red-rover, red-rover, send phil kessel (50% retained) back over. Trade him for Kapanen, again.
- Udogs

I don't think Phoenix would retain any salary. And I don't believe they could if they wanted to. Isn't that why the Brassard deal was such a mess on the 1sr attempt to acquire him?

I don't think Phoenix would retain any salary. And I don't believe they could if they wanted to. Isn't that why the Brassard deal was such a mess on the 1sr attempt to acquire him?
- Beatnic57

Burke and Hexy will not trade for another permiter skater who is allergic to the front of the net

...

If Burke wants "Players with Long Pants" who are his trade chips? I'm going to assume he wants these guys for the bottom 6, or Defense. Maybe 1 to play with Sid or Geno while Kapanen/Zucker/Rust takes a spot on the 3rd line

McCann
Matheson (Look for a Lucic type return)
Petterson
Dumo

These guys are all pudding soft, and would have some value. Look for Burke to try to get the odd "3rd round pick" thrown into any trade give Hextall something to work with in the draft pick cupboard

Letang is by far his best trade chip. I've seen a couple of comments from Burke now noting that he only has "1 year left on his deal"
- TheGame316

Letang has one year left on his deal. Not sure what point you are trying make here.

Petts is in full practice garb. Looks like he might be in next game which would be big and would be good to reunite him with Marino. Reduced minutes for mm.

if I was to trade 1 dman (assuming all are healthy and mm is unmovable) it would be dumo. He’s oldest, has lost a step since his last ankle injury, and rumour has it this injury is an Achilles tear, so that might take another step from him.
- 10inchTerror

Sullivan stated Petts has not been cleared to play yet.

Letang has one year left on his deal. Not sure what point you are trying make here.
- Thunderbolt

The fact that Burke is constantly mentioning it in a variety of interviews doesn't tell you anything?

Why is he consistently bringing it up?

If you think the hockey the Pens played in the 2017 playoffs is the same brand of hockey they played in the 2016 playoffs, you need to lay off the crack pipe.
- j.boyd919

Okay, so what changed?

Pretty much had the same lineup. Aside from the league adjusted and it wasn't as effective?

Petts is in full practice garb. Looks like he might be in next game which would be big and would be good to reunite him with Marino. Reduced minutes for mm.

if I was to trade 1 dman (assuming all are healthy and mm is unmovable) it would be dumo. He’s oldest, has lost a step since his last ankle injury, and rumour has it this injury is an Achilles tear, so that might take another step from him.
- 10inchTerror

I'm not sure Dumo has any real trade value. Maybe a 2nd?

For whatever reason, he doesn't have the Jake Muzzin type rep that nets a 1st and a prospect

Okay, so what changed?

Pretty much had the same lineup. Aside from the league adjusted and it wasn't as effective?
- TheGame316

Letang turned into Ron Hainsey and Hainsey and Dumolin lived in their own end. There were no breakout passes, only pucks handled like hand grenades thrown up the glass to center ice.

Trevor Daley fell back to Earth and was no longer on the good end of playing chance for chance hockey.

Ian Cole and Justin Schultz were elevated to the 2nd pairing and were in over their head and also lived in their own end. Schultz was better on the third pair where he could be sheltered.

Losing Letang had an impact all the way up and down the lineup. Harder matchups for guys with lower skill sets. Forwards didn't have the luxury of playing with a legit 1D in Letang who can skate/pass out of danger and spring the transition.

They didn't play nearly the same brand of hockey, every defensive clear was throw the puck to open ice and hope the forwards get there (in which they fortunately did).

The fact that you even have to ask that question is comical.

The fact that Burke is constantly mentioning it in a variety of interviews doesn't tell you anything?

Why is he consistently bringing it up?
- TheGame316

I haven't heard any of the Burke comments. I don't have any context onto what he is saying.

I can assume you have come to the conclusion Burke wants to trade Letang. I know Burke cannot talk about players in specific. You mentioned a top six wing in your initial post. Did he say or infer that's what he wanted or did you draw your conclusion some other way?

This means Marino would be the top pair, Ceci second pair and Ruhwedel bottom pair. Not sure I like this development.

Letang only gets moved if they feel they have his replacement. Or we are sellers this year at the deadline... Otherwise I see Letang only being moved if another defenseman is coming back in the deal (similar to the Weber Subban trade).

All Burke has been saying is we need to play ugly hockey.

Letang only gets moved if they feel they have his replacement. Or we are sellers this year at the deadline... Otherwise I see Letang only being moved if another defenseman is coming back in the deal (similar to the Weber Subban trade).

All Burke has been saying is we need to play ugly hockey.
- 123Kid

Which is what GMJR tried to have the Pens do from 2018 until this season. Woof.

Letang only gets moved if they feel they have his replacement. Or we are sellers this year at the deadline... Otherwise I see Letang only being moved if another defenseman is coming back in the deal (similar to the Weber Subban trade).

All Burke has been saying is we need to play ugly hockey.
- 123Kid

I've heard most of his interviews. He was basically saying sometimes you have to win ugly. Which I entirely agree. I never got the impression he was saying we need win with big plugs.

I'll never forget an interview with Niskanen right after they finally got past the Pens before they won the cup. He said Trotz lambasted the team because (paraphrasing), "they were letting little guys like Rust and Sheary beat them". I was actually surprised this interview didn't get more attention around here because it was absolutely the truth. After that season, the Pens have been manhandled mostly. One injury after another.

Getting a little bigger doesn't mean you have to play without speed and skill.

I'll never forget an interview with Niskanen right after they finally got past the Pens before they won the cup. He said Trotz lambasted the team because (paraphrasing), "they were letting little guys like Rust and Sheary beat them". I was actually surprised this interview didn't get more attention around here because it was absolutely the truth. After that season, the Pens have been manhandled mostly. One injury after another.

Getting a little bigger doesn't mean you have to play without speed and skill.
- madmike71

Haha I remember that quote.

Haha I remember that quote.
- 668710

What have we won since Trotz showed the way?

Moral of the story... Beat the sh!t out of them and they break.

What have we won since Trotz showed the way?

Moral of the story... Beat the sh!t out of them and they break.
- madmike71

Yeah they said that about the Lightning when they got swept by the BJs. How’d that workout for the Lightning? Been playing a fast paced skill game for years.

Yeah they said that about the Lightning when they got swept by the BJs. How’d that workout for the Lightning? Been playing a fast paced skill game for years.
- j.boyd919

Every time I watch Pens/Lightning they beat the snot out of us too. Not just in the skill sense.

Pens are requesting they be allowed to let in fans at 25% of capacity. Der Fuhrer Wolf will probably slap that down.

Every time I watch Pens/Lightning they beat the snot out of us too. Not just in the skill sense.
- madmike71

They still used guys like Cernak, Maroon, Coleman, Goodrow, Paquette, bogosian, Luke schenn, even sergachev and hedman aren’t soft to play against.
I guess you could say we counter that with Tanev? After that who’s our 2nd most “aggressive” player? Malkin maybe?

I haven't heard any of the Burke comments. I don't have any context onto what he is saying.

I can assume you have come to the conclusion Burke wants to trade Letang. I know Burke cannot talk about players in specific. You mentioned a top six wing in your initial post. Did he say or infer that's what he wanted or did you draw your conclusion some other way?

This means Marino would be the top pair, Ceci second pair and Ruhwedel bottom pair. Not sure I like this development.
- Thunderbolt

Burke is talking about how the team will need to make some changes to be competitive with the top teams and when asked what changes can be made he gives the "We'll have to see once I get a look at the team, there are a lot of players with short term left on their contracts and then mentions Letang by name"

I wouldn't be surprised if he's convinced ownership to possibly throw in the towel on this year and take advantage of greedy teams at the deadline (He has long quoted that most mistakes are made on July 1 and at the trade deadline ie: Only 1 team can win the cup)

Desperate teams may take on contracts at the TDL which would give Hextall some picks to play with at the draft and allow them to "restructure" the team for next year and beyond to play "Long Pants" hockey. Either way, We will not be "buyers" under Burke this year, which makes us most likely an also ran in the East

I could see a combination of Letang, McCann, Rust, Petts, Dumo, being moved if it meant opening up a lot of capspace and loading up with some prospects and picks

They still used guys like Cernak, Maroon, Coleman, Goodrow, Paquette, bogosian, Luke schenn, even sergachev and hedman aren’t soft to play against.
I guess you could say we counter that with Tanev? After that who’s our 2nd most “aggressive” player? Malkin maybe?
- pens4life-66

The posts that suggest we are wasting our time chasing the more physical element have not watched other games except ours. #91 is a big body as well. Thunderbolts have not been pushed around the last few years.

They still used guys like Cernak, Maroon, Coleman, Goodrow, Paquette, bogosian, Luke schenn, even sergachev and hedman aren’t soft to play against.
I guess you could say we counter that with Tanev? After that who’s our 2nd most “aggressive” player? Malkin maybe?
- pens4life-66

Yup. Malkin/Letang/Sid. Besides Tanev, those are our toughest players. Seems POJ has a little snarl in him.

I'm not asking for the 75 Flyers. Just need to get a little more physical. Not talking about goons either.

It's funny... That game against the Islanders the other night... DeSmith got hit 4 times at least by Islander players. The weren't really running him although I thought a couple deserved interference. They were just driving the net as the puck was being shot.

Varlamov got hit once. By his own man.

I still can't believe we traded Hornqvist. Blows my mind.

They still used guys like Cernak, Maroon, Coleman, Goodrow, Paquette, bogosian, Luke schenn, even sergachev and hedman aren’t soft to play against.
I guess you could say we counter that with Tanev? After that who’s our 2nd most “aggressive” player? Malkin maybe?
- pens4life-66

Pens as a team have been ranked 1st, 5th, and 6th in hits the last 3 years, so there goes that theory.

The posts that suggest we are wasting our time chasing the more physical element have not watched other games except ours. #91 is a big body as well. Thunderbolts have not been pushed around the last few years.
- Malkin

I watch all the Lightning games as I've been working for them the last 2 seasons where I have to watch the games. They really aren't that much different than the Pens stylistically. Better at dump and chase than the Pens but in terms of being "physical?" Not really. They're just a deeper, more talented team.

Pens as a team have been ranked 1st, 5th, and 6th in hits the last 3 years, so there goes that theory.
- j.boyd919

Lol