https://www.tsn.ca/columbus-blue-jackets-patrik-laine-sits-for-third-period-against-carolina-hurricanes-1.1590129

Does anyone here think Sully would have the guts to bench Geno or Letang when they play like crap? They do and he hasn’t. I hate Torts and his antics, but I respect him for stuff like this, too.
- chimpira

Agree with this but also agree with Super that it probably wouldn't fly with those two. Not to mention we don't have any spare defensemen or centers who could fill in, anyway haha.

Elliote Friedman saying Hextall just had his second interview with the Penguins.
- SuperHenderson13

It's sounding like he's gonna be our GM which I'm good with. My cousin was saying this earlier today about Hextall.

This is good news as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully he has an eye toward a rebuild with no allegiances. Apparently that's his strong suit.
- Hockey66

He never traded the big guys out of Philly though. But he was good at dumping poop contracts....cough Matheson cough..

He never traded the big guys out of Philly though. But he was good at dumping poop contracts....cough Matheson cough..
- 668710

I mean allegiances to the Pens players or anyone in the Pens organization as an outsider.

It is funny the Pens seem to be in such a predicament with really only one bad contract on the entire team. I think it should make cleaning house much easier if that's the route the new GM takes. My bet is a half-assed approach and we become the Minnesota Wild for the next 10 years.

Torts already benched Laine tonight.
- Tojo.

He’s the man. Wish he could coach this flunky team.

Sully has benched the only guy on the fourth line that can possibly produce some goals with limited ice time. Great coach. Just play.

Sully has benched the only guy on the fourth line that can possibly produce some goals with limited ice time. Great coach. Just play.
- Grinder47

Sully needs to go.

He never traded the big guys out of Philly though. But he was good at dumping poop contracts....cough Matheson cough..
- 668710

I hope he buys him out. It won’t happen, but I hope. They’d have to wait until the off season obviously, but still, I hope.

I hope he buys him out. It won’t happen, but I hope. They’d have to wait until the off season obviously, but still, I hope.
- Rinosaur

Yea that would be ideal.

Sully has benched the only guy on the fourth line that can possibly produce some goals with limited ice time. Great coach. Just play.
- Grinder47

Even lame duck Blashill scratched Mantha.

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
8m
All signs point to Ron Hextall being the front-runner right now to land the Penguins GM job, according to sources. But the Pens are still talking to other people. Next 2-3 days should be pivotal on that front.

1. Malkin doesn't have a NTC and Letang only has a M-NTC. I don't care too much about the return really.

2. I think they should ask Crosby and accommodate him. Whether he wants to be competitive here and whether he can be competitive here are two different things. With our few draft picks and depleted system, I don't think the latter is possible. I'm not hung up on what his return would be, either. You just get what you can get. Highest bidder wins and accept it.

3. I mentioned the few players above I would keep around for the rebuild.

As much as I like the idea of a competitive retool vs a rebuild, I just don't see it.
- Hockey66

Malkin has a full NMC, so you do have to get his permission to deal him. And the owner wants him to retire as a Penguin. Really doesn't matter what any of us think should be done unless one of them changes their mind.

Letang, I'm more split on. I'd have a talk with him this off-season to at least see if he wants to sign for a lesser amount and reduced role to retire as a Penguin then go from there.

Malkin has a full NMC, so you do have to get his permission to deal him. And the owner wants him to retire as a Penguin. Really doesn't matter what any of us think should be done unless one of them changes their mind.

Letang, I'm more split on. I'd have a talk with him this off-season to at least see if he wants to sign for a lesser amount and reduced role to retire as a Penguin then go from there.
- Tojo.

Malkin's with Sid. If he wants to retire him you let him.

Letang I think you give preferred treatment to and don't try to bull poop him, but we also can't give him a bad contract because that's the figure he wants. I think if he's ok making second pairing money for his next contract, you let him retire here.

Malkin has a full NMC, so you do have to get his permission to deal him. And the owner wants him to retire as a Penguin. Really doesn't matter what any of us think should be done unless one of them changes their mind.

Letang, I'm more split on. I'd have a talk with him this off-season to at least see if he wants to sign for a lesser amount and reduced role to retire as a Penguin then go from there.
- Tojo.

Ok, thanks for correcting me - that has always confused me. I thought "movement" just referred to being sent down and didn't have anything to do with being traded. I could have sworn this was the case when we were talking about the expansion draft exposure (I think).

All this stuff about retiring a Penguin. It's simple, just re-sign them when they are 40. If they really care about the organization (and if the owners really care about the org's success), then they would want us to get something for them. I know it means uprooting your family, but if I'm a player, I would rather play for a competitive team than a crappy rebuilding team. And if they choose to stay, then hold them accountable and bench them, FFS.

I am fine with a rebuild, but first you need to know some variables:
1) Would Malkin/Letang accept a trade and what would the return be?
2) What is Crosby's plan? Is he on board with a rebuild with the hope to be competitive in his final years? Would he want out to Colorado? What would his return be?
3) Who would survive the rebuild versus what other pieces would go?

If Letang/Malkin/Crosby dont want to go anywhere, I think the rebuild plan is dead on arrival because you arent going to get significant assets in a trade plus those guys would likely keep you competitive enough where you get a 12-15 pick instead of a top 5 (unless you're CHI/NYR and get lucky with the lottery).

So I would prefer a retool because a lot of rebuilds look like they can be done in 2-4 years but they end up taking 5+ years. I think the Penguins have some interesting young pieces like Kapanen, Marino, Jake, and POJ. If we can create the cap room, I think we can retool with those + Crosby and possibly come back for a final push.

A rebuild is inevitable, I just think you owe it to yourself to suck every last minute of good hockey out of Crosby.
- SuperHenderson13

If you want to trade a guy who is at the peak of his value and will get you a massive return, you trade Jake Guentzel. He's probably not going to keep scoring 40 because his centers are declining and most players put up their best numbers career numbers in their early 20s. He'll still be in his prime for several more years, but may not be by the end of a rebuild.

Other pieces contenders would want are Rust, Zucker, and Dumoulin. You ought to be able to get a good young asset or 2 for all of them.

Kapanen might not make it through a rebuild, but they can probably pump his numbers a bit as the other wings leave and he gets the prime assignment to be flipped for a good return in a couple years. Maybe as good as what they paid for him.

Pettersson is young enough to see a rebuild through, but not essential enough that you have to keep him. I think he's a good #4 that early looked to be improving, so him staying or going depends on the return. POJ and Marino would be ahead of him, and I don't think there is a PP QB or crease defender among them so a little more diversity of skill sets might make more sense.

There are plenty of pieces on this team teams in contention would want that aren't Crosby, Malkin, or Letang.

Ok, thanks for correcting me - that has always confused me. I thought "movement" just referred to being sent down and didn't have anything to do with being traded. I could have sworn this was the case when we were talking about the expansion draft exposure (I think).

All this stuff about retiring a Penguin. It's simple, just re-sign them when they are 40. If they really care about the organization (and if the owners really care about the org's success), then they would want us to get something for them. I know it means uprooting your family, but if I'm a player, I would rather play for a competitive team than a crappy rebuilding team. And if they choose to stay, then hold them accountable and bench them, FFS.
- Hockey66

A full NMC includes a full NTC as a part of it, it just also includes things like not being able to be sent on waivers or exposed for the expansion draft. (At least I think so on the last part).

Malkin's with Sid. If he wants to retire him you let him.

Letang I think you give preferred treatment to and don't try to bull poop him, but we also can't give him a bad contract because that's the figure he wants. I think if he's ok making second pairing money for his next contract, you let him retire here.
- Victoro311

Agree on both counts. That's the route I think I'd prefer to take on Letang. No idea if he's going to be ok with it, but if he is I think I'd meet him part way. They do have to pay some people to hit the cap floor. He gets overshadowed by the great forwards, but he's had the best total career of any Pens defenseman.

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
8m
All signs point to Ron Hextall being the front-runner right now to land the Penguins GM job, according to sources. But the Pens are still talking to other people. Next 2-3 days should be pivotal on that front.
- kfinl170

Fingers crossed

I hope he buys him out. It won’t happen, but I hope. They’d have to wait until the off season obviously, but still, I hope.
- Rinosaur

https://lastwordonsports....stanley-cup-playoffs/amp/

Rossi is saying Pens will try to trade him once he is healthy...

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2021/02/09/nhl-rumours-penguins-bruins-2021-stanley-cup-playoffs/amp/

Rossi is saying Pens will try to trade him once he is healthy...
- Beatnic57

Haha good luck to the next GM trying to do that.

A full NMC includes a full NTC as a part of it, it just also includes things like not being able to be sent on waivers or exposed for the expansion draft. (At least I think so on the last part).
- Tojo.

Yeah a nmc means literally no movement in anyway without their consent; trade, expansion, waivers. It’s 100% in their control.

Malkin has a full NMC, so you do have to get his permission to deal him. And the owner wants him to retire as a Penguin. Really doesn't matter what any of us think should be done unless one of them changes their mind.

Letang, I'm more split on. I'd have a talk with him this off-season to at least see if he wants to sign for a lesser amount and reduced role to retire as a Penguin then go from there.
- Tojo.

I agree with this as I have a fair bit of sentiment for players.

Haha good luck to the next GM trying to do that.
- 668710

I think the route to go that wouldn’t involve eating half that contract or the 2nd rounder (or both) would be to trade for another reclamation project. Jake Virtanen who is sucking ass in Vancouver who makes 2.5m possibly.

I wouldn’t expect a change of scenery to right a players ship in this trade but hopefully he can be a player that can at least not be a detriment buried on a 4th line.

Louis Erickson I’m sure would be a done deal but that would prob be more of a lateral move. Lucic, Neal. At least Neal could be a pp specialist. I’m Sure there are some better clunkers than those last 3 but I think that’s the only way to go.

Per Frank Seravalli - Hextall has been offered the job and they’re discussing numbers.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2021/02/09/nhl-rumours-penguins-bruins-2021-stanley-cup-playoffs/amp/

Rossi is saying Pens will try to trade him once he is healthy...
- Beatnic57

That would be one hell of a magic trick.