I think I'd take a chance on Hoffman rebounding a bit on new team . Plays both wings. 4 mill cap hit. Has a big clapper. I mean, he's being sh!t on a lot but has 21 points in 36 games. I certainly wouldnt be disappointed if they brought him in.... Doesn't fit the big physical mold though..

I think I'd take a chance on Hoffman rebounding a bit on new team . Plays both wings. 4 mill cap hit. Has a big clapper. I mean, he's being sh!t on a lot but has 21 points in 36 games. I certainly wouldnt be disappointed if they brought him in.... Doesn't fit the big physical mold though..
- MattStrat

Throw him up with Geno and Kap. They could do the old Geno-Neal faceoff play.

Missed the game, mostly because i forgot... how did the Zohan look?

Missed the game, mostly because i forgot... how did the Zohan look?
- Guile

Arguably the best of the bunch haha

Throw him up with Geno and Kap. They could do the old Geno-Neal faceoff play.
- 668710

He could be used on any line...could form a decent line with McCann as C.

Do the Blues want anything the Pens have though?...and do Burke Hex wan't Hoffman? I'd say the answer to at least one of those is probably not haha

I mean if they are gonna go Gaudreau as the 4c and we dont make a move, Canner has to go back with Geno and Kap, right?
- 668710

I’m not sure about that. McCann has never looked better with the Pens right now and he just looks so comfortable at C. The fact that Blueger has been practicing at wing has me thinking a Blueger-McCann-??? line isn’t out the realm of possibility.

I’m not sure how I feel about that since we’ve never really had an extended look with Blueger at wing, but maybe that’s why they’re trying out in practice? To see how he looks?

I mean if they are gonna go Gaudreau as the 4c and we dont make a move, Canner has to go back with Geno and Kap, right?
- 668710

I’d have to think so. I’ve liked gaudreau, but I’d prefer teddy as 4c, pending the teams health. Id say if (huge if) totally healthy, Zuck-McCann-rod? 3rd line makes them a pretty deep team, if McCann stays somewhat consistent. Still need to figure out geno’s lw, but him n kap seemed to have really good chemistry. If McCann can produce away from geno n play well w/ zuck in the process, I think it’s an easy call. Not sure how geno and/or kap will look upon their returns tho, considering both lower body injuries.

Zahorna should stay in the lineup when healthy right?

But he should. The individual scoring plays by him aren't fluky. He is talented and can play at this level. He likely won't be a top 6 guy, but his ability is showing in a bottom 6 role with guys we routinely harp on.
- burgh4life87

Put him with Geno.

Zahorna should stay in the lineup when healthy right?
- Grinder47

Absolutely, or at least until the sheen wears off....if it ever does.

He had the best fancies last night, Grinder.

Zahorna should stay in the lineup when healthy right?
- Grinder47

Most likely not. When healthy we're probably looking at a ZAR-Freddy-Tanev 4th line. That said, who the hell knows what the health of this team will look like come the playoffs.

I think I'd take a chance on Hoffman rebounding a bit on new team . Plays both wings. 4 mill cap hit. Has a big clapper. I mean, he's being sh!t on a lot but has 21 points in 36 games. I certainly wouldnt be disappointed if they brought him in.... Doesn't fit the big physical mold though..
- MattStrat

I think the Pens would at least want more of a 2 way forward. As much as the board wants more offense, they do seem to be a team that's evolving towards playing more low event hockey while hoping their shooters make the most of their chances.

I'd definitely like more of a defensive presence with Malkin and Kapanen. Don't want Geno to be hands down the best defensive player on his line at his age. He can't dominate play driving single handedly like he used to.

I would be interested in Hoffman in a bottom 6 role like HBK Phil. Not sure if that falls in our assets range.

Arguably the best of the bunch haha
- MattStrat

I thought I was a little crazy getting interested in Zohorna after just seeing him in a couple AHL games. Nice to see others feeling the same way. You watch how he moves and handles the puck for such a big guy and he intrigues you. No idea what he can be, but I want a longer look.

Very small sample size for Zohorna, but there's a reason why I feel very positive about him. We often see players like him come up, look like rockstars out of nowhere then fizzle quickly, i.e. Lafferty despite him remaining in the lineup. We've seen plenty of youngsters come up, light the lamp then never to be heard from again.

Taking the points out of the equation, Zohorna has been looking more comfortable every time he plays, skating is more fluid, looking more comfortable which leads to him to flashing more skill and impressive decision-making. IMO those are the signs you look for and so far so good.

Judging the timelines for everything, my guess is we still get to see him play a handful of games.

I’m not sure about that. McCann has never looked better with the Pens right now and he just looks so comfortable at C. The fact that Blueger has been practicing at wing has me thinking a Blueger-McCann-??? line isn’t out the realm of possibility.

I’m not sure how I feel about that since we’ve never really had an extended look with Blueger at wing, but maybe that’s why they’re trying out in practice? To see how he looks?
- Rinosaur

I believe Blueger was never really a wing and didn't look comfortable there when he broke into the league. I do agree about McCann at C, but he's still effective at LW. But wouldn't mind both at C at all.

Very small sample size for Zohorna, but there's a reason why I feel very positive about him. We often see players like him come up, look like rockstars out of nowhere then fizzle quickly, i.e. Lafferty despite him remaining in the lineup. We've seen plenty of youngsters come up, light the lamp then never to be heard from again.

Taking the points out of the equation, Zohorna has been looking more comfortable every time he plays, skating is more fluid, looking more comfortable which leads to him to flashing more skill and impressive decision-making. IMO those are the signs you look for and so far so good.

Judging the timelines for everything, my guess is we still get to see him play a handful of games.
- Rinosaur

Nice analysis. That's something that was said about Zohorna in the AHL as well. He was decent his first handful of games, but still was awkward with the smaller rink and different style of game. But after a couple week he really started to shine.

I believe Blueger was never really a wing and didn't look comfortable there when he broke into the league. I do agree about McCann at C, but he's still effective at LW. But wouldn't mind both at C at all.
- Tojo.

It's a tricky situation. IMO as much as I'm loving how good Freddy has been, he should sit when everyone is healthy and that's a great situation to be in. The tricky part is finding wingers for McCann or for Geno.

Jake-Sid-Rust
Zucker/Trade-Geno-Kap
Zucker/Trade-McCann-Trade/Erod
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Trading for one quality player looks to be very difficult right now, so two would obviously be much harder, but this is how I believe this team is best suited for success.

I believe Blueger was never really a wing and didn't look comfortable there when he broke into the league. I do agree about McCann at C, but he's still effective at LW. But wouldn't mind both at C at all.
- Tojo.

given how good McCann looked next to Geno, I feel like you gotta go back to that when the time comes. McCann-Geno-Kap looked great and McCann will get more looks at the net playing with Geno (one would think). Frees up 3C for Blue, 4C for Gaudreau. The question is.. do we actually see Sully taking Erod out of the lineup? Third line of Zucker-Blue-Erod and a 4th of ZAR-Gaudreau-Tanev. I dunno if I see Sully replacing anyone, that 3RW has to be a massive upgrade over Erod.

given how good McCann looked next to Geno, I feel like you gotta go back to that when the time comes. McCann-Geno-Kap looked great and McCann will get more looks at the net playing with Geno (one would think). Frees up 3C for Blue, 4C for Gaudreau. The question is.. do we actually see Sully taking Erod out of the lineup? Third line of Zucker-Blue-Erod and a 4th of ZAR-Gaudreau-Tanev. I dunno if I see Sully replacing anyone, that 3RW has to be a massive upgrade over Erod.
- j.boyd919

I don’t want to dump on Rodrigues too much because he’s played fairly well in a role way above his pay grade, but if a 13th forward like E Rod is on your third line, you’re in trouble.

given how good McCann looked next to Geno, I feel like you gotta go back to that when the time comes. McCann-Geno-Kap looked great and McCann will get more looks at the net playing with Geno (one would think). Frees up 3C for Blue, 4C for Gaudreau. The question is.. do we actually see Sully taking Erod out of the lineup? Third line of Zucker-Blue-Erod and a 4th of ZAR-Gaudreau-Tanev. I dunno if I see Sully replacing anyone, that 3RW has to be a massive upgrade over Erod.
- j.boyd919

I get that logic. It's the most obvious, but McCann is so strong at center that I think you're depriving this team of being better than it can be by moving him back to wing. I mean look, if the Pens' biggest problem is having to move McCann to wing in order to fit other good players in the lineup then great, but if you can move him to center and be able to build around that then that's the best option.

I don’t want to dump on Rodrigues too much because he’s played fairly well in a role way above his pay grade, but if a 13th forward like E Rod is on your third line, you’re in trouble.
- Victoro311

Yeah. I've been very hard on Erod and I'm happy he's performing so well, but I just don't believe it's sustainable in a middle-six role long-term. Especially in the playoffs.

I don’t want to dump on Rodrigues too much because he’s played fairly well in a role way above his pay grade, but if a 13th forward like E Rod is on your third line, you’re in trouble.
- Victoro311

Not saying that I disagree with you... but does Sully agree with you? Erod absolutely should be the 13th forward but on "In the Room" I recall Erod being a request from Sully (along with Jankowski), so... it makes me wonder if Sully would even remove him. It's gotta be a clear-no brain upgrade IMO considering he would even play Erod in the top 6 lol

Most likely not. When healthy we're probably looking at a ZAR-Freddy-Tanev 4th line. That said, who the hell knows what the health of this team will look like come the playoffs.
- Rinosaur

If Tanev Blueger and Zar are healthy they are going to play together and be used as the 3rd line. Play Zahorna with geno.

If Tanev Blueger and Zar are healthy they are going to play together and be used as the 3rd line. Play Zahorna with geno.
- Grinder47

I love what I've seen from Z so far and I'm very optimistic about him, but I'm not ready to roll the dice and throw him next to Geno for a playoff run. That's just me though.

I love what I've seen from Z so far and I'm very optimistic about him, but I'm not ready to roll the dice and throw him next to Geno for a playoff run. That's just me though.
- Rinosaur

It's so enticing to see a 6'6 forward with speed and hands that you want him to play with more talented guys, but it is a gamble to make that move. If you keep the Zucker McCann ERod line together though, maybe give Zohorna a few regular season games with Malkin to just see if there is anything?