Yeah because those results are definitely repeatable.
- j.boyd919

Sid, Geno, and Guentzel won’t shoot 30% again and we don’t have Kessel anymore. That Cup run really broke people’s brains. A master class by the forwards covered up complete suckery by the defense and somehow what people took out of it was that we don’t need a 1D.

I totally get this point of view and line of reasoning. In fact, I think there are compelling reasons for everything from staying to course to completely blowing it up and everything in between. However, I tend to favor the complete blow up end of the spectrum. Here's why:

* The Pens haven't been truly competitive in a LONG time. The chances of them being truly competitive this year or next are slim, IMO. Zero cap room next year already with no expendable players or movable contracts.

* The core (Crosby, Malkin, Letang and even Dumo) are only getting older, more injured, and less effective. The odds that they rebound to Cup level play are also slim, IMO.

* You almost have to put sentimentality aside and just view the players as assets. In this case, they are rapidly depreciating assets. We can get something for them now or wait and get much less or nothing for them. We will never get more for them than we will now.

* Rebuilds are all about getting as many good ping pong balls as possible to increase the odds of hitting the jackpot (or two), not only with the lottery but just draft picks in general.

I look at this team from a probability of being competitive from either staying the course or a re-tool / mini-rebuild. I don't see it, but I could be wrong. Then I look at from a cost / benefit analysis of getting the most for the assets or doing nothing with a time horizon always in the background.
- Hockey66

I dont agree with this. They were they best team in the league for almost two months straight last season while dealing with a ton of injuries. When 40 goal scorer Jake went down right at Christmas it was the straw that finally started to break their back.

As for the keeping or trading Sid/Geno Im a bit of a mixed bag. I lean towards letting two generational players who brought us 3 cups ride into the sunset as Pens but part of me realizes that I was a Pens fan around 15 years before Sid joined them. Im basically half team before players/half let the legends ride it out and retire Penguins.

Yeah because those results are definitely repeatable.
- j.boyd919

They are. It's not as though the Pens D has been great with Letang.

I love the guy and he is super talented but the difference between him and a guy like Pietrangelo is that Letang thinks he is above playing within a system. He just free wheels and throws the puck around which leads to zero defensive discipline, and makes team defence suffer.

Not quite addition by subtraction but they can definitely be better without him.

Sid, Geno, and Guentzel won’t shoot 30% again and we don’t have Kessel anymore. That Cup run really broke people’s brains. A master class by the forwards covered up complete suckery by the defense and somehow what people took out of it was that we don’t need a 1D.
- Victoro311

I think thats around what Horny is shooting so far this season...I love people bringing up his production so far this season, every blog haha

EDIT: nevermind he's at 17% now...he was at 24% when he had 4 goals.

Completely different situation from Jagr
- 668710

Hahahahahah

I dont agree with this. They were they best team in the league for almost two months straight last season while dealing with a ton of injuries. When 40 goal scorer Jake went down right at Christmas it was the straw that finally started to break their back.

As for the keeping or trading Sid/Geno Im a bit of a mixed bag. I lean towards letting two generational players who brought us 3 cups ride into the sunset as Pens but part of me realizes that I was a Pens fan around 15 years before Sid joined them. Im basically half team before players/half let the legends ride it out and retire Penguins.
- MattStrat

It basically comes down to whether you think 3 Cups have earned the 2nd and 4th/5th best players in franchise history the right to retire Penguins if they want to, or do you want the small chance that the handful of mid to late 1sts and prospects we’ll get back for them will shave a few years off the ensuing rebuild?

To me the answer is obvious. If this were a Sharks situation where we had no Cups or even just one Cup I’d probably advocate just turning the page, but I’d take 3 extra years of rebuild to not have to watch Malkin and Crosby put another team’s sweater on. Easily.

They are. It's not as though the Pens D has been great with Letang.

I love the guy and he is super talented but the difference between him and a guy like Pietrangelo is that Letang thinks he is above playing within a system. He just free wheels and throws the puck around which leads to zero defensive discipline, and makes team defence suffer.

Not quite addition by subtraction but they can definitely be better without him.
- MacPatty

Not without another 1D.

I think thats around what Horny is shooting so far this season...I love people bringing up his production so far this season, every blog haha

EDIT: nevermind he's at 17% now...he was at 24% when he had 4 goals.
- MattStrat

Who cares what his shooting % is... he has 6 goals and 10 points in 10 games. He will likely slow down but he has more goals and more points than anyone else on the Pens at this point.

Who cares what his shooting % is... he has 6 goals and 10 points in 10 games. He will likely slow down but he has more goals and more points than anyone else on the Pens at this point.
- MacPatty

Its obvious by now you dont care about shooting %'s or what they could mean/predict.

Not without another 1D.
- Victoro311

That's why we signed Ceci.

That's why we signed Ceci.
- MacPatty

Gross.

It basically comes down to whether you think 3 Cups have earned the 2nd and 4th/5th best players in franchise history the right to retire Penguins if they want to, or do you want the small chance that the handful of mid to late 1sts and prospects we’ll get back for them will shave a few years off the ensuing rebuild?

To me the answer is obvious. If this were a Sharks situation where we had no Cups or even just one Cup I’d probably advocate just turning the page, but I’d take 3 extra years of rebuild to not have to watch Malkin and Crosby put another team’s sweater on. Easily.
- Victoro311

Yeah I get all that...and slightly lean that way. Perhaps I'm just acting tough and if they were traded I wouldnt like it at all ...hate it hahaha

Its obvious by now you dont care about shooting %'s or what they could mean/predict.
- MattStrat

I completely get that he is likely to regress, I thought I was clear about that. But it's nonsense to discount that the guy is helping them win games and putting up points. Those 6 goals shouldn't get discounted because his shooting % is high.

I completely get that he is likely to regress, I thought I was clear about that. But it's nonsense to discount that the guy is helping them win games and putting up points. Those 6 goals shouldn't get discounted because his shooting % is high.
- MacPatty

Who said they should?

Not that it translates directly to him putting up points, but I would have to imagine horny went into this season with a serious chip on his shoulder, looking to prove himself because of what went down & how it went down. Reminds me of all the maf die hards thinking everything he did in Vegas would have been exactly the same if he stayed w/ the pens. We do desperately miss horny tho.

Sid, Geno, and Guentzel won’t shoot 30% again and we don’t have Kessel anymore. That Cup run really broke people’s brains. A master class by the forwards covered up complete suckery by the defense and somehow what people took out of it was that we don’t need a 1D.
- Victoro311

It's comedy at it's finest.

It's comedy at it's finest.
- j.boyd919

Just looked at those playoff stats. Sid and Geno shot well above their career percentages at 17.3, Jake Guentzel shot 19.8 (lol), and Phil lead the playoffs in PP goals. Truly nuts stuff how those four guys all just became juggernauts at the same time. Completely improbable.

Just looked at those playoff stats. Sid and Geno shot well above their career percentages at 17.3, Jake Guentzel shot 19.8 (lol), and Phil lead the playoffs in PP goals. Truly nuts stuff how those four guys all just became juggernauts at the same time. Completely improbable.
- Victoro311

In one of the first games vs. the Preds it was scoreless, the Pens had gone like 35 mins without a shot....then Jakey came down the wing and buried one on Rinne hahah

EDIT: it was 37 mins without a shot and it was game 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6zPDro87NI

I thought you needed a NMC because it's not a trade?
- 668710

That's how I understand it as well. A player with a NTC can be exposed. A player with a NMC can not be exposed without the player's permission.

Just looked at those playoff stats. Sid and Geno shot well above their career percentages at 17.3, Jake Guentzel shot 19.8 (lol), and Phil lead the playoffs in PP goals. Truly nuts stuff how those four guys all just became juggernauts at the same time. Completely improbable.
- Victoro311

It's not like their team defense was good either...They weren't good at suppressing poop.

My BH was clinched the entire playoffs. They lived in their own zone.

Fleury has a modified NTC. Doesn't that eliminate him from being eligible?
- MacPatty

I’m pretty sure a ntc has no affect in terms of expansion and only nmc must be protected.

Just looked at those playoff stats. Sid and Geno shot well above their career percentages at 17.3, Jake Guentzel shot 19.8 (lol), and Phil lead the playoffs in PP goals. Truly nuts stuff how those four guys all just became juggernauts at the same time. Completely improbable.
- Victoro311

That truly had to deflate teams we were playing. The opposition is playing well and the Pens just come down and score on you.

Not that it translates directly to him putting up points, but I would have to imagine horny went into this season with a serious chip on his shoulder, looking to prove himself because of what went down & how it went down. Reminds me of all the maf die hards thinking everything he did in Vegas would have been exactly the same if he stayed w/ the pens. We do desperately miss horny tho.
- wsldck

Yea I highly doubt Horny would be playing like this if he were here. He felt disrespected and he definitely was mad. He left his gear in his driveway lol. He playing with a purpose, which I feel this team has lost.

Yea I highly doubt Horny would be playing like this if he were here. He felt disrespected and he definitely was mad. He left his gear in his driveway lol. He playing with a purpose, which I feel this team has lost.
- 668710

I disagree, I think he would have been playing just like that. Horny is a dude who brings it every shift.

Who cares what his shooting % is... he has 6 goals and 10 points in 10 games. He will likely slow down but he has more goals and more points than anyone else on the Pens at this point.
- MacPatty

Sports fandom is about trying to predict the future now days. Fantasy sports culture is in control. No one can just be happy enjoying a team or players success, they have to make up stats to cancel out any happiness in just enjoying the sport.