I'm obviously on the outside looking in up here north of your border....but... I'm not even there and I'm a little uneasy about what will happen if either party wins...and one of them has to win.

You guys look extremely, hatefully divided, is that the media (on both sides) sensationalizing things or are you guys feeling this in your every day lives?


We're getting fairly divided up here too but not to the extremely....yet anyways.

Divided populations are easier to control and manipulate. I feel we all have a lot more in common than we don't.
- MattStrat

Media is sensationalizing poop but a lot of dummies who eat from the media get into it all the time. My girl’s mom goes into anti-trump hysteria every time we are over there (and we don’t even bring up politics) but she gets all her news from Facebook and CNN, so she’s allergic to facts.

I smoked a Brisket this weekend, probably the best I've ever done. 11 hours at 230-250 degrees, will be eating it every day for the next week...
- MacPatty

What do you smoke on? I really want a Kamado grill

I wouldn’t want to invest any amount of money and term in Justin Braun but if he could be had for under $2 mil for like one or two years we could do worse. If we’re investing money/term in another RD, is want it to be Shattenkirk, but I’m skeptical we could afford him and if we could, I know I’m sounding like a broken record here but, that money is better spent elsewhere.

Fast would be as solid a third line wing we could get from free agency but that would really beg the question of what the hell to do with Hornqvist. The roster construction of the wings would start to get wonky with an overload of RWs. That said, if Poulin were able to make the roster and carry over the scorer’s me touch People have been raving about, Poulin-McCann-Fast would be a really balanced line. McCann and Fast are fast and defensively responsible enough to make up for any short comings Poulin has in those two departments if Poulin can be the scorer on that line.
- Victoro311

I don’t see a big issue with brain other than I expect him in the 3-4m range unless everyone takes a flyer on him. I think the forwards are basically set and what we have now is what we get with the exception of maybe an extra 3rd line fw and 3rd pair rd which sounds like that’s thé guarantee
To happen.

Have you ever smoked burgers? I got into smoking withing the last year and by far my favorite thing to smoke is burgers. I tried smoking wings but every time they end up with tough skin. The meat falls off the bone and tastes amazing but the skin....
Any suggestions?
- nateca444

Maybe try Flash frying them after you smoke them

We're still on the food thing...I'm starving.

Maybe try Flash frying them after you smoke them
- j.boyd919

I honestly don't like smoked wings. While I love smoked BBQ meats, because wings are so small I feel like they absorb too much of the smoke flavor and it's too overpowering.

Yohe's 6 free agents who make sense:

-Tanev
-Shattenkirk
-Fast
-Craig Smith
-Hainsey
-Braun

There's a lot of context I'm leaving out regarding some of these players like him not being sure how much some are looking for and the puzzling part of seeing players we move we aren't expecting, which again is troubling to me if it's meant someone like Pettersson is moved out and JJ gets bumped up.

Rust, Pettersson and Zucker would be "unexpected" in my mind, but could he mean JJ and/or Hornqvist because while people think they should be moved it's not expected due to contracts and perceived value.

Yohe's 6 free agents who make sense:

-Tanev
-Shattenkirk
-Fast
-Craig Smith
-Hainsey
-Braun

There's a lot of context I'm leaving out regarding some of these players like him not being sure how much some are looking for and the puzzling part of seeing players we moved we aren't expecting, which again is troubling to me if it's meant someone like Pettersson is moved out and JJ gets bumped up.

Rust, Pettersson and Zucker would be "unexpected" in my mind, but could he mean JJ and/or Hornqvist because while people think they should be moved it's not expected due to contracts and perceived value.

IMO Smith and Fast only make sense if Hornqvist is moved since trading Rust would more of a lateral move unless Rust is used to acquire whatever RD he wants.

I honestly don't like smoked wings. While I love smoked BBQ meats, because wings are so small I feel like they absorb too much of the smoke flavor and it's too overpowering.
- Rinosaur

I also think it depends on the wood used too. I like hickory on chicken but like you said, it’s definitely strong. Something like apple or cherry might not be as strong. I’m all about that deep smoke flavor though hahaha I’m watching “the American BBQ Showdown” on Netflix right now.

Yohe's 6 free agents who make sense:

-Tanev
-Shattenkirk
-Fast
-Craig Smith
-Hainsey
-Braun

There's a lot of context I'm leaving out regarding some of these players like him not being sure how much some are looking for and the puzzling part of seeing players we move we aren't expecting, which again is troubling to me if it's meant someone like Pettersson is moved out and JJ gets bumped up.

Rust, Pettersson and Zucker would be "unexpected" in my mind, but could he mean JJ and/or Hornqvist because while people think they should be moved it's not expected due to contracts and perceived value.
- Rinosaur

Yesss. A JJ-Hainsey 3rd pairing. Do it GMJR. Close the window and lock that poop.

I also think it depends on the wood used too. I like hickory on chicken but like you said, it’s definitely strong. Something like apple or cherry might not be as strong. I’m all about that deep smoke flavor though hahaha I’m watching “the American BBQ Showdown” on Netflix right now.
- j.boyd919

I definitely love the smokey flavor, but I guess overall not so much with poultry. I think red meat and pork have stronger natural flavors, so you don't lose those flavors as much with those meats. I do enjoy a smoked turkey leg though sometimes.

I also think it depends on the wood used too. I like hickory on chicken but like you said, it’s definitely strong. Something like apple or cherry might not be as strong. I’m all about that deep smoke flavor though hahaha I’m watching “the American BBQ Showdown” on Netflix right now.
- j.boyd919

I use Cherry when I smoke wings. I used Mesquite for my burgers and damn...so good. Im gonna try and smoke the wings at a higher rate and for a shorter time.

Yesss. A JJ-Hainsey 3rd pairing. Do it GMJR. Close the window and lock that poop.
- j.boyd919

I'm not as worried about who he pairs with JJ as much as I am worried about the chain reaction from players who he moves instead of JJ. Moving Petts is kind of like the idea of moving Letang; it's only a bad idea if you don't properly replace their services. If Petts is moved and JJ takes his place on the 2nd pair then that window isn't just locked. He's using gorilla glue followed by cement then boarding it up.

Yeah, I just cant help but feel we're all being purposely divided and to turn on each other. To be polarized on so many issues. Even up here I feel it.
- MattStrat

I completely agree.

I'm not as worried about who he pairs with JJ as much as I am worried about the chain reaction from players who he moves instead of JJ. Moving Petts is kind of like the idea of moving Letang; it's only a bad idea if you don't properly replace their services. If Petts is moved and JJ takes his place on the 2nd pair then that window isn't just locked. He's using gorilla glue followed by cement then boarding it up.
- Rinosaur

JR locked up Petts for 4 years and has said he believes the top 4 is set for a few years a few times now. He's also on record saying he believes JJ is a 3rd pair guy. My gut tells me he doesn't want JJ in top 4.

What else does my gut tell me? that we should really fear Ceci and Bogosian. These guys have JR signings written all over them...Hainsey as well. If the 3rd pair is JJ + any of those 3 the Pens are f'd and probably not a playoff team.

JR locked up Petts for 4 years and has said he believes the top 4 is set for a few years a few times now. He's also on record saying he believes JJ is a 3rd pair guy. My gut tells me he doesn't want JJ in top 4.

What else does my gut tell me? that we should really fear Ceci and Bogosian. These guys have JR signings written all over them...Hainsey as well. If the 3rd pair is JJ + any of those 3 the Pens are f'd and probably not a playoff team.
- MattStrat

I said the very same thing yesterday and that's what I fully expect. Even a guy like Shattenkirk frightens me because he's nothing more than than a slightly better Schultz at this point and unless he's either paired with a defensive stalwart or on a team that plays solid all-around team defense(which is now), he will be a dumpster fire.

It would be very JR to find a way to move Hornqvist and use that money to add a useless dman to play with JJ.

I am not a big political guy. I dont have a political party I subscribe to. But it is very clear that in both the US and Canada the Liberal and Democratic governments are committed to this idea of buying votes, pandering to the social media majority rather than focusing on real problems.

I want to live in a world where everyone competes on an even field and no one gets a free ride. The financial piece matters, especially for Canada. No one needs us and we don't have a presence in any industry that would have the world rely on us. We could find ourselves in a Greece situation if we dont straighten out.

End political rant///

JR needs to hustle up and move Murray. He has to go prior to free agency or we are going to risk letting him walk. FA goalies are going to go cheap, this is one year where there is no advantage negotiating with RFAs, especially arbitration eligible.
- MacPatty

I always felt Murray would get moved at the draft or after the first wave of free agency. GMJR is asking for too much if he thinks he can get a 1st, but he's not going to play this out too long since they aren't going to keep Murray so his price should come down then.

I always felt Murray would get moved at the draft or after the first wave of free agency. GMJR is asking for too much if he thinks he can get a 1st, but he's not going to play this out too long since they aren't going to keep Murray so his price should come down then.
- Tojo.

At this point I think as fans we should reserve ourselves to the idea that we're going to severely dislike the return for Murray.

I wouldn’t want to invest any amount of money and term in Justin Braun but if he could be had for under $2 mil for like one or two years we could do worse. If we’re investing money/term in another RD, is want it to be Shattenkirk, but I’m skeptical we could afford him and if we could, I know I’m sounding like a broken record here but, that money is better spent elsewhere.

Fast would be as solid a third line wing we could get from free agency but that would really beg the question of what the hell to do with Hornqvist. The roster construction of the wings would start to get wonky with an overload of RWs. That said, if Poulin were able to make the roster and carry over the scorer’s me touch People have been raving about, Poulin-McCann-Fast would be a really balanced line. McCann and Fast are fast and defensively responsible enough to make up for any short comings Poulin has in those two departments if Poulin can be the scorer on that line.
- Victoro311

I feel like the move that they may be considering is trading Hornqvist and splitting that savings into a 3rd line wing and bottom pair RD. I fear for the PP, but at ES I don't think he maintains the high ES goal scoring average he had this year and it becomes hard to build that line with him.

I fear everything you do about GMJR getting a bottom pair RD, but I do think we need more than just Ruhwedel. A cheap option I'd consider is Koekkoek who had a good end of the year playing the right side in Chicago.

I think of Fast as like a pre-2019 Bryan Rust and I wouldn't have minded him as a guy to round out the top 6 so I'd love him in this spot.

At this point I think as fans we should reserve ourselves to the idea that we're going to severely dislike the return for Murray.
- Rinosaur

LOL I've always had that mindset. I'd be thrilled to get a 2nd (that we'd trade later) or a useful roster player for him.

I said the very same thing yesterday and that's what I fully expect. Even a guy like Shattenkirk frightens me because he's nothing more than than a slightly better Schultz at this point and unless he's either paired with a defensive stalwart or on a team that plays solid all-around team defense(which is now), he will be a dumpster fire.

It would be very JR to find a way to move Hornqvist and use that money to add a useless dman to play with JJ.
- Rinosaur

I feel the reverse about Shattenkirk that it was the dumpster fire of the Rangers that brought him down combined with the expectations of being a #1 defenseman which he's not. You may recall last summer the move I wanted the most was replacing Schultz with him. I'd love him for the 3rd pair after how well he played with Sergachev, but I can't see him in our price range.

I said the very same thing yesterday and that's what I fully expect. Even a guy like Shattenkirk frightens me because he's nothing more than than a slightly better Schultz at this point and unless he's either paired with a defensive stalwart or on a team that plays solid all-around team defense(which is now), he will be a dumpster fire.

It would be very JR to find a way to move Hornqvist and use that money to add a useless dman to play with JJ.
- Rinosaur

You also can’t afford Shattenkirk.

I feel like the move that they may be considering is trading Hornqvist and splitting that savings into a 3rd line wing and bottom pair RD. I fear for the PP, but at ES I don't think he maintains the high ES goal scoring average he had this year and it becomes hard to build that line with him.

I fear everything you do about GMJR getting a bottom pair RD, but I do think we need more than just Ruhwedel. A cheap option I'd consider is Koekkoek who had a good end of the year playing the right side in Chicago.

I think of Fast as like a pre-2019 Bryan Rust and I wouldn't have minded him as a guy to round out the top 6 so I'd love him in this spot.
- Tojo.

Fast and Rust are two players cut from the same cloth IMO. Fast is just a bit more physical and defensively aware with Rust having more of a scoring touch. I'm hoping Vic is correct that Horn is moved and they split the money on the 3rd line.

One team I think would be a good fit for Horn are the Panthers. I think he brings something they lack and well, they have very few players signed as of right now. I would try and grab Acciari from there.

Shattenkirk would be the biggest mistake IMO. Shattenkirk gets walked on a regular basis and would look no different than Schultz when paired with JJ.

You also can’t afford Shattenkirk.
- Feds91Stammer

We can't, but my fear is Rutherford would find a way to move someone like Hornqvist only to spend that money on Shattenkirk. I mean, how much more JR can you get than that?

We can't, but my fear is Rutherford would find a way to move someone like Hornqvist only to spend that money on Shattenkirk. I mean, how much more JR can you get than that?
- Rinosaur

I don’t see JR getting another skilled D man. You should be worried about Bogo aka Guddy 2.0