definitely make life easier seeking out a 3C. Someone else brought up Tierny which would also be an option in that case.

McCann-Sid-Bjugstad
Kahun-Geno-Rust
Simon-Tierny-Horn
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

There are obviously a bit too many "ifs" there, but there are different ways the Pens can approach this situation.

Good point, you're probably right and I doubt it happens, but damn I'd love to see even more speed and tenacity in this lineup.

While I would rather use Bjug's roster spot and salary on a different player, of course I will be rooting hard for him when he comes back. It looks as though Crosby has come back well from the same surgery, so here's hoping!
- Hockey66

The salary and roster spot don't matter this year. The Pens have been banking space and will have 7-8M in deadline space plus Guentzel's 6M and if they need more can send Galchenyuk's 5M. And rosters expand after the deadline.

Off-season, Bjugstad is the easiest salary to clear. JJ and Hornqvist are other candidates, but trickier. I'm not opposed to a hockey trade for Bjugstad, but I think from an asset standpoint he has more potential value to us as a depth piece for a playoff run and then hopefully some rebuilt value for an off-season trade.

Pageau would be nice, but with such a thin system overpaying for a luxury depth piece like him is off my board.

What about trading for that McDavid guy?

What about trading for that McDavid guy?
- jmatchett383

Not if they want Blueger in return.

Not if they want Blueger in return.
- Rinosaur

They'd have to add in that guy who might be good if he can just work on his hockey skills and actually care about playing the game who's playing several thousand miles out of North America. What's his name? Mumbly Joe...Jesse Pukcewclkjsaeadkiuweuivi

Yeah, probably more frustration than anything (at least from my perspective). But, in 10 games this year and 4 playoff games last year, Bjug has a grand total of 1 goal and 0 assists. Maybe he was playing injured, but he has been unproductive and/or injured for almost a calendar year now. That's too much - I think it's time to move on and wish him well. I'm guessing he has neutral to negative trade value, though.

For sure he's more useful than Galch and I would take him over Galch in a heartbeat, injury considerations aside. But, unfortunately, he's just too much of a risk to depend on, either during the season but especially during the playoffs.
- Hockey66

to be fair, i would discount the playoffs, the whole team only had 6 goals...so its not like anyone played well

LeBrun wrote a piece surveying all 31 teams ahead of the deadline. He mentioned Zucker and Toffoli as possible Pens targets along with if he's available........Tatar.

They'd have to add in that guy who might be good if he can just work on his hockey skills and actually care about playing the game who's playing several thousand miles out of North America. What's his name? Mumbly Joe...Jesse Pukcewclkjsaeadkiuweuivi
- jmatchett383

Jussie Pooshooglarvios

LeBron wrote a piece surveying all 31 teams ahead of the deadline. He mentioned Zucker and Toffoli as possible Pens targets along with if he's available........Tatar.
- Tojo.

LeBron? He left basketball to be a hockey insider? Bold move.

LeBron wrote a piece surveying all 31 teams ahead of the deadline. He mentioned Zucker and Toffoli as possible Pens targets along with if he's available........Tatar.
- Tojo.

Tatar is happening bro.

Jussie Pooshooglarvios
- Rinosaur

It’s poolparty you idiot.

It’s poolparty you idiot.
- Feds91Stammer

(frank)ing autocorrect

(frank)ing autocorrect
- Rinosaur

At least you didn’t call him LeBron.

Tatar is happening bro.
- Feds91Stammer

Nothing to get excited about. He was just saying it’d be a good fit, not an actual rumor.

We should do what we did in ‘12 when we stacked up on the “big guns” at the deadline with Iginla and Morrow but this time get Zucker and Tatar. A top six of Guentzel, Tatar, Zucker, and Rust would be dope and fit Sullivan’s identity exceptionally well.

A man can hope...

Tatar is happening bro.
- Feds91Stammer

I hope so he'd be awesome with Sid

Nothing to get excited about. He was just saying it’d be a good fit, not an actual rumor.

We should do what we did in ‘12 when we stacked up on the “big guns” at the deadline with Iginla and Morrow but this time get Zucker and Tatar. A top six of Guentzel, Tatar, Zucker, and Rust would be dope and fit Sullivan’s identity exceptionally well.

A man can hope...
- Victoro311

The thing is that's all doable financially. When you remove Bjugstad, Schultz and Galchenyuk's numbers that's $14.5M. Tatar + Zucker = 10.3M.

Leftover 4.2M and let's say there's a $3Mish bump in the cap, so the Pens have $7Mish.

To average it out, let's say Kahun, McCann and Pettersson's cap hits are all $3.75, so 11.25M between three, but those are not how much the cap goes up by. They only go up by their actual raises.

Currently the three of them collectively make $3.05M, so the cap goes up by $8.2M between the three of them. We're close here... very close. lol

Find a way to move JJ, keep Riikola and it's all good which includes moving out Murray, keeping Jarry around $3/$3.5M and DeSmith.

EDIT: Wait, can Tatar effectively play RW?

Nothing to get excited about. He was just saying it’d be a good fit, not an actual rumor.

We should do what we did in ‘12 when we stacked up on the “big guns” at the deadline with Iginla and Morrow but this time get Zucker and Tatar. A top six of Guentzel, Tatar, Zucker, and Rust would be dope and fit Sullivan’s identity exceptionally well.

A man can hope...
- Victoro311

I feel like you should trust my sources by now.

The thing is that's all doable financially. When you remove Bjugstad, Schultz and Galchenyuk's numbers that's $14.5M. Tatar + Zucker = 10.3M.

Leftover 4.2M and let's say there's a $3Mish bump in the cap, so the Pens have $7Mish.

To average it out, let's say Kahun, McCann and Pettersson's cap hits are all $3.75, so 11.25M between three, but those are not how much the cap goes up by. They only go up by their actual raises.

Currently the three of them collectively make $3.05M, so the cap goes up by $8.2M between the three of them. We're close here... very close. lol

Find a way to move JJ, keep Riikola and it's all good which includes moving out Murray, keeping Jarry around $3/$3.5M and DeSmith.

EDIT: Wait, can Tatar effectively play RW?
- Rinosaur

Tatar can play either wing

Tatar can play either wing
- Feds91Stammer

Hasn't he had most success on the left though? I could be recalling incorrectly, but didn't Vegas try him on the RW and that's why he failed so miserably there?

LeBron? He left basketball to be a hockey insider? Bold move.
- Rinosaur

😳 I really need to start proofreading before hitting send.

Also LeBrun said if he were the Ducks, he'd take a shot at Galchenyuk and try him out. They could use LW help.