Tanev, for all intents and purposes, would be the "Hagelin" of the third line if you moved him up there and allowed McCann and Hornqvist more room to operate offensively.

Simon is a lefty, so I'd trust him to play on the left side. Adding Pitlick replaces Tanev's role on the 4th RW and I don't think you miss a beat aside from the speed factor.
- Rinosaur

I can see Tanev succeeding like that, but I'm still hesitant to break up the Blueger line. Assuming Sid gets Kapanen, his line will take a little hit defensively so having that line for key defensive situations will be even more important.

Isn't Simon a natural LW? Also I see you undid the Kapanen trade. Nice.

Anyways, a silver lining of the ZAR injury I think will be seeing Simon on the 4th line. Simon is solid defensively and has a much better overall game than ZAR. If that 4th line can be equally as effective in its shut down role with Simon as it is with ZAR, its a good thing and we could maybe see Bleuger and Tanev score a bit more with Simon being very capable of a support role in the O zone.
- Victoro311

Completely forgot about Kap. I’m pretty sure Simon lines up on the right side.

I can see Tanev succeeding like that, but I'm still hesitant to break up the Blueger line. Assuming Sid gets Kapanen, his line will take a little hit defensively so having that line for key defensive situations will be even more important.
- Tojo.

I agree, but by the Pens signing McCann which I imagine would be in the $2.5M range, would have plenty of money to sign a solid 4th line player to replace that defense which is a lot easier to accomplish than most other things they're trying to accomplish.

Completely forgot about Kap. I’m pretty sure Simon lines up on the right side.
- j.boyd919

Always thought he lined up there because we needed him to. Kind of like how Duper was a LW but circumstances made him exclusively a RW here. Usually when guys are natural off hand siders it’s because they’re goal scorers and like to have their shot on the inside. That’s obviously not the case for Simon.

IF you move Tanev to LW on the 3rd line (and let's be honest, if you're going to pay that guy 3rd line money long-term, then play him on the third line and see what happens), and sign McCann to around $2.5M, Simon $900K, Jarry to $3.25Mish, you're left with around $3Mish to play with to fill that 4th line role while leaving space to make changes if it doesn't workout and room for Poulin if he makes the club.

IF you move Tanev to LW on the 3rd line (and let's be honest, if you're going to pay that guy 3rd line money long-term, then play him on the third line and see what happens), and sign McCann to around $2.5M, Simon $900K, Jarry to $3.25Mish, you're left with around $3Mish to play with to fill that 4th line role while leaving space to make changes if it doesn't workout and room for Poulin if he makes the club.
- Rinosaur

Why do I feel like JR signs someone like Matt Martin.

Why do I feel like JR signs someone like Matt Martin.
- Feds91Stammer

Boutta bring back Grinder/Stans dads splooge fest for Martin. Hopefully GMJR does it just so I can bring it back to the board more often.

Why do I feel like JR signs someone like Matt Martin.
- Feds91Stammer

Because the only logical methods to how JR operates is that they are logically illogical.

IF you move Tanev to LW on the 3rd line (and let's be honest, if you're going to pay that guy 3rd line money long-term, then play him on the third line and see what happens), and sign McCann to around $2.5M, Simon $900K, Jarry to $3.25Mish, you're left with around $3Mish to play with to fill that 4th line role while leaving space to make changes if it doesn't workout and room for Poulin if he makes the club.
- Rinosaur

I would like to see Tanev in a more offensive role. We all know what he brings defensively, and we can always fall back on that. But i think he has more Offensive skills than given credit for, especially strength on the puck.

I would like to see Tanev in a more offensive role. We all know what he brings defensively, and we can always fall back on that. But i think he has more Offensive skills than given credit for, especially strength on the puck.
- joecool2931

I don't even know that he needs to produce much more or be in an "offensive" role. I think someone like Tanev is a facilitator for others, and I think he should and can be doing it in a more significant capacity. He creates chaos and makes room for his linemates. Maybe we're saying the same thing lol

I think the money saved by moving him to the 3rd line allows the Pens to really fill out the 4th line while improving the 3rd line. It's easier to buy a quality 4th line player than it is other roles.

Eh, I'd still rather see:
Zucker-Crosby-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-McCann-Kapanen
Lafferty-Blueger-Tanev

1.87 has hinted he dislikes playing with 72 cause he wants to play a fast game. Well, this year, 87 played a slower game and this might force him to play behind the net a little more and let 72 get in the goalie's line of vision.
2.Guentzel and Malkin were rolling before Jake's injury. I think that line would be good.
3.I think there is a good balance of HockeyIQ/Grit/speed to make this work
4.I'd rather have Lafferty anyway. He has a knack of getting a breakaway or scoring some dirty goal every now and then and could make that a scoring line to some extent even when ZAR comes back.

Eh, I'd still rather see:
Zucker-Crosby-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-McCann-Kapanen
Lafferty-Blueger-Tanev

1.87 has hinted he dislikes playing with 72 cause he wants to play a fast game. Well, this year, 87 played a slower game and this might force him to play behind the net a little more and let 72 get in the goalie's line of vision.
2.Guentzel and Malkin were rolling before Jake's injury. I think that line would be good.
3.I think there is a good balance of HockeyIQ/Grit/speed to make this work
4.I'd rather have Lafferty anyway. He has a knack of getting a breakaway or scoring some dirty goal every now and then and could make that a scoring line to some extent even when ZAR comes back.
- jmy_1

I actually like this lineup sans Lafferty. I’d rather have ZAR there than Lafferty. I’d prefer someone else at 3C but not sure what the options are.

Eh, I'd still rather see:
Zucker-Crosby-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-McCann-Kapanen
Lafferty-Blueger-Tanev

1.87 has hinted he dislikes playing with 72 cause he wants to play a fast game. Well, this year, 87 played a slower game and this might force him to play behind the net a little more and let 72 get in the goalie's line of vision.
2.Guentzel and Malkin were rolling before Jake's injury. I think that line would be good.
3.I think there is a good balance of HockeyIQ/Grit/speed to make this work
4.I'd rather have Lafferty anyway. He has a knack of getting a breakaway or scoring some dirty goal every now and then and could make that a scoring line to some extent even when ZAR comes back.
- jmy_1

Hornqvist just never sticks on the 1st line. Whether it's Sid or Sullivan who doesn't like it, if it was a realistic option he'd have been up there for a while now, but I don't hate this lineup. I like Lafferty and that 4th line becomes much faster. I just don't know Lafferty's defense stats as opposed to ZAR.

As far as the McCann argument goes, he's definitely a gamble to a degree, but to be honest, so are all the other available options to one degree or another. There is no sure-fire option via FA for 3C and trading is probably even more difficult because of the lack of available assets the Pens have at their disposal to acquire such a player.

Soderberg is the only sure fire 3C IMO, but at the same time is likely the price himself out of the Pens' range.

EDIT: Totally random and I don't know how much anyone here goes on capfriendly to look at the armchairs, but I noticed this a few days ago and the Pens are probably one of the least traded with teams on there lol

As far as the McCann argument goes, he's definitely a gamble to a degree, but to be honest, so are all the other available options to one degree or another. There is no sure-fire option via FA for 3C and trading is probably even more difficult because of the lack of available assets the Pens have at their disposal to acquire such a player.

Soderberg is the only sure fire 3C IMO, but at the same time is likely the price himself out of the Pens' range.

EDIT: Totally random and I don't know how much anyone here goes on capfriendly to look at the armchairs, but I noticed this a few days ago and the Pens are probably one of the least traded with teams on there lol
- Rinosaur

Because PIT doesn’t have anyone that people want that would also be available.

Eh, I'd still rather see:
Zucker-Crosby-Hornqvist
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-McCann-Kapanen
Lafferty-Blueger-Tanev

1.87 has hinted he dislikes playing with 72 cause he wants to play a fast game. Well, this year, 87 played a slower game and this might force him to play behind the net a little more and let 72 get in the goalie's line of vision.
2.Guentzel and Malkin were rolling before Jake's injury. I think that line would be good.
3.I think there is a good balance of HockeyIQ/Grit/speed to make this work
4.I'd rather have Lafferty anyway. He has a knack of getting a breakaway or scoring some dirty goal every now and then and could make that a scoring line to some extent even when ZAR comes back.
- jmy_1

They've pretty much stated they got Kapanen to play in the top 6 (and if that fails yikes), but I've kept in the back of my mind he has been used successfully as a Kessel-lite 3rd line scoring wing.

If that happens though I expect Hornqvist with Malkin and Rust with Crosby just because Malkin seems to not mind playing with Hornqvist.

Because PIT doesn’t have anyone that people want that would also be available.
- Feds91Stammer

No, I know. That's kind of the point I'm trying to make as far as the Pens options moving forward. It's why I think they're best served by keeping McCann, bumping Tanev up and having a little more money to get quality 4th line guys.

No, I know. That's kind of the point I'm trying to make as far as the Pens options moving forward. It's why I think they're best served by keeping McCann, bumping Tanev up and having a little more money to get quality 4th line guys.
- Rinosaur

Oh I agree. You’re in a poop spot thanks to Rutherford. You’re returning essentially the same failed team plus Kapanen and all you assets have already been pissed away.

I know we can always play the what-if game, but given the way things worked out, its too bad we didnt draft a Center instead of Poulin. I'd feel a lot better if we had Tomasino knocking at the door to take over the 3C spot rather than another winger.

Oh I agree. You’re in a poop spot thanks to Rutherford. You’re returning essentially the same failed team plus Kapanen and all you assets have already been pissed away.
- Feds91Stammer

Yup. They can make some effective tweaks though if they're smart, but...

Yup. They can make some effective tweaks though if they're smart, but...
- Rinosaur

There’s one tweak we all know that would make the biggest difference.

There’s one tweak we all know that would make the biggest difference.
- Feds91Stammer

The saddest reality to all of this.

There’s one tweak we all know that would make the biggest difference.
- Feds91Stammer

fire mike sullivan

fire mike sullivan
- BINGO!

And GMJR

fire mike sullivan
- BINGO!

That would be the 2nd most impactful change.