He is no first pair D man but he is a good 2nd pair. The approach would have to be that of their playoff run without Letang. Run 3 solid D pairs and rely on the improved forward depth to carry the load.

There aren't many 2C capable guys on the market. Could bring in a FA RD like Vananen and run 3 evenly capable pairs 20 mins a game.
- MacPatty

Well we can't do that unless JJ is gone. Idk I wouldn't take that risk anyways. I know Domi is good but we're talking upgrading 3c and downgrading our top pair defense. That's a no thank you from me.

Rightfully so, idk where his camp is coming from of the 8 mil range. The way he's been playing he's gonna be around the same price honesty.
- 668710

Wow, is that what he is actually asking for? For 3 years maybe?

Murray is a tandem goalie. I always got ripped for saying it but he has never carried the load to deserve #1 goalie pay.

He is no first pair D man but he is a good 2nd pair. The approach would have to be that of their playoff run without Letang. Run 3 solid D pairs and rely on the improved forward depth to carry the load.

There aren't many 2C capable guys on the market. Could bring in a FA RD like Vananen and run 3 evenly capable pairs 20 mins a game.
- MacPatty

As ridiculous as it sounds I would put stock in injury history and avoid the problem guys. Pitt is a medical nightmare.

Well we can't do that unless JJ is gone. Idk I wouldn't take that risk anyways. I know Domi is good but we're talking upgrading 3c and downgrading our top pair defense. That's a no thank you from me.
- 668710

Thats a fair assessment, obviously risk involved in giving away a guy like Letang.

I love Letang but id take a shot at moving him. Petry is a downgrade from Letang for sure but Domi is a massive upgrade over anything they will get at C.

And JJ better get shown the door! Just buy him out.

All day, all night. Think the Pens would need to add a bit so throw in McCann going the other way.

Domi is an ideal 3C for the Pens.
- MacPatty

I agree and I think your add seems pretty reasonable and it makes sense.

Habs probably still don't do it, though.

Letang is from Montreal so I'm guessing he'd be on board.

Thats a fair assessment, obviously risk involved in giving away a guy like Letang.

I love Letang but id take a shot at moving him. Petry is a downgrade from Letang for sure but Domi is a massive upgrade over anything they will get at C.

And JJ better get shown the door! Just buy him out.
- MacPatty

I just don't trust the third pair since we don't have one and is a negative impact if JJ is still here...he better be gone... But yea we basically don't have a third pair to go that route. I'd really like to get a solid 3c through Horny if we could. That or a young 3c involving #15

From Yohe's/Rossi's piece today...

Added another veteran Penguins player, after the playoffs: “We had too much change all year — so much change with guys injured and trades. We get healthy a little bit and change more. Why?”

Adding Zucker, that player said, was the only move the Penguins needed. He also questioned sending Dominik Kahun, a versatile forward acquired in the Maatta trade last summer, to Buffalo for Rodrigues and Sheary.

“Kahun was a good player for us,” the player said. “Maybe the coach doesn’t like him? I’m not sure.”

I just don't trust the third pair since we don't have one and is a negative impact if JJ is still here...he better be gone... But yea we basically don't have a third pair to go that route. I'd really like to get a solid 3c through Horny if we could. That or a young 3c involving #15
- 668710

Riikola and Ruh would be better than Schultz and JJ guaranteed. I feel confident we can find a decent, cheap 3rd pairing defenseman pretty easily.

More from that Athletic article....

“What do they say: if you have two goalies, you don’t have one?” a Penguins player said after the season. “It just seemed like the people in charge wanted Matt to be the one, but we played better, for whatever reason, when Jarry played. That’s how it looked to me. I guess coaches saw something different.”

From Yohe's/Rossi's piece today...

Added another veteran Penguins player, after the playoffs: “We had too much change all year — so much change with guys injured and trades. We get healthy a little bit and change more. Why?”

Adding Zucker, that player said, was the only move the Penguins needed. He also questioned sending Dominik Kahun, a versatile forward acquired in the Maatta trade last summer, to Buffalo for Rodrigues and Sheary.

“Kahun was a good player for us,” the player said. “Maybe the coach doesn’t like him? I’m not sure.”
- madmike71

By veteran player they mean Geno. That sounds exactly like he talks. Not saying I disagree with him...

From Yohe's/Rossi's piece today...

Added another veteran Penguins player, after the playoffs: “We had too much change all year — so much change with guys injured and trades. We get healthy a little bit and change more. Why?”

Adding Zucker, that player said, was the only move the Penguins needed. He also questioned sending Dominik Kahun, a versatile forward acquired in the Maatta trade last summer, to Buffalo for Rodrigues and Sheary.

“Kahun was a good player for us,” the player said. “Maybe the coach doesn’t like him? I’m not sure.”
- madmike71

Yep. People talk about the deflated mood on the team, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sheary on the top line had a lot to do with that.

We would have been better off putting Rust at 1RW and Horny at 2RW.

From Yohe's/Rossi's piece today...

Added another veteran Penguins player, after the playoffs: “We had too much change all year — so much change with guys injured and trades. We get healthy a little bit and change more. Why?”

Adding Zucker, that player said, was the only move the Penguins needed. He also questioned sending Dominik Kahun, a versatile forward acquired in the Maatta trade last summer, to Buffalo for Rodrigues and Sheary.

“Kahun was a good player for us,” the player said. “Maybe the coach doesn’t like him? I’m not sure.”
- madmike71

Hmmm, I wonder who that player was? And yea sometimes too much movement is not good. One reason Ruth likes to make moves as early as possible so the chemistry can build.

By veteran player they mean Geno. That sounds exactly like he talks. Not saying I disagree with him...
- MacPatty

That was my thought, too.

And Geno knows that the Habs were able to focus their defense on his line because of that move.

By veteran player they mean Geno. That sounds exactly like he talks. Not saying I disagree with him...
- MacPatty

Ha ha... exactly what I thought.

Riikola and Ruh would be better than Schultz and JJ guaranteed. I feel confident we can find a decent, cheap 3rd pairing defenseman pretty easily.
- Hockey66

Yea I would want a better third pair if we are downgrading our top pair is all I'm getting at. Im very ok with Rikki and Ruh if our top 4 is the same.

More from that Athletic article....

“What do they say: if you have two goalies, you don’t have one?” a Penguins player said after the season. “It just seemed like the people in charge wanted Matt to be the one, but we played better, for whatever reason, when Jarry played. That’s how it looked to me. I guess coaches saw something different.”
- madmike71

Yep again.

I think players are losing faith in Sully and JR. Too bad Mario and Burkle don't see this. Maybe there needs to a players / owners meeting.

Yea I would want a better third pair if we are downgrading our top pair is all I'm getting at. Im very ok with Rikki and Ruh if our top 4 is the same.
- 668710

True, good point.

More...

The moves might have backfired.

“It’s a bit weird, right?” said a player late in the regular season. “The GM talks about liking the group, not wanting to risk our chemistry. And then we add three new guys at the deadline. I don’t know. Didn’t make much sense to me, but it’s not my call.”

By veteran player they mean Geno. That sounds exactly like he talks. Not saying I disagree with him...
- MacPatty

That's who I was thinking, just didn't wanna speculate but I think it's G to if I had to guess.

Yep again.

I think players are losing faith in Sully and JR. Too bad Mario and Burkle don't see this. Maybe there needs to a players / owners meeting.
- Hockey66

I can see a Sully firing during this upcoming season, depends on what kind of assistants are brought in.

I can see a Sully firing during this upcoming season, depends on what kind of assistants are brought in.
- 668710

If they are thinking about it, then they should just do it now. Clean slate. It would give players confidence that the team is being proactive. Doing it mid-season just wastes a half a season and then might not give the new guy enough time to implement a new system. I know it has worked for us a couple of times before, but I think those are exceptions, not the norm.

If they are thinking about it, then they should just do it now. Clean slate. It would give players confidence that the team is being proactive. Doing it mid-season just wastes a half a season and then might not give the new guy enough time to implement a new system. I know it has worked for us a couple of times before, but I think those are exceptions, not the norm.
- Hockey66

Oh I agree, the whole staff should have got the can.

If they are thinking about it, then they should just do it now. Clean slate. It would give players confidence that the team is being proactive. Doing it mid-season just wastes a half a season and then might not give the new guy enough time to implement a new system. I know it has worked for us a couple of times before, but I think those are exceptions, not the norm.
- Hockey66

Sounds like they plan on watching the budget next year. All 3 of those coaches contracts expired after the season. Sully has 4 more years at a big number. He's not getting dumped next season.

Oh I agree, the whole staff should have got the can.
- 668710

Firing the assistants was a weak limping-in move to shake things up. I feel like it was a move to say, "Hey, we're serious about a shakeup" to make up for the fact they won't be doing much.

I honestly think the only major move that will be made is moving Murray and that we will see 97% of the same team as this season.

Sounds like they plan on watching the budget next year. All 3 of those coaches contracts expired after the season. Sully has 4 more years at a big number. He's not getting dumped next season.
- madmike71

Then they should fire JR for giving him that stupid contract just after being swept by a lower seeded team.

All of a sudden they are a budget team now? Why weren't they a budget team the last two years when JR gave JJ or Tanev way more than any other team would have?

I don't believe all of this budget crap. They are a successful pro sports team in a salary capped league. They can't get a loan or sell a share of the team to get up to the cap in order to be competitive? Just wait until fans start tuning out and see where their "budget" is then.

Also, if Sully gets re-hired, aren't they off the hook for the rest of his contract? Surely he'll latch on as an assistant somewhere.

This team is just one disappointment after another. I can't wait to see what senile fever dream idea JR cooks up next.