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?
- burgh4life87

Definitely not opposed to that at all and I'm very intrigued to see what he'd look like next to Geno. I just don't think it's a wise idea to base trade decisions on him just yet. The Pens should still very much be looking to upgrade their forward core if they can.

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

Personally I think making guys who are obviously gifted offensively play a bottom six role for 2 years is dumb. Especially on a team not exactly deep with scoring wingers. Play z with geno, play the Blueger line against the other teams 1st line.

Personally I think making guys who are obviously gifted offensively play a bottom six role for 2 years is dumb. Especially on a team not exactly deep with scoring wingers. Play z with geno, play the Blueger line against the other teams 1st line.
- Grinder47

Nobody said anything about two years, but I'd like to see more than fifteen or twenty games. I don't think that's unreasonable. If the Pens have an opportunity to upgrade their forward core with a proven legit player to make a serious playoff run then they should do it and not base it around a player who's played four games.

Definitely not opposed to that at all and I'm very intrigued to see what he'd look like next to Geno. I just don't think it's a wise idea to base trade decisions on him just yet. The Pens should still very much be looking to upgrade their forward core if they can.
- Rinosaur

Oh yah, there is no doubt they should still look to upgrade. As good as Gaudreau has been with us, his career shows that is not an offensively gifted player, so getting someone with more scoring punch would help. As good as Rodrigues has looked since coming back from injury, you still don't know what his consistent level of play is. Plus, you would prefer not having to use Jank or Sceviour in the playoffs.

Oh yah, there is no doubt they should still look to upgrade. As good as Gaudreau has been with us, his career shows that is not an offensively gifted player, so getting someone with more scoring punch would help. As good as Rodrigues has looked since coming back from injury, you still don't know what his consistent level of play is. Plus, you would prefer not having to use Jank or Sceviour in the playoffs.
- burgh4life87

I'd love to see the Pens dump them off for a couple of 7th rounders if they can. I don't think they're even useful as depth players. Sceviour isn't TERRIBLE, but dude has hands of stone and is just kind of there. I'm taking Zohorna, Angello and Lafferty all day on the taxi squad over them.

I'd love to see the Pens dump them off for a couple of 7th rounders if they can. I don't think they're even useful as depth players. Sceviour isn't TERRIBLE, but dude has hands of stone and is just kind of there. I'm taking Zohorna, Angello and Lafferty all day on the taxi squad over them.
- Rinosaur

These are the big bodies we want as depth options. I saw Angello has played 19 games this year and has been on the ice for just 1 goal against and 5 goals for. If you have to go to these guys, you are at least getting physical and defensively responsible players.

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?
- burgh4life87

To be honest I think big Z is a lot like Bjugstad.

Gusev's contract was terminated. He's free to sign wherever.

Turris on waivers.

To be honest I think big Z is a lot like Bjugstad.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He’s a soft, injury prone, below average scorer?

Gusev's contract was terminated. He's free to sign wherever.

Turris on waivers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Turris stinks, but signing Gusev cheap as hell would be sweet.

Gusev's contract was terminated. He's free to sign wherever.

Turris on waivers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Makes you go, hmmm.

Gusev's contract was terminated. He's free to sign wherever.

Turris on waivers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'm all for Gusev, but he doesn't bit the Hex/Burke mold. He's not truculent.

He’s a soft, injury prone, below average scorer?
- Feds91Stammer

lol... take away the injury issues on Bjugstad and he's a perfectly fine third line player. That's kind of what I see with Zohorna...tall, soft, pretty good wheels, decent hands, probably averages out at 15 goals per year.

I'm all for Gusev, but he doesn't bit the Hex/Burke mold. He's not truculent.
- Rinosaur

No, but he is the PP quarterback we haven't had since Phil left. I would love it.

I'm all for Gusev, but he doesn't bit the Hex/Burke mold. He's not truculent.
- Rinosaur

Byron is on waivers too...but he definitely couldn't beat up Brendan Smith.

lol... take away the injury issues on Bjugstad and he's a perfectly fine third line player. That's kind of what I see with Zohorna...tall, soft, pretty good wheels, decent hands, probably averages out at 15 goals per year.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It's so weird what the perception of being "soft" entails on here sometimes. Does Zohorna bang bodies and play with snarl? No, but that doesn't make him soft. If he didn't use his size to his advantage, then yeah, I'd say he's soft, but he's not afraid out there. He's just not a very physical player.

Byron is on waivers too...but he definitely couldn't beat up Brendan Smith.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Byron is definitely more towards the Hex/Burke mold as far as how he plays, but I think they want a bigger body.

Byron is definitely more towards the Hex/Burke mold as far as how he plays, but I think they want a bigger body.
- Rinosaur

Yah, not sure a 5'7 155lb forward fills the Hextall and Burke model

Honestly, I think if Hextall can't find his big physical player that's also good at hockey, I think he stands pat.

It's so weird what the perception of being "soft" entails on here sometimes. Does Zohorna bang bodies and play with snarl? No, but that doesn't make him soft. If he didn't use his size to his advantage, then yeah, I'd say he's soft, but he's not afraid out there. He's just not a very physical player.
- Rinosaur

If he played exactly the same style but was 5' 9" we'd call him soft/finesse player.

Theres a spectrum of soft...

Jankowski --> Zohorna --> Guentzel --> Tanev

If he played exactly the same style but was 5' 9" we'd call him soft/finesse player.

Theres a spectrum of soft...

Jankowski --> Zohorna --> Guentzel --> Tanev
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I guess to me a soft player is one who avoids physical play as much as possible. Still very early, but I don't quite see that yet from Zohorna. He doesn't seem to fear going into the boards to battle for pucks or anything like that. I just wouldn't call him a physical player.

Bobby Ryan out for the season apparently. Sorry Feds, no 4th round pick coming back.

Bobby Ryan out for the season apparently. Sorry Feds, no 4th round pick coming back.
- burgh4life87

Wow

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

McCann did look good there. And on paper that's a nice fit: a guy with good defensive metrics who while he doesn't drive offense has a finishing touch.

If they did that, I might just go Zucker-Blueger-Tanev on the 3rd line. Still a solid defensive line with a little more pop.

ZAR-Gaudreau-Angelo? I think they could at least eat sone minutes without getting caved in. Gets some size in.

Without trades if course. Would be nice to bump someone down from the 3rd.

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
- j.boyd919

He did bench ERod last playoffs, so I don't he's married to him like JJ. But I agree he probably plays ahead of guys we'd prefer he didn't. I like him in a bench role that plugs in.