On a random note, I think this year's playoffs will be the most interesting in a long time. We only have a sense of how good teams are relative to their own division. It will be fun to see which division leaders are really a joke.

On a random note, I think this year's playoffs will be the most interesting in a long time. We only have a sense of how good teams are relative to their own division. It will be fun to see which division leaders are really a joke.
- Rinosaur

I wouldn't say any of the division leaders would be a joke. Maybe the make beleafs if they end up winning the division.

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/why-does-the-nhl-keep-enabling-tom-wilson

I know Tom Wilson has been discussed, at nausum, here; but I liked this article...
- Beatnic57

sh.

I wouldn't say any of the division leaders would be a joke. Maybe the make beleafs if they end up winning the division.
- 668710

I guess I mean jokes in a relative manner. Vegas, who I do believe is a good team, is destroying that division, but I don't think they're close to as good their record shows.

Tampa and Carolina are playing in a marshmallow division.

I wouldn't say any of the division leaders would be a joke. Maybe the make beleafs if they end up winning the division.
- 668710

Yeah they lucked out in getting put in the defense is optional division

I guess I mean jokes in a relative manner. Vegas, who I do believe is a good team, is destroying that division, but I don't think they're close to as good their record shows.

Tampa and Carolina are playing in a marshmallow division.
- Rinosaur

Lmao Florida and Dallas are pretty good.

I guess I mean jokes in a relative manner. Vegas, who I do believe is a good team, is destroying that division, but I don't think they're close to as good their record shows.

Tampa and Carolina are playing in a marshmallow division.
- Rinosaur

Yea Tampa and Carolina have it the easiest.

Lmao Florida and Dallas are pretty good.
- Feds91Stammer

I forgot about them, is Dallas doing good this year? Haven't heard poop about them.

Yea Tampa and Carolina have it the easiest.
- 668710

North is the weakest division. Detroit is the only cakewalk in that division. Chicago has an elite power play that makes them a tough win.

I forgot about them, is Dallas doing good this year? Haven't heard poop about them.
- 668710

Covid and injuries have slowed them to start. But they will probably be in it come playoff time. Yeah

Lmao Florida and Dallas are pretty good.
- Feds91Stammer

Florida is scoring like crazy, but they're also letting in goals like crazy. They're very much a live by sword/die by the sword type of team and that won't go far in the playoffs.

Dallas is definitely decent, but when you see Chicago a playoff team it's not a good litmus of how good that division is.

Covid and injuries have slowed them to start. But they will probably be in it come playoff time. Yeah
- Feds91Stammer

I expect DAL to push CHI out of that playoff spot.

Florida is scoring like crazy, but they're also letting in goals like crazy. They're very much a live by sword/die by the sword type of team and that won't go far in the playoffs.

Dallas is definitely decent, but when you see Chicago a playoff team it's not a good litmus of how good that division is.
- Rinosaur

Florida is 7th best in 5v5 GA60 lol. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about.

Chicago’s pp is at 31% right now and getting great goaltending. Not hard to fathom how they are stealing wins.

I expect DAL to push CHI out of that playoff spot.
- Rinosaur

I would say that’s relatively likely considering how Chicago is racking up points.

Hoping Sceivor get picked up but can't imagine it happens.

I haven't been following the roster numbers and sh!t much, though I know there's somewhat of a log jam, or paper moves which I leave that up to Tojo and/or Feds haha, but could this be an indicator that McCann wont be a longer term injury?
- MattStrat

With ERod back on the active roster, activating Sceviour from the Covid list would have put the Pens both over the roster limit and cap. So regardless of McCann's health someone had to be sent down.

The only thing significant is they waived Sceviour instead of demoting Angelo who didn't need waivers.

If McCann was going on regular IR, they still needed to demote somebody to clear cap space or move someone to long-term IR. Even if he is on regular IR, they'll have to use a 22 man roster due to lack of cap space. This also includes Friedman who is hurt, so potentially Ruhwedel will be our only healthy scratch.

Probably why Riikola had been practicing for 2 or 3 weeks but hasn't been activated. They wouldn't play him and they'd have to make a move to clear space for him.

Hoping Sceivor get picked up but can't imagine it happens.
- MacPatty

Nobody is helping the Pens out lol

With ERod back on the active roster, activating Sceviour from the Covid list would have put the Pens both over the roster limit and cap. So regardless of McCann's health someone had to be sent down.

The only thing significant is they waived Sceviour instead of demoting Angelo who didn't need waivers.

If McCann was going on regular IR, they still needed to demote somebody to clear cap space or move someone to long-term IR. Even if he is on regular IR, they'll have to use a 22 man roster due to lack of cap space. This also includes Friedman who is hurt, so potentially Ruhwedel will be our only healthy scratch.

Probably why Riikola had been practicing for 2 or 3 weeks but hasn't been activated. They wouldn't play him and they'd have to make a move to clear space for him.
- Tojo.

I would put Riikola as the most likely to be traded dman right now.

What’s the trade market offering? Will he take a 3 year deal? These are the main things that I would take into consideration.

Edit: this is for Rust. Quoted wrong post.
- Feds91Stammer

I am making 2 assumptions. The trade market for Rust will be better now then in a few years. Since he hasn't cashed in and will be 30, he should do that. If he takes a shorter deal or can't find one due to the collapsed cap I may adjust, but I'm going to assume a Hornqvist type situation where he might take a slight discount, but it's still a contract you worry about in a few years.

So 3 options:
A) At least explore the trade market for Rust with a year left on his contract. Should have great value at his 3.5M salary. This is a route I consider if they miss the playoffs.

B) Take one more shot while Rust is on a value contract then let him walk. This I consider if I still think the Pens have an outside chance.

C) Give Rust an extension at an age where historically they end up being bad contracts. I don't think teams that aren't contenders should do this. At the very least, it's not a smart decision.

Yeah that was what i was saying last blog. I’m not sure the term is as important as cap hit. Obviously you don’t want stupid term for a 30 year old, but if the cap hit is low enough that a 34 year old Rust would be a marketable TDL asset with salary retention, it’s probably smart to make the deal vs overpaying for yet another Jason Zucker. It saves assets and possibly generates more down the road. I don’t see upside in letting Rust walk just because he’s 30.
- Victoro311

I'm not even considering making another Zucker type trade. Those days need to be done. If the cap situation means Rust can't get a good contract, I still think it's a bad choice but maybe I'd reconsider. But I'm anticipating this will be Rust's best shot to cash in and he should take it. So yeah I expect it to be a bad contract that the Pens shouldn't really take if they aren't contenders. Especially if you're already doing that for Malkin and Letang.

I would put Riikola as the most likely to be traded dman right now.
- Rinosaur

Him or Ruhwedel. No need to keep 9 defensemen especially when you have POJ on the depth chart.

Him or Ruhwedel. No need to keep 9 defensemen especially when you have POJ on the depth chart.
- Tojo.

This is why I think it's Rikky

I am making 2 assumptions. The trade market for Rust will be better now then in a few years. Since he hasn't cashed in and will be 30, he should do that. If he takes a shorter deal or can't find one due to the collapsed cap I may adjust, but I'm going to assume a Hornqvist type situation where he might take a slight discount, but it's still a contract you worry about in a few years.

So 3 options:
A) At least explore the trade market for Rust with a year left on his contract. Should have great value at his 3.5M salary. This is a route I consider if they miss the playoffs.

B) Take one more shot while Rust is on a value contract then let him walk. This I consider if I still think the Pens have an outside chance.

C) Give Rust an extension at an age where historically they end up being bad contracts. I don't think teams that aren't contenders should do this. At the very least, it's not a smart decision.
- Tojo.

Yeah I’m definitely not advocating giving him a contract that’s guaranteed to be a failure or let him walk for nothing. I also wouldn’t move him for less than say what Kapanen got.

This is why I think it's Rikky
- Rinosaur

Pettersson

I'm not even considering making another Zucker type trade. Those days need to be done. If the cap situation means Rust can't get a good contract, I still think it's a bad choice but maybe I'd reconsider. But I'm anticipating this will be Rust's best shot to cash in and he should take it. So yeah I expect it to be a bad contract that the Pens shouldn't really take if they aren't contenders. Especially if you're already doing that for Malkin and Letang.
- Tojo.

I know you just want to rebuild regardless so this doesn’t really matter to you, but what I was saying was a response to the what do you do with Rust if you want to keep Sid and Geno through retirement but want to wind down asset expenditure in preparation for the coming rebuild. The Feds camp. To maintain an acceptable level of competitiveness that won’t drive Sid and Geno to Cup chase elsewhere, you need top 6 scoring wingers. We currently only have two in G and Rust. If we trade Rust this offseason or let him walk after next, we’re down to one with no internal replacement, which probably ends the Sid/Geno Era for good one way or another unless we expend even more assets on a replacement. Again, we’re trying to avoid that and wind down expenditure.

Again, this doesn’t apply to you because you just want to rebuild, but if the plan is to try keep Sid and Geno here while cashing in on assets that you can cash in on and limiting what you’re trading away, I think Rust is one asset that we should actually hold on to die to our lack of depth at wing. If you can evaluate what you think a 34 year old Rust would be worth at the future TDL, you can double that number on a four year contract and have yourself an asset that you can recoup on after Sid and Malkin are gone by retaining the full 50% and eliminate the need to spend assets replacing Rust in the short term for a team that’s probably not going to win.