The thing is that D and goalie are much better this year in free agency so it would be easier to fix those areas. The center free agency is ass. They would somehow have to swing a trade for center which I'm ok with, however it may not happen, the other team has to accept the trade.
- 668710

Yeah, it won't be easy, but I think it would have much more of a positive impact. It also means moving McCann to LW (if he isn't traded) for which he might be better suited and is a team need.

It's a good day when the B's lose. Make it a great day with a Flyers loss tonight!!!

I think what our biggest need is, is irrelevant. As long as jj is on this team playing 20 minutes a night it doesn’t matter. He will sink any partner and any line he’s on.

I think jarry/desmith is a fine tandem. Ideal, no, but you can’t have it all. If your goalies are a bit inconsistent or a bit of an Unknow I think the main thing to help is a solid D. If we don’t address that it doesn’t matter. Jj sunk Geno, the new 3c is (frank)ed as long as he’s on the team. That’s the biggest need.

If jj was gone, I’d vote for a solid 3c who can drive a line and bring some offensive potential to the lineup to help with matchups. If we have 2 lines that can’t score they aren’t going to go far.
- 10inchTerror

Hard to argue with that. JJ and Sully are huge drags on this team. Some say JR is to blame for JJ, and he is, but Sully is the one playing him. Then I heard some say that the assistants (Gonch and/or Martin) were the ones promoting JJ, but the buck stops at Sully and there is no excuse for what Sully did. And that is the easy part of coaching. He sucks at the tactical, too.

It's a good day when the B's lose. Make it a great day with a Flyers loss tonight!!!
- madmike71

Yeah, I enjoyed looking at sad-faced Chara and Rat after the game-winning goal.

I might regret answering this but..

Goalie by far. Jarry will be asked to carry the load, yet the last time he played even 50 games was in 2014-15 for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Why? Because he has been wildly inconsistent for 5 years as a pro including this past one. And if he fails, can DeSmith carry the load? I'd much rather have Jarry be part of a tandem than the unquestioned starter (not with Murray though).

3rd pair defense. The hope is that POJ plays so well he forces out JJ. But even if he does are we comfortable at 3rd RD? Ruhwedel is about 30 and he's never been a top 6 before, yet we're asking him to either carry JJ or have play with a rookie. Will JJ just slide over to the right like he did with Pettersson because there's nobody there to strongly block him?

Both those roster issues worry me far more than Blueger and McCann at center.
- Tojo.

I agree with the Jarry question mark. I am hoping we keep Murray over Jarry honestly. Also for POJ he improved greatly last season so I am hoping he does better this season to stay with the big guys.

Ok, thanks for answering. I disagree, but I respect your opinion. I think Jarry is good enough and there are a lot of good, probably cheap vets available to complete the tandem. As for 3rd pairing, I agree that it would be addition by subtraction as it relates to JJ, but it's another position that is pretty easy to fill. At least it's a hell of a lot easier than center and I don't think either Blueger or McCann are up to snuff at 3C. I do like McCann at LW and think he is pretty valuable there so I hope the Pens don't trade him as has been rumored.
- Hockey66

If they bring in another vet that's fine depending on who he is. It doesn't have to be expensive. It does have to be someone who is good enough to start if Jarry falters.

Not free agents but Stralman and Demers are going into the final year of their contracts with teams who will likely not be competing this year. Both I think could be had cheap and would both be great to complete the RHD.

I really like Marino, but I think you need someone solid behind him to lighten the workload at times.

Apparently the athletic had a Minnesota article eluding to a Brodin for Murray trade.

Not free agents but Stralman and Demers are going into the final year of their contracts with teams who will likely not be competing this year. Both I think could be had cheap and would both be great to complete the RHD.

I really like Marino, but I think you need someone solid behind him to lighten the workload at times.
- MacPatty

Demers wouldn't be a bad target to try to swap Bjudstad's contract for

Apparently the athletic had a Minnesota article eluding to a Brodin for Murray trade.
- 123Kid

I would like that but what’s the point of getting a LD if jj is never being traded.

I would like that but what’s the point of getting a LD if jj is never being traded.
- 10inchTerror

I assume he would either get bumped to a healthy scratch or traded, because I don't see them trading Pettersson and I also think they value him more over JJ.

Apparently the athletic had a Minnesota article eluding to a Brodin for Murray trade.
- 123Kid

That would be glorious! Can't imagine it would be a straight 1 for 1 without the Pens adding.

Burying JJ would save $1M in cap space.

I would like that but what’s the point of getting a LD if jj is never being traded.
- 10inchTerror

I think it would force Sully's hand but if JR is pursuing Brodin, and Petts is staying, then he is basically saying that JJ won't be playing anymore, either via trade, burying him, or buying him out.

This is exactly the type of 2LD move that I think could pay huge dividends. A left side of Dumo, Brodin, Petts is so much better than Dumo, Petts, random 3LD to replace JJ.

Here's all the UFA RDs. THere's actually quite a few there I like.

I know Ive been saying JR will get Ceci...but I could see him wanting Gudas too.

EDIT: or Bogosian

https://www.capfriendly.c.../defense/all/desc/1/right
- MattStrat

I like Gudas if he's playing with Riikola or POJ, not with JJ. He's generally been pretty good in his role prior to this year. There should be some good values abd I hope the Pens grab one.

That's part of the puzzle, I'd want a very different skillset at RD depending on who the LD is.

I like any defenseman if he's playing with Riikola or POJ, not with JJ.
- Tojo.

Fixed.

Apparently the athletic had a Minnesota article eluding to a Brodin for Murray trade.
- 123Kid

This would be pretty awesome if it mean you-know-who would no longer don a Penguins sweater.

I like Gudas if he's playing with Riikola or POJ, not with JJ. He's generally been pretty good in his role prior to this year. There should be some good values abd I hope the Pens grab one.

That's part of the puzzle, I'd want a very different skillset at RD depending on who the LD is.
- Tojo.

Gudas would be a nice add. He won't contribute much offensively, but he would add some much-needed snarl (and he's a pretty good defenseman as well as a surprisingly decent skater).

Fixed.
- Rinosaur

Good point

I just read they asked Chara about going to another team because he is a free agent. He said he would "keep an open mind".

What do you guys think of signing Chara for the bottom pairing? Also to be the PP guy

I just read they asked Chara about going to another team because he is a free agent. He said he would "keep an open mind".

What do you guys think of signing Chara for the bottom pairing? Also to be the PP guy
- 123Kid

No thanks. He's slow as hell and doesn't put up points anymore.

I just read they asked Chara about going to another team because he is a free agent. He said he would "keep an open mind".

What do you guys think of signing Chara for the bottom pairing? Also to be the PP guy
- 123Kid

Id take Chara all day. I think he is still better than bottom pair. Especially on the Pens.

So Tanner bounced from the sight? Literally one day after his last blog in the comments he says, hes not going anywhere...?

I just read they asked Chara about going to another team because he is a free agent. He said he would "keep an open mind".

What do you guys think of signing Chara for the bottom pairing? Also to be the PP guy
- 123Kid

I can’t see Sully and Chara getting along.

I would like that but what’s the point of getting a LD if jj is never being traded.
- 10inchTerror

Maybe Guerin likes JJ and takes him in the deal, we need to clear cap anyways

I assume he would either get bumped to a healthy scratch or traded, because I don't see them trading Pettersson and I also think they value him more over JJ.
- 123Kid

I mean fair enough, but with jr constantly praising jj and every source saying jj isn’t going anywhere I just can’t see it happening but damn I would love to see it.