If this was my video game trade time I'd be taking a very different approach.

-I'd be looking to ship out Pettersson's salary almost completely.
-Move Bjugstad in the hopes they can bring in another UFA at hopefully half the price.
-Sign Krug

This would be my main focus, but I'd obviously want to still try and fill the void at RW with someone who will get to the dirty areas, and also attempt to unload Hornqvist and/or JJ. Buy them out of if you have to to free up the necessary space.

Krug/Letang
Dumo/Marino

or

Dumo/Letang
Krug/Marino

Anyway you shake it that's a lethal top-four IMO.

https://youtu.be/d6VOSdOI5qE
- 123Kid

Thanks for that. I think every goal was either driving to the net or a bullet one-timer.

I would love to acquire him. When he plays hard, he looks like an unbelievable talent. I think him like many of the other prospects from Oilers. Was not trained/used properly.

I have seen a few Forums of Edmonton fans proposing Nurse for Murray (which I wouldn't be opposed to). I definitely would welcome Puljarvii to the Pens!

Side note I think we should target Kovalchuk in Free agency. He would probably be the best RW option for us
- 123Kid

Ive been wanting Puljujarvi for a while. Working a deal with Murray plus for Nurse and Puljujarvi would be great.

If this was my video game trade time I'd be taking a very different approach.

-I'd be looking to ship out Pettersson's salary almost completely.
-Move Bjugstad in the hopes they can bring in another UFA at hopefully half the price.
-Sign Krug

This would be my main focus, but I'd obviously want to still try and fill the void at RW with someone who will get to the dirty areas, and also attempt to unload Hornqvist and/or JJ. Buy them out of if you have to to free up the necessary space.

Krug/Letang
Dumo/Marino

or

Dumo/Letang
Krug/Marino

Anyway you shake it that's a lethal top-four IMO.
- Rinosaur

Krug should be their top FA target. I just don't think the Pens will have the cap space to get him. And even yhat is if the Bruins don't resign him. Agree thats a fantastic top 4.

Krug should be their top FA target. I just don't think the Pens will have the cap space to get him. And even yhat is if the Bruins don't resign him. Agree thats a fantastic top 4.
- MacPatty

He's going to get a lot of money, but that's why I suggest moving out Pettersson's $4M and get as much of Bjugstad's salary off the books as possible, then if you need more, buy out good ole JJ or maybe move out Horn and retain part of his salary to make him easier to move.

He's going to get a lot of money, but that's why I suggest moving out Pettersson's $4M and get as much of Bjugstad's salary off the books, then if you need more, but out good ole JJ or maybe move out Horn and retain part of his salary to make him easier to move.
- Rinosaur

Yeah, I look at Detroit and see this empty roster heading into next year with a ton of cap space.

They could use Murray and they need bodies to fill a roster... I'm sure they would like Petterson.

Better question is Murray plus what to send them JJ and maybe Bjugstad?

He's going to get a lot of money, but that's why I suggest moving out Pettersson's $4M and get as much of Bjugstad's salary off the books, then if you need more, but out good ole JJ or maybe move out Horn and retain part of his salary to make him easier to move.
- Rinosaur

More of a video game move than that of a financially distressed team that faces a very uncertain immediate future both on the ice and financially. It would have to be a "too good to be true" deal for the current team to move on from a cost-controlled 24-year-old.

Yeah, I look at Detroit and see this empty roster heading into next year with a ton of cap space.

They could use Murray and they need bodies to fill a roster... I'm sure they would like Petterson.

Better question is Murray plus what to send them JJ and maybe Bjugstad?
- MacPatty

Murray + JJ for a 2nd would be optimal. I think they can move Bjugstad for a mid-round pick.

Yeah, I look at Detroit and see this empty roster heading into next year with a ton of cap space.

They could use Murray and they need bodies to fill a roster... I'm sure they would like Petterson.

Better question is Murray plus what to send them JJ and maybe Bjugstad?
- MacPatty

If they didn't have DeKeyser on their books I'd say maybe there was a shot we could incentivize them to take JJ off our hands, but unlikely. DET also doesn't seem to need much in the way of forwards of Bjugstad's caliber. If they were amping up for a playoff run, I'd say yeah, Bjugstad is good rental for them to have that they can plug around the lineup.

Now Murray? I think there's a deal to be made with DET.

I think NJ could be a good match for Bjugstad. They need to fill out their lineup a little. I don't think the Pens would care about moving him to NJ since they're not really a team contending just yet in the Metro.

A lot of the reasons why I had reservations about keeping the 1st round pick this year have been discussed today:

-With Coronavirus, I figured a lot of teams wouldnt be spending to the cap. The Penguins ownership doesnt have deep pockets. Burkle's whole investment strategy is to take cheap and down assets like the Penguins were and then grow them. He has done that and has a nice return when he sells the team. I dont see him dumping millions into the team to "be a fan". When the team is winning, it is a good investent, when you have doubts about the direction of your team and next season, its easy to pull some of that money back.

-With the season in doubt, what happens if they dont play and then have a draft lottery similar to the 2005 lottery where every team has a shot at a top pick? You dont know what next season will look like. Putting your faith in this team plus the cirumstances to work out is risky.

-In our division, teams are getting better. The Hurricanes, Rangers, Islanders, and Flyers are all better than they were. Even the Blue Jackets are getting better. With the Capitals still at the top, nothing is promised in our division anymore.

Personally, I'm not bullish on this group. We have spent years spending the future away with bad trades wasting assets. Sooner or later, the future was going to show up. Minus a miracle prospect development, I dont see this team competing within our own division.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree 100%,. At this point, I see
Philly ( gulp)
Carolina
Washington
NY Rangers
NY Islanders all ahead of Pens....and Pens dont play well vs NJ so if they figure it out, we could easily finish 7th in division. God forbid that happens and we chose to take the pick this year not next....

More of a video game move than that of a financially distressed team that faces a very uncertain immediate future both on the ice and financially. It would have to be a "too good to be true" deal for the current team to move on from a cost-controlled 24-year-old.
- abasin

Yeah that's where I fall. Krug for Pettersson, however it happened, would be a good now move particularly to improve the PP. But Pettersson is one of the few guys who didn't have a bad series and I think we'd regret moving him.

If it was just Rossi, I'd ignore it, but Yohe doesn't put his name on idle speculation. I don't think the Pens will be shopping one of their few young players. And I don't think they'll be making the max salary moves we want. Kind of depressing but this might have been it, sounds like they lost faith in the core.

Yeah that's where I fall. Krug for Pettersson, however it happened, would be a good now move particularly to improve the PP. But Pettersson is one of the few guys who didn't have a bad series and I think we'd regret moving him.

If it was just Rossi, I'd ignore it, but Yohe doesn't put his name on idle speculation. I don't think the Pens will be shopping one of their few young players. And I don't think they'll be making the max salary moves we want. Kind of depressing but this might have been it, sounds like they lost faith in the core.
- Tojo.

Can you blame them for losing faith in the core?

Can you blame them for losing faith in the core?
- Rinosaur

I'm not ready to give up on Crosby, Malkin, and Letang yet, but I don't mind moving on from secondary players like Hornqvist, McCann, ZAR. Next year if there's another 1st round bounce, I'm all for moving Malkin, Letang, Rust, Dumo before their deals are up and start a rebuild.

I agree 100%,. At this point, I see
Philly ( gulp)
Carolina
Washington
NY Rangers
NY Islanders all ahead of Pens....and Pens dont play well vs NJ so if they figure it out, we could easily finish 7th in division. God forbid that happens and we chose to take the pick this year not next....
- Amanion

The same thing was said last year and they were still comfortably in a playoff spot despite all their injuries. I also believe this rendition of the Pens is in significantly better shape than they were a year ago.

I'm not ready to give up on Crosby, Malkin, and Letang yet, but I don't mind moving on from secondary players like Hornqvist, McCann, ZAR. Next year if there's another 1st round bounce, I'm all for moving Malkin, Letang, Rust, Dumo before their deals are up and start a rebuild.
- abasin

Giving up and losing faith are two different things. I'm definitely not giving up, but I am losing faith a little. I'm losing faith that they can reach down for that hunger and desire. Upgrading/changing some of the secondary players can definitely help, but if Sid, Geno and Letang can't elevate their games when the going gets tough then it doesn't make much of a difference.

I know Sid gets a pass this year because he played well, but I honestly don't think even he elevated his game to the necessary level. If Sid and Geno can't turn up the intensity when the Pens need the window is gone.

I'm not ready to give up on Crosby, Malkin, and Letang yet, but I don't mind moving on from secondary players like Hornqvist, McCann, ZAR. Next year if there's another 1st round bounce, I'm all for moving Malkin, Letang, Rust, Dumo before their deals are up and start a rebuild.
- abasin

See it would all be dependent on the Trade. I would be willing to give up most players except Crosby dependent on the deal. Malkin in a close second to never trading as well. If someone were to over pay in a trade for Malkin, I think I would be accepting of him being traded. If it turns out to be another Phil Kessel type trade, then I think I would keep most of them. I think I wouldn't want to move Hornqvist, but I'm realistic and feel he would save cap space especially for the limited role he provides. I think McCann is a toss up pending his trade value. Everyone tries to ship ZAR out, but that line was dominant all season long when they were together.

See it would all be dependent on the Trade. I would be willing to give up most players except Crosby dependent on the deal. Malkin in a close second to never trading as well. If someone were to over pay in a trade for Malkin, I think I would be accepting of him being traded. If it turns out to be another Phil Kessel type trade, then I think I would keep most of them. I think I wouldn't want to move Hornqvist, but I'm realistic and feel he would save cap space especially for the limited role he provides. I think McCann is a toss up pending his trade value. Everyone tries to ship ZAR out, but that line was dominant all season long when they were together.
- 123Kid

At this point the main value they should be looking for in a Malkin trade would be cap space, but I'd love to see him retire as a Penguin and hope it doesn't come to trading him. The Hornqvist move is more out of the fact they want to shed salary, if not this year, I think he's as good as gone in the expansion draft. As for McCann, depending on his price, I would rather look for an upgrade at 3c and play either Simon or Poulin at 3rd line LW. ZAR is probably safe because he's only making $1M and I agree that 4th line should be here to stay.

Giving up and losing faith are two different things. I'm definitely not giving up, but I am losing faith a little. I'm losing faith that they can reach down for that hunger and desire. Upgrading/changing some of the secondary players can definitely help, but if Sid, Geno and Letang can't elevate their games when the going gets tough then it doesn't make much of a difference.

I know Sid gets a pass this year because he played well, but I honestly don't think even he elevated his game to the necessary level. If Sid and Geno can't turn up the intensity when the Pens need the window is gone.
- Rinosaur

The reality is that they are no longer players who can single-handedly take over a game like they were in their prime and the secondary players need to step-up. I agree the effort was abysmal, but this situation was so unique I want to see them in one more traditional playoff until question their willingness to win. If they do win another cup, it's probably going to resemble 2017 when they played a structured/disciplined game and were opportunistic with scoring chances.