Some of that drop off can be attributed to Kessel leaving. Sullivan's reluctance to use Hornqvist also contributed.

We had this conversation quite often when Kessel was here. The PP was much better with Hornqvist than without. The writing was on the wall last year, we all new the PP was going to suffer the day Hornqvist was traded..
- Thunderbolt

Oh yeah I completely agree. Getting rid of Kessel and then Hornqvist was the 1-2 blow that put the peeper to sleeper.

The only way to feel optimistic is if Hex improves that supporting cast. Something that JR botched badly, but when handled right, this team is in good financial position to make serious upgrades.

I've reserved myself to the fact this season is lost. I personally just don't see this team making the playoffs unless someone else just hits a nice skid. I do however think that this team could be build for one serious run next year if handled right.

That said, and I should pull a Barnaby and "give them a chance," but I fully expect Hex and Burke to get some mouth-breathers instead focusing on just getting better players.
- Rinosaur

Pens have a lot of games vs. the Sabres and Devils. They could easily get right back into the thick of things after those games.

We're on the same page. Make a move or 2 with next year in mind but can also help now. Start getting some chemistry going. Honestly if they aren't gonna play Zucker with Sid then they should trade him.
- 668710

Zucker belongs on the third line regardless. They need an upgrade at 2LW that can shoot the god damn puck with Geno. Push Zucker to the 3rd line.

Zucker belongs on the third line regardless. They need an upgrade at 2LW that can shoot the god damn puck with Geno. Push Zucker to the 3rd line.
- j.boyd919

That can work too but I wouldn't be against:
Zucker-Sid-Rust/Trade
Guentz-Geno-Rust/Trade
Tanev-Blue-Kap
?-McCann-?

That can work too but I wouldn't be against:
Zucker-Sid-Rust/Trade
Guentz-Geno-Rust/Trade
Tanev-Blue-Kap
?-McCann-?
- 668710

I mean yeah, that'd be great but we all know Sully has Guentzel stapled to Sid so that argument is kind of moot.

Edit: You know what? I want to see what McCann can do with Geno. He's known to fire the puck and has a good shot.

That can work too but I wouldn't be against:
Zucker-Sid-Rust/Trade
Guentz-Geno-Rust/Trade
Tanev-Blue-Kap
?-McCann-?
- 668710

May I offer you Ryan and Glendening? I can give em up pretty cheap.

Guentzel - Sid - Rust
McCann - Geno - Ryan
Zucker - Blueger - Kap
ZAR - Glendening - Tanev

I mean yeah, that'd be great but we all know Sully has Guentzel stapled to Sid so that argument is kind of moot.

Edit: You know what? I want to see what McCann can do with Geno. He's known to fire the puck and has a good shot.
- j.boyd919

We get to see more of that tonight, I'm for that too. If it works out:
Guentz-Sid-Rust
McCann-Geno-Trade
Tanev-Blue-Kap or
Zucker-Blue-Tanev
In this scenario you trade either Zucker or Kap.

May I offer you Ryan and Glendening? I can give em up pretty cheap.

Guentzel - Sid - Rust
McCann - Geno - Ryan
Zucker - Blueger - Kap
ZAR - Glendening - Tanev
- Feds91Stammer

I don't mind that, if they can't get a guy left with a little term I'd be cool with Ryan as well. But I'd prefer a guy under contract next season too.

I don't mind that, if they can't get a guy left with a little term I'd be cool with Ryan as well. But I'd prefer a guy under contract next season too.
- 668710

Haha trying to give you cheap options because you don’t have poop for assets.

Pens have a lot of games vs. the Sabres and Devils. They could easily get right back into the thick of things after those games.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, but what I almost meant to imply was that even if they do make it they're not going deep unless they pull a 2017. The alarming stat of this team is their inability to win in regulation. That's going to come back to bite them in the ass come playoff time.

Yeah, but what I almost meant to imply was that even if they do make it they're not going deep unless they pull a 2017. The alarming stat of this team is their inability to win in regulation. That's going to come back to bite them in the ass come playoff time.
- Rinosaur

Oh I agree.

Oh I agree.
- j.boyd919

If they played in the first two periods the way they play in third periods I might feel different. Obviously when they do they make it look a lot easier.

With Zucker going down I’m pretty against anything rental right now unless it costs next to nothing. We already didn’t have enough assets to plug our holes with Zucker in, and now we’d have to replace Zucker ontop of plugging the preexisting holes? Not doable.

But I would not hesitate at all for a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger, regardless of side. Pretty clear that Kapanen isn’t a top 6 forward, and I don’t want to see Zucker with Malkin anymore moving forward, so if Guentzel is stapled to Crosby we need a LW too. So either side fills a need. Wont put it past Hextal to say (frank) this and just start a rebuild but if we’re going to keep trying to be competitive until Crosby and Malkin retire or move on, trades this season should be future oriented. Our limited assets need to be used efficiently on guys that can continue to help down the road rather than trying to quick fix a roster that has too many holes to be competitive this season.

I see a lot of hate for winning one goal games(usually in OT), and I understand why, but in my mind theres also positives to that characteristic as well.

With Zucker going down I’m pretty against anything rental right now unless it costs next to nothing. We already didn’t have enough assets to plug our holes with Zucker in, and now we’d have to replace Zucker ontop of plugging the preexisting holes? Not doable.

But I would not hesitate at all for a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger, regardless of side. Pretty clear that Kapanen isn’t a top 6 forward, and I don’t want to see Zucker with Malkin anymore moving forward, so if Guentzel is stapled to Crosby we need a LW too. So either side fills a need. Wont put it past Hextal to say (frank) this and just start a rebuild but if we’re going to keep trying to be competitive until Crosby and Malkin retire or move on, trades this season should be future oriented. Our limited assets need to be used efficiently on guys that can continue to help down the road rather than trying to quick fix a roster that has too many holes to be competitive this season.
- Victoro311

All you have to do is get into the playoffs and anything can happen.

I see a lot of hate for winning one goal games(usually in OT), and I understand why, but in my mind theres also positives to that characteristic as well.
- MattStrat

Lol no. 3v3 wins mean nothing. There’s no pond hockey in the playoffs.

With Zucker going down I’m pretty against anything rental right now unless it costs next to nothing. We already didn’t have enough assets to plug our holes with Zucker in, and now we’d have to replace Zucker ontop of plugging the preexisting holes? Not doable.

But I would not hesitate at all for a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger, regardless of side. Pretty clear that Kapanen isn’t a top 6 forward, and I don’t want to see Zucker with Malkin anymore moving forward, so if Guentzel is stapled to Crosby we need a LW too. So either side fills a need. Wont put it past Hextal to say (frank) this and just start a rebuild but if we’re going to keep trying to be competitive until Crosby and Malkin retire or move on, trades this season should be future oriented. Our limited assets need to be used efficiently on guys that can continue to help down the road rather than trying to quick fix a roster that has too many holes to be competitive this season.
- Victoro311

I think a rental other than trying to get a better 4C is useless. Even that is useless to some degree but I'd still make that one on the cheap.

As far as hockey trades go, I see the following assets as pieces to make this team better:

Zucker, Kap, Pettersson, 2021 2nd and basically any prospect if the deal with worth it.

Lol no. 3v3 wins mean nothing. There’s no pond hockey in the playoffs.
- Feds91Stammer

Part of the positive is the battle from behind, usually at 5 on 5, to put themselves in position to win in the extra frame. Just because they win it in a 3 in 3 OT doesn't meant they wouldn't of if it was a 5 on 5 OT...

With Zucker going down I’m pretty against anything rental right now unless it costs next to nothing. We already didn’t have enough assets to plug our holes with Zucker in, and now we’d have to replace Zucker ontop of plugging the preexisting holes? Not doable.

But I would not hesitate at all for a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger, regardless of side. Pretty clear that Kapanen isn’t a top 6 forward, and I don’t want to see Zucker with Malkin anymore moving forward, so if Guentzel is stapled to Crosby we need a LW too. So either side fills a need. Wont put it past Hextal to say (frank) this and just start a rebuild but if we’re going to keep trying to be competitive until Crosby and Malkin retire or move on, trades this season should be future oriented. Our limited assets need to be used efficiently on guys that can continue to help down the road rather than trying to quick fix a roster that has too many holes to be competitive this season.
- Victoro311

What if it’s something like Svejkovsky Bjorkqvist and a 3rd for Glendening and Ryan?

I think a rental other than trying to get a better 4C is useless. Even that is useless to some degree but I'd still make that one on the cheap.

As far as hockey trades go, I see the following assets as pieces to make this team better:

Zucker, Kap, Pettersson, 2021 2nd and basically any prospect if the deal with worth it.
- Rinosaur

While Zucker and Kapanen (and McCann) should be expendable based on the fact that they’re not that good, we need to add to our forwards in order to get back to competitiveness. If we’re swapping them out, the move is too lateral to make a difference even if we’re bringing in the better player, unless it’s something super stupid like trading Kapanen for Forsberg. But as things stand, keeping Zucker and bringing in a another middle six winger is more helpful to the team than trading Zucker for a clear cut top 6 winger. A bit different for Kap and McCann who are considerably worse players than Zucker, but generally the same concept applies.

I see a lot of hate for winning one goal games(usually in OT), and I understand why, but in my mind theres also positives to that characteristic as well.
- MattStrat

I don't mind the OT's on the road. The Pens need to start to win games in regulation at home.

Question: Has anyone heard how long Zucker is going to be out. The last statement I remember was the evasive 'longer term.'

Part of the positive is the battle from behind, usually at 5 on 5, to put themselves in position to win in the extra frame. Just because they win it in a 3 in 3 OT doesn't meant they wouldn't of if it was a 5 on 5 OT...
- MattStrat

So first of all PIT spends the most 5v5 time per game trailing by 1. They have the 7th worst xGF% trailing by 1. 5th worst CF%. 4th best PDO. They aren’t a good team.

What if it’s something like Svejkovsky Bjorkqvist and a 3rd for Glendening and Ryan?
- Feds91Stammer

Not really keen. As I’ve said before, Glendening doesn’t address the need for depth scoring and I don’t think creating a second bottom six shut down line really helps us. There are only so many “tough” minutes to go around and the Blueger unit can eat the bulk of them. At some point you get into diminishing returns of shutdowniness. And Ryan isn’t nearly enough to move the needle offensively for this season to turn around.

The prospects you mentioned are obviously not great, but that third could be useful trade sweetener for a more future oriented trade

All you have to do is get into the playoffs and anything can happen.
- Feds91Stammer

Lol you Richard.

Lol you Richard.
- 668710

Suck it reindeer games