I think what went down is basically he put all non playoff teams on his list thinking he wouldnt get traded there because he wanted to stay in Minny. The Sabres ended up wanting him and trading for him. I could be wrong. It could also be the other way around with the lists, like Im not totally sure if you submit the teams you would allow a trade to or vice versa.
- MattStrat

He didn’t want to be traded and basically all playoff teams weren’t on his list as destinations. Now that he’s on a potentially non playoff team he might be willing to try to win since he isn’t in minny.

Well, one of the problems with the Pens is that their two toughest guys are their two stars / elite talent (Geno and Crosby). This shouldn't be. I know the game is changing, but if I'm playing the Pens in the playoffs, I'm going to try to beat up (not fight per se) the Pens every chance. Over a series it will take a toll and it's easy to do with virtually no repercussions. Add the pitiful Pens PP and you'd be dumb not to.
- Hockey66

I agree. I would put Tanger at the top of the list. Kids in the league don’t recognize they need to handle that poop for the stars on the team anymore. Especially under the tutelage of coach just play.

I agree. I would put Tanger at the top of the list. Kids in the league don’t recognize they need to handle that poop for the stars on the team anymore. Especially under the tutelage of coach just play.
- Grinder47

I think sully is the problem in that regard. It sad when we are all clamouring for the return of zar and mm. When they young kids that are built like O’Connor, Poulin, Légaré come up, they should be told to hit the ice like a bull in a China shop.

Was Geno moved off the top PP? Be a good idea if he was.

2 years left at $5.3M per. But, he's a big body that can be good net-front.

I think we're at a tipping point. Either go big or start the rebuild. This is the last year of the window.
- Hockey66

Jeff Carter wouldn't be net front, especially at this point in his career. He'd be the left half wall guy though.

Jeff Carter wouldn't be net front, especially at this point in his career. He'd be the left half wall guy though.
- 668710

Why wouldn't he be? If not, too much for a PP specialist.

Let's face it, JR and the Pens blew it. This was the off-season to make big changes and make big acquisitions on the cheap. The window is all but closed. Hopefully the new GM will have the authority to do what needs to be done. Otherwise, buckle up for years of mediocrity.

Was Geno moved off the top PP? Be a good idea if he was.
- 668710

It would be a better idea if they put him back on the half-wall where he was always successful. They’ve tried him at the point many times through his career and it’s never worked. It’s always led either to turnovers or just not keeping the setup going.

On a random note, if Sid, Geno and Jake don't really start waking up I'd prefer the Pens to not go big on any rentals. I only throw Sid in there because, and I'm parroting some comments from Yohe, but he hasn't been that productive at ES.

IMO it would be a waste of assets this year to go big on a rental like Palmieri unless come the deadline they start looking like themselves again. Other than that I'd be fine with some minor depth tweaks if it helps.
- Rinosaur

That's how I feel. It's wait and see before deciding to make another plunge. This team and specifically it's core needs to show more IMO or else you're just throwing away assets on a team that can't make a real run anymore.

Honestly, without GMJR being willing to overpay, not sure what they can get done. I guess new regime may mean untouchable prospects might not be anymore.

It would be a better idea if they put him back on the half-wall where he was always successful. They’ve tried him at the point many times through his career and it’s never worked. It’s always led either to turnovers or just not keeping the setup going.
- Rinosaur

I don't know that Geno was necessarily on the point as much as they were trying to move players around and he ended up there at times. Malkin, Sid, and Marino were all over the place. It was less predictable, but they just ended up in awkward spots they didn't want to shoot from. They should scrap that.

I don't know that Geno was necessarily on the point as much as they were trying to move players around and he ended up there at times. Malkin, Sid, and Marino were all over the place. It was less predictable, but they just ended up in awkward spots they didn't want to shoot from. They should scrap that.
- Tojo.

He was money from the half wall.

Why wouldn't he be? If not, too much for a PP specialist.

Let's face it, JR and the Pens blew it. This was the off-season to make big changes and make big acquisitions on the cheap. The window is all but closed. Hopefully the new GM will have the authority to do what needs to be done. Otherwise, buckle up for years of mediocrity.
- Hockey66

That’s why we were disappointed with the bogus acquisitions of Erod, Jankowski, Matheson, Scevouir and such. He made these things day 1 of free agency and there were some really good deals to be had weeks in.

Not saying he would have but (frank) Hoffman wasn’t signed for how long? How much better would his team look with Hoffman next to Sid/Geno. And Kapenan/Rust on the third line?

They, as in Sid and Geno, should be this year's Cullen. They are the veteran leadership.

Entertaining the thought though, from this list sorted by age and totally ignoring the cap at the moment plus the fact their current teams may never trade them, my candidates would be Parise, Pavelski, E. Staal, Spezza and Carter.

https://www.quanthockey.c...21-nhl-players-stats.html
- MattStrat

It's funny you mention them. My friend brought up Pens should go for broke. Sign Perry and Getzlaf to lower cap deals. He essentially said we should build a top line with Crosby a 2nd line of younger players, a 3rd of veterans aka Getzlaf, Perry and Tanev, and a 4th of younger players aka Bluegar Poulin and Legare.

He suggested we trade Malkin to Nashville for one of their under performing centers, or go for broke and build around the Crosby line (he suggested Malkin to Chicago for Kane and a prospect similar to the Winnipeg deal).

That’s why we were disappointed with the bogus acquisitions of Erod, Jankowski, Matheson, Scevouir and such. He made these things day 1 of free agency and there were some really good deals to be had weeks in.

Not saying he would have but (frank) Hoffman wasn’t signed for how long? How much better would his team look with Hoffman next to Sid/Geno. And Kapenan/Rust on the third line?
- j.boyd919

Heck put Hoffman on any line including the 3rd line and he would make it better he is that type of player

That’s why we were disappointed with the bogus acquisitions of Erod, Jankowski, Matheson, Scevouir and such. He made these things day 1 of free agency and there were some really good deals to be had weeks in.

Not saying he would have but (frank) Hoffman wasn’t signed for how long? How much better would his team look with Hoffman next to Sid/Geno. And Kapenan/Rust on the third line?
- j.boyd919

Yeah, I know, but all this talk about what we should do now is kind of pointless, IMO. The only way out, as I see it, is to make a big trade, probably involving either Malkin or Letang (or both). No one can tell me those two are elite anymore and they both make a LOT of money. I take injuries into account and right on cue, Letang is injured again.

We targeted Matheson when Nate Schmidt went for a 3rd?? We held on to past-his-prime and always injured Letang when Pietrangelo went for $1.55M more?? So many forwards available and we basically make a net lateral move Horny for Kap. This team is stale as (frank). So is Sully.

Yeah, I know, but all this talk about what we should do now is kind of pointless, IMO. The only way out, as I see it, is to make a big trade, probably involving either Malkin or Letang (or both). No one can tell me those two are elite anymore and they both make a LOT of money. I take injuries into account and right on cue, Letang is injured again.

We targeted Matheson when Nate Schmidt went for a 3rd?? We held on to past-his-prime and always injured Letang when Pietrangelo went for $1.55M more?? So many forwards available and we basically make a net lateral move Horny for Kap. This team is stale as (frank). So is Sully.
- Hockey66

Pietrangelo is 31 so it’s not like he’s a spring chicken.

It's funny you mention them. My friend brought up Pens should go for broke. Sign Perry and Getzlaf to lower cap deals. He essentially said we should build a top line with Crosby a 2nd line of younger players, a 3rd of veterans aka Getzlaf, Perry and Tanev, and a 4th of younger players aka Bluegar Poulin and Legare.

He suggested we trade Malkin to Nashville for one of their under performing centers, or go for broke and build around the Crosby line (he suggested Malkin to Chicago for Kane and a prospect similar to the Winnipeg deal).
- 123Kid

Are you talking about Johansen and Duchene? Yeesh. No thanks.

You know, I said it years ago, every line should have a sniper and a grinder / net-front guy. It is truly amazing that we traded away our only net-front guy and have a bunch of non-physical finesse players. This experiment of building a perimeter team of softies is failing miserably right before our eyes, just as predicted. And this is the regular season against garbage teams. Just wait until the playoffs. What a joke.

Pietrangelo is 31 so it’s not like he’s a spring chicken.
- j.boyd919

Still way better than Letang and never injured. He just turned 31 and Letang is about to turn 34. I don't care about Pie's contract after the window.

Still way better than Letang and never injured. He just turned 31 and Letang is about to turn 34. I don't care about Pie's contract after the window.
- Hockey66

Yeah I dunno if I would go with “way better.”

Yeah, I know, but all this talk about what we should do now is kind of pointless, IMO. The only way out, as I see it, is to make a big trade, probably involving either Malkin or Letang (or both). No one can tell me those two are elite anymore and they both make a LOT of money. I take injuries into account and right on cue, Letang is injured again.

We targeted Matheson when Nate Schmidt went for a 3rd?? We held on to past-his-prime and always injured Letang when Pietrangelo went for $1.55M more?? So many forwards available and we basically make a net lateral move Horny for Kap. This team is stale as (frank). So is Sully.
- Hockey66

I do have to agree on your bottom statement. I feel JRs aggressive having to strike first mentality really hurt us this off-season. The Matheson trade idk how to take at this point because I am hoping he comes back from injury and becomes a Schultz PP QB type and really helps this team a bit. The Kap trade I feel even though Kap is a beast and I feel he will continue to excell. A lot of reports had it that other teams saw him as a solid bottom six talent.. I felt JR definitely paid a high price with our top 15 pick plus prospects at the time. Especially when Hoffman was sitting out there free for the taking without giving up anything except a little more salary.
I definitely agree on the Pietrangelo deal. I think JR should have went all in for him. I think most of us agreed. If we signed Pietrangelo and moved out Letang and his salary we pay say 1.6 million more per year. Get a solid top 4 defensemen, and get to acquire picks/prospects/players in a Letang trade which really could have changed this team this offseason.

Are you talking about Johansen and Duchene? Yeesh. No thanks.

You know, I said it years ago, every line should have a sniper and a grinder / net-front guy. It is truly amazing that we traded away our only net-front guy and have a bunch of non-physical finesse players. This experiment of building a perimeter team of softies is failing miserably right before our eyes, just as predicted. And this is the regular season against garbage teams. Just wait until the playoffs. What a joke.
- Hockey66

Yes one of them, plus I assumed Nashville would have to give up additional picks and players if such a deal was made.

I agree with you on the need for snipers and grinders. Our team needs a big shake up. I am hoping a new GM will go out get some players who are physical and make the team hard to play against. I do question if Sullivan would utilize them properly (since he failed to utilize Reaves and Cole properly).

That’s why we were disappointed with the bogus acquisitions of Erod, Jankowski, Matheson, Scevouir and such. He made these things day 1 of free agency and there were some really good deals to be had weeks in.

Not saying he would have but (frank) Hoffman wasn’t signed for how long? How much better would his team look with Hoffman next to Sid/Geno. And Kapenan/Rust on the third line?
- j.boyd919

It’s really easy to say get that guy or this guy. Those players also have to agree to come play in the burgh. Perhaps Rutherford knew what the possibilities actually were and signed the guys he actually could to fill out an nhl roster.