Nice yeah I know both those games! Yeah the one downside of a pens blowout for me as I’m either in Edmonton, Calgary, or vancouver, so if Pitt is winning the atmosphere sucks and it’s just silence haha. Kuny’s double ot winner must of been crazy!
- 10inchTerror

Dude the whole 2nd overtime it seemed so quiet and then all of a sudden the loudest arena I've ever been in lol

Thanks. No idea what the rules all are. For some reason I thought guys with NTCs were also protected.
- MacPatty

This stuff seems to come up every year. Someone needs to create a cheat sheet and post it. Or someone with a better memory than me needs to post the correct answers to this stuff hahah.

I didn't know you were a fellow Postal worker.
- Thunderbolt

Excel is a lot more interesting with a buzz.

Yea that can't happen every night, that (frank)ing sucks haha.
- 668710

It’s all about expectations. I can watch Detroit and they suck but I know when certain players are on the ice I can focus on something else.

One thing from Friedman's 31 thoughts:

As the Penguins interviewed the various candidates for their GM and President of Hockey Operations positions, a vision emerged — go for it this year, see where we finish and map our future in the aftermath.

Good that's exactly the approach I'd want to take.

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

I totally get your point of view and I have always been there as well with all of my sports teams. In a vacuum I would rather they rode off into the sunset and retired as Pens. However, a couple of things that change this viewpoint for me:

1. Having to watch Malkin play like he is now for another X number of years. Sure, he could and probably will play better, but I'm good with not watching this current iteration.

2. If we sell off the supporting cast (Guentzel, Rust, Zucker, etc.), I think the nostalgia and warm fuzzies will wear off pretty fast. I think it will end up being more frustrating than anything else. In a way, I like Crosby and Malkin so much that I wouldn't want to subject them to playing with scrubs. I would rather see them sent out West and at least have a chance to play up to their potential. This somewhat contradicts the first point but even a guy like Malkin might benefit from a "change of scenery" and a new motivation. He's done everything he can for the Pens.

Again, bring them back for a swan song and have the best of both worlds. But yeah, it still does seem gross to see them in a different sweater and all things equal I would much rather not.

One thing from Friedman's 31 thoughts:

As the Penguins interviewed the various candidates for their GM and President of Hockey Operations positions, a vision emerged — go for it this year, see where we finish and map our future in the aftermath.

Good that's exactly the approach I'd want to take.
- Tojo.

How do you go for it this year though?

One thing from Friedman's 31 thoughts:

As the Penguins interviewed the various candidates for their GM and President of Hockey Operations positions, a vision emerged — go for it this year, see where we finish and map our future in the aftermath.

Good that's exactly the approach I'd want to take.
- Tojo.

Would you want them spending assets to truly go for it? Like our 2nd this year and our 1st next year? And Poulin / Legare?

I think the Pens are in no-man's land right now. Not good enough to be a true Cup contender (IMO) and not bad enough to justify blowing it up (at least to the fans and maybe ownership).

I figured this was the approach they would take and I'll hope for the best but I just don't see us competing (I think we'll be lucky to even make the playoffs as it stands right now).

Would you want them spending assets to truly go for it? Like our 2nd this year and our 1st next year? And Poulin / Legare?

I think the Pens are in no-man's land right now. Not good enough to be a true Cup contender (IMO) and not bad enough to justify blowing it up (at least to the fans and maybe ownership).

I figured this was the approach they would take and I'll hope for the best but I just don't see us competing (I think we'll be lucky to even make the playoffs as it stands right now).
- Hockey66

Best case scenario is guys like zucker, Kap, rust are moved for players that are a better fit with the team or a guy like Pettersson is packaged with one of those guys for an upgrade.

How about Kap and Pettersson for Mantha+??

Best case scenario is guys like zucker, Kap, rust are moved for players that are a better fit with the team or a guy like Pettersson is packaged with one of those guys for an upgrade.

How about Kap and Pettersson for Mantha+??
- Feds91Stammer

While I wouldn’t be opposed to something like that, this just creates more problems. Who replaces petts, what do we have to find a replacement for petts. And Kap has been prob one of the best players on the team so idk about trading him at the moment. The hard part for Pitt is they have very little to acquire anything. Mantha would be an awesome get and provides some size that Pitt needs. But they can’t replace the defensive hole.

Hell, right now 5 LD aren’t enough to keep the roster full. Hopefully that’s an anomaly, and although cam Lee looked good in 1 wbs game I’m guessing he is quite a ways a way from cracking pitts roster so only fill in options would be another Weber type signing

While I wouldn’t be opposed to something like that, this just creates more problems. Who replaces petts, what do we have to find a replacement for petts. And Kap has been prob one of the best players on the team so idk about trading him at the moment. The hard part for Pitt is they have very little to acquire anything. Mantha would be an awesome get and provides some size that Pitt needs. But they can’t replace the defensive hole.

Hell, right now 5 LD aren’t enough to keep the roster full. Hopefully that’s an anomaly, and although cam Lee looked good in 1 wbs game I’m guessing he is quite a ways a way from cracking pitts roster so only fill in options would be another Weber type signing
- 10inchTerror

In this scenario POJ replaces Pettersson and you’re stuck with MM. Obviously the D is banged up but this deal would assume they were healthy.

Oh I love blowouts as well. Been to a plenty. But it just doesn't compare to a comeback. One of my favorite games I've ever been to was 2008 Game 1 against the Rangers. We went down 3-0 and ended up making it 4-3(we scored back to back twice) then the Rags tied it back up and we eventually scored on a PP with a minute and change left to win. You probably remember the game haha. But my favorite game I've ever been to was Kunitz double it winner game 7. That was incredible.
- 668710

I still get goosebumps watching the replay of the Kunitz goal against the Sens. My kid was sleeping and there was no chance he could have slept through the screaming and flipping of my chair when he scored that goal. I knew it was going in from the moment Sid spun and passed the puck.

How do you go for it this year though?
- Feds91Stammer

My issue with going for it this year as I’ve mentioned before is that Geno, Letang, Jake and to some degree Rust and Zucker are not clicking on all cylinders, so selling assets seems like a waste of time.

If they all start to wake up then fine, do what you need to, to go for it. To me that’s adding a higher level 3C and reevaluating the goaltending if it doesn’t improve.

Under the impossible reality that the defense core stays healthy for a second, there's a log jam across the board. Sadly, Letang is the sacrificial lamb, given his play and salary. You can't imagine the motivation will be there for Wang Dang Letang if he's in trade rumors. He's been lousy this year plain and simple. Dumo probably is not far behind him. If another GM takes Matheson that would be ideal, but we all know that's not happening. Horny for him was one of worst trades in the last decade for Penguins. You gave your only guy who showed up every night. This team lacks any sense of urgency and passion at the moment. This franchise shouldn't be paying top salary cap figures to be a .500 team. At least when the Pens sucked prior to Sid and Geno, you go what you paid for given the franchise's financial limitations. If you get to rebuild start it sooner than later.

I still get goosebumps watching the replay of the Kunitz goal against the Sens. My kid was sleeping and there was no chance he could have slept through the screaming and flipping of my chair when he scored that goal. I knew it was going in from the moment Sid spun and passed the puck.
- BeefCoon

Absolutely. That was fun. Definitely one of my favorite “Pens” memories.

Madden just said he’s been told the idea of trading Sid and/or Geno is a non-starter for ownership. Geno likely extended after the season. Letang on the other hand isn’t viewed the same way.

Madden just said he’s been told the idea of trading Sid and/or Geno is a non-starter for ownership. Geno likely extended after the season. Letang on the other hand isn’t viewed the same way.
- madmike71

Yeah that’s the way to go. I’ve been extremely against trading Letang because we just aren’t gonna get better value than him at $7.5 mil. I love him and think it would be cool for him to also retire here, but he’s not on Sid/Geno level of what he means to the franchise, so I’m not willing to give him a bad extension for the sake of seeing him retire here. If there’s a move that involves him that improves our cup chances then I’m for it, but Letang for futres isn’t that move. Unless things progress with P.O. Joseph quicker than anticipated, he’s still our 1D and we can’t just not have a 1D.

It’s all about expectations. I can watch Detroit and they suck but I know when certain players are on the ice I can focus on something else.
- Feds91Stammer

How's Ryan been, seemed like he started off hot.

Madden just said he’s been told the idea of trading Sid and/or Geno is a non-starter for ownership. Geno likely extended after the season. Letang on the other hand isn’t viewed the same way.
- madmike71

Wow. So apparently all options aren't on the table. What if Malkin plays the rest of the season like he has so far? What will they extend him for? $3.5M per aka the going rate for an average 3C? Or will they give him double aka the nostalgia bonus?

I've got a bad feeling we're going to be the Minnesota Wild for the next 10+ years. No-man's land is a dreadful state.

It’s all about expectations. I can watch Detroit and they suck but I know when certain players are on the ice I can focus on something else.
- Feds91Stammer

Some of the most fun I’ve had following sports is the Tank years of the Process Sixers and discussing the merits of 2nd rounders and D League talent. Rebuilds can be a load of fun if you take them for what they are and it makes when you get back to contention that much sweeter because then you’re intimately familiar with what it took to acquire every single one of your contributors.

Wow. So apparently all options aren't on the table. What if Malkin plays the rest of the season like he has so far? What will they extend him for? $3.5M per aka the going rate for an average 3C? Or will they give him double aka the nostalgia bonus?

I've got a bad feeling we're going to be the Minnesota Wild for the next 10+ years. No-man's land is a dreadful state.
- Hockey66

There’s a huge difference between seeing stuck in perpetual mediocrity because your team has never been good and watching your stars that won 3 Cups ride off into the sunset. The second we don’t have Sid and Geno anymore whether it’s because they retired here like I want or were traded like you want, we’ll be terrible and be able to accumulate tons of assets. Minnesota is Minnesota because they refuse to be terrible.

Some of the most fun I’ve had following sports is the Tank years of the Process Sixers and discussing the merits of 2nd rounders and D League talent. Rebuilds can be a load of fun if you take them for what they are and it makes when you get back to contention that much sweeter because then you’re intimately familiar with what it took to acquire every single one of your contributors.
- Victoro311

This is what I look forward to. A young, hungry team who play as a team (and for one another) and are gunning for their first Cup. Wins aren't as important as the process.

This may rub some the wrong way, but I think this current team is infected with a lack of motivation and staleness.

Wow. So apparently all options aren't on the table. What if Malkin plays the rest of the season like he has so far? What will they extend him for? $3.5M per aka the going rate for an average 3C? Or will they give him double aka the nostalgia bonus?

I've got a bad feeling we're going to be the Minnesota Wild for the next 10+ years. No-man's land is a dreadful state.
- Hockey66

I guess from Mario’s POV maybe he doesn’t want to do to Sid and geno what they had to do to jagr. (Obviously not the same situation) but knowing they can let them retire in pittsburgh if they wish could hit home more for Mario.

This is what I look forward to. A young, hungry team who play as a team (and for one another) and are gunning for their first Cup. Wins aren't as important as the process.

This may rub some the wrong way, but I think this current team is infected with a lack of motivation and staleness.
- Hockey66

I think the coach is what's stale honestly. There's plenty of players on this team that haven't won a cup and our captain is always trying to win more.

I guess from Mario’s POV maybe he doesn’t want to do to Sid and geno what they had to do to jagr. (Obviously not the same situation) but knowing they can let them retire in pittsburgh if they wish could hit home more for Mario.
- 10inchTerror

Apparently that's exactly the situation. Mario driving the ship on this. Just like the hiring of Hextall and Burke. And frankly, just like not giving JR an extension.