Watching the Caps for the first time in this... Totally forgot that they had Kovalchuck.... Right handed... Sniper... Big powerful forward.. Still decent skating... PP powerhouse... right handed PP powerhouse! ... friend of Genos.. hungry for a cup.

JR didn't want him. Traded for Marleau.
- MattStrat

He did show he could play better on a better team so credit there he would definitely been better than Marleau.

But out of 249 players with 100 PP minutes, Kovalchuk finished 249th in goals his team scored on the PP at around 2.5 goals every 60 minutes. Rust was 12th. Only 5 of Kovy's 26 points were on the PP. He wasn't the answer there.

Yohe seems to believe Hornqvist could be moved, but his salary will be the hurdle.
- Rinosaur

Yea makes sense, maybe Horny for a 3c around the same salary? Ruth can probably pull that off.

He did show he could play better on a better team so credit there he would definitely been better than Marleau.

But out of 249 players with 100 PP minutes, Kovalchuk finished 249th in goals his team scored on the PP at around 2.5 goals every 60 minutes. Rust was 12th. Only 5 of Kovy's 26 points were on the PP. He wasn't the answer there.
- Tojo.

No he wouldn't have pushed us past the Habs haha but he was a free asset.

Soderberg was already pretty old the offseason I wanted to sign him after his contract with the Bruins came up and we signed Fehr and traded for Bonino instead. I feel like he's ancient now. If he's still preforming, he's still preforming, but I feel like he could break down any day at this point. Also, doesn't make us faster at all.
- Victoro311

Agree on Soderberg. He's 35 and much like Hornqvist he still scores but his play-driving is down which is the forst sign of decline.

No he wouldn't have pushed us past the Habs haha but he was a free asset.
- 668710

Yeah I didn't really want any older players but hindsight he would have been a good pickup. His underlying numbers were much better when he left LA. Probably not the PP answer.

True, true. Maybe we could use Horny to trade for a 3c, I'd have to look around though. It would kinda suck having Soderberg at 34-35 and Horny around 33-34 on the same line. Edmonton was talking of getting a goalie trade going, maybe send Murr that way and work Horny somewhere for a 3c. Possible to have Poulin and McCann be the wings on the third line. Idk it's hard to make moves haha
- 668710

You make a good point about having a couple of old dudes on that line.

I am hesitant to trade Horny because he is literally the only net-front guy we have. We would become even more of a perimeter team without him which is something I don't even want to think about.

Well, he's the only pending FA C who's worth a damn, so we wouldn't have to give up anything to get him. But I'm open to suggestions for a different 3C.
- Hockey66

Maybe there's not a 3C worth pursuing in free agency then. This actually would be good for our chances of moving Bjugstad.

Yea makes sense, maybe Horny for a 3c around the same salary? Ruth can probably pull that off.
- 668710

Maybe.

You make a good point about having a couple of old dudes on that line.

I am hesitant to trade Horny because he is literally the only net-front guy we have. We would become even more of a perimeter team without him which is something I don't even want to think about.
- Hockey66

Every move the Pens make should have a reason and a subsequent move. Hornqvist does provide that net front presence the Pens need, but he's dragging play down at this point. Moving him out works well if the Pens can bring in a younger version of him and by that I don't mean in the same move, but through all the other moves they will be baking.

Anyone been watching Toffoli this playoffs? How's he looking?

Anyone been watching Toffoli this playoffs? How's he looking?
- 668710

Lower body injury. Only played one game.

I guess I also keep forgetting about Rodrigues as a natural C option, but I’m not at all thrilled about a guy who got press boxed in Buffalo filling in at 3C.

I agree that Hornqvist makes the PP so much better, but the 5 on 5 reality is that it’s tough to fit him in on this roster. Usually I’d say give him 12 minutes of ice time on the 4th line but we have a really specific 4th line that does a really specific thing, and Hornqvist can’t do that or go there. Third liners aren’t good enough to support his game at 5 on 5 and like I’ve already said, this year made it very apparent how important it is to have a functional third line that can score. So I think to keep Hornqvist we need to put him in the top 6. I don’t love the idea, but that’s really the only place for him. It’s tough to say good bye to the PP production, but do we capitalize on his productive year this year and try to extract value for him? Isn’t that the conversation we had when getting rid of Kessel?
- Victoro311

It was, maybe still is, hard to have a nuanced conversation about Kessel on this board. I think both are PP specialists unsuited to top 6 duty at this stage of their careers and they could only keep one. Despite perception, Hornqvist is more valuable. The PP with Kessel went from 11.53 goals per 60 with Hornqvist to 6.72 without. It was 9.9 when Hornqvist played without Phil, but small sample. Over a 3 year sample, it's more extreme.

That said, could you talk me into moving Hornqvist, sure, but if they don't replace his net front, I have no hope for the PP. They need a better long-term solution than Jake there regardless.

But at least Hornqvist can still score 5v5. Phil can't. But yeah, he needs the other to guys to drive the line and handle transition for him particularly at his age.

Maybe there's not a 3C worth pursuing in free agency then. This actually would be good for our chances of moving Bjugstad.
- Tojo.

I meant an alternative 3C in a trade, which is probably pretty hard to do because why would a team trade a good center? Maybe a team on a rebuild trading an older (30-33) center that would rather have draft picks.

I think we should use the #15 to get a 3C. There are so many good RWs in FA that surely we could scoop one of them up for free. Handedness doesn't matter if we put Rust on the PP1 like you said.

God help us. We need a new GM. Yesterday.

Lower body injury. Only played one game.
- Rinosaur

Well then lol

God help us. We need a new GM. Yesterday.
- powerhouse

I agree. So far this off-season, JR has deflected criticism of JJ by scapegoating Schultz and now it appears he has deflected criticism of Sully by scapegoating the assistants. Mario and Burkle need to intervene.

Hall is gonna be a free agent, I can keep dreaming this summer lol

I think Rutherford is right about needing to add younger, hungrier players. Would have liked to see what Rod had to offer. Some teams are going to be in a tough spot with the cap, I wonder if we can take advantage?

I agree. So far this off-season, JR has deflected criticism of JJ by scapegoating Schultz and now it appears he has deflected criticism of Sully by scapegoating the assistants. Mario and Burkle need to intervene.
- Hockey66

He definitely threw guys that were leaving under the bus. When reality is that JJ (frank)ing blows and sully played him a lot, which was insane. I just hope he can move JJ, he tried before I'm sure he'll try again.

He definitely threw guys that were leaving under the bus. When reality is that JJ (frank)ing blows and sully played him a lot, which was insane. I just hope he can move JJ, he tried before I'm sure he'll try again.
- 668710

According to Yohe, the coaching staff is pleased with JJ. FFS.

According to Yohe, the coaching staff is pleased with JJ. FFS.
- madmike71

Somebody needs to pick up the red phone to Mario. I'm just not going to watch another Pens game with JJ in the lineup. I'd rather clean the bathroom.

According to Yohe, the coaching staff is pleased with JJ. FFS.
- madmike71

Keeping that trade value at negative instead of triple negative lol

Keeping that trade value at negative instead of triple negative lol
- 668710

At this point they're just trolling the fan base. Right? Gotta be....

Keeping that trade value at negative instead of triple negative lol
- 668710

If they think they are being clever and tricking the other GMs of the league, then I do have to question JR's mental acuity.

Is the 20/21 season supposed to be an abbreviated season?