To be fair Ruhwedel is our smaller defenseman lol Lucic is a big guy.

Ruhwedel is not one to make many mistakes during games. Friedman I jus feel like he's a decent 7th D. He's a gnat and like to engage. That's OK.
- Barnaby36

Were you watching the game? Ruh took a terrible angle and Lucic essentialy beat him with speed. Let that sink in...

Friedman takes too many penalties. Ruhwedel was badly beaten by Lucic on the Calgary goal last game.

You get what you pay for with these two. I agree there's no rush to make a trade. I disagree that we're fine with one in the line up come playoff time. If we make the playoffs, that's not a guarantee yet.
- Thunderbolt

A 5/6 dman that will mesh well with Matheson, and a better backup goalie would be what I'm trying to grab right now.

Were you watching the game? Ruh took a terrible angle and Lucic essentialy beat him with speed. Let that sink in...
- 668710

I fell asleep during the game but lets not crucify the guy for one play. Letang, Dumoulin, Marino, Pettersson, Matheson all had bad plays ang gave up goals at some point. The sky isn't falling.

A 5/6 dman that will mesh well with Matheson, and a better backup goalie would be what I'm trying to grab right now.
- 668710

We miss Codi Ceci. He was an excellent signing.

The goaltender situation is going to sort itself in house. Domingue has NHL experience, quite a bit more than DeSmith and they're close in age. I would say you need to start DeSmith against Vancouver or Seattle, preferable Vancouver. If he stinks up the joint, send him down to WBS. His start against Montreal was encouraging, it bought him one more chance.

Let's face it, we have three back ups at minimum wage now. Linberg is in the mix. Realistically we aren't getting anyone better.

I fell asleep during the game but lets not crucify the guy for one play. Letang, Dumoulin, Marino, Pettersson, Matheson all had bad plays ang gave up goals at some point. The sky isn't falling.
- Barnaby36

Ruhwedel has been a solid back up for years now. I want a stay at home defenseman in that position. Someone who makes life tougher on guys who camp out in front of our goalie.

Speaking of stay at home 'D'. What's up with Dumo? He thinks he's Paul Coffey, or what. My son says he bet someone he can score a goal.

Were you watching the game? Ruh took a terrible angle and Lucic essentialy beat him with speed. Let that sink in...
- 668710

That kind of poop happens to most 5/6 defensemen lol that’s why they are third pair/scratches.

We miss Codi Ceci. He was an excellent signing.

The goaltender situation is going to sort itself in house. Domingue has NHL experience, quite a bit more than DeSmith and they're close in age. I would say you need to start DeSmith against Vancouver or Seattle, preferable Vancouver. If he stinks up the joint, send him down to WBS. His start against Montreal was encouraging, it bought him one more chance.

Let's face it, we have three back ups at minimum wage now. Linberg is in the mix. Realistically we aren't getting anyone better.
- Thunderbolt

I'd like to see both Domingue and Lindberg get a few starts in over the next few months. Jarry is playing great but I will not be sold on him until he shows up in the playoffs. If the Pens are going to make any sort of run at it this year, they need someone better than Desmith/Domingue/Lindberg to be able to push Jarry and be a legit backup option.

I know this will get panned, but Fleury seems to have found his game and Chicago isn't going to be in the playoff hunt. I don't know what a deal looks like but if we could get him cheap, that is the direction I would go.

I'd like to see both Domingue and Lindberg get a few starts in over the next few months. Jarry is playing great but I will not be sold on him until he shows up in the playoffs. If the Pens are going to make any sort of run at it this year, they need someone better than Desmith/Domingue/Lindberg to be able to push Jarry and be a legit backup option.

I know this will get panned, but Fleury seems to have found his game and Chicago isn't going to be in the playoff hunt. I don't know what a deal looks like but if we could get him cheap, that is the direction I would go.
- MacPatty

If Fleury comes dirty cheap I'd go for that. Him and Jarry would be awesome.

I'd like to see both Domingue and Lindberg get a few starts in over the next few months. Jarry is playing great but I will not be sold on him until he shows up in the playoffs. If the Pens are going to make any sort of run at it this year, they need someone better than Desmith/Domingue/Lindberg to be able to push Jarry and be a legit backup option.

I know this will get panned, but Fleury seems to have found his game and Chicago isn't going to be in the playoff hunt. I don't know what a deal looks like but if we could get him cheap, that is the direction I would go.
- MacPatty

I'll start, the best you get is Fluery 50% retained. (Same as Kane) Who makes 3.5M? Rust and Kapanen, Rust is intriguing at the very least. Do you trade Rust for Fluery straight up? I don't, now you need to add other parts and MAF isn't quite so cheap.

I'm with you in I have no idea what a deal would look like. What I am sure is, Chicago isn't giving him away.

That kind of poop happens to most 5/6 defensemen lol that’s why they are third pair/scratches.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, well, I want my grit boner, dammit.

Someday you'll understand...sonny boy.

Ruhwedel has been ok, but the coach only trusts him to play 15:30 minutes a game while Letang logs 26 and Marino 22. An upgrade wouldn't hurt. They should really be trying to give Letang less time to keep him fresh. Ceci enabled them to do this last year.

Friedman similarly only gets 14 a game when he plays.

POJ had a limited sample, and his actual results didn't line up with his expected numbers in part because of some mistakes he made, but he does currently lead the team in xGA and is second to EliteRod in xGF% while playing 18 a game.

I think POJ should be breaking in as a 3rd pair defenseman now. But the Pens have 3 expensive LD in front of them and even MM has been playing pretty well so there isn't a spot.

I'll start, the best you get is Fluery 50% retained. (Same as Kane) Who makes 3.5M? Rust and Kapanen, Rust is intriguing at the very least. Do you trade Rust for Fluery straight up? I don't, now you need to add other parts and MAF isn't quite so cheap.

I'm with you in I have no idea what a deal would look like. What I am sure is, Chicago isn't giving him away.
- Thunderbolt

While they won't give him away, I dont think Chicago would hold Fleury hostage. I don't think they would be interested in Rust...

If we are going all in, I'd take a shot at the following. This gets you on the dot cap compliance.

PIT: Kane 1/2 retained
SJS: Zucker

PIT: Fleury 1/2 retained
CHI: Desmith & Poulin.

I don't love giving away Poulin for a rental but for me it's either go all in or trade everyone away. No more half pregnant approaches.

Ruhwedel has been ok, but the coach only trusts him to play 15:30 minutes a game while Letang logs 26 and Marino 22. An upgrade wouldn't hurt. They should really be trying to give Letang less time to keep him fresh. Ceci enabled them to do this last year.

Friedman similarly only gets 14 a game when he plays.

- Tojo.

I think 13 to 15 minutes is fairly typical for a 3rd pairing dman, no?

I fell asleep during the game but lets not crucify the guy for one play. Letang, Dumoulin, Marino, Pettersson, Matheson all had bad plays ang gave up goals at some point. The sky isn't falling.
- Barnaby36

I agree with you on that. Ruh made the same mistake that everyone at that price point will make at some point lol

While they won't give him away, I dont think Chicago would hold Fleury hostage. I don't think they would be interested in Rust...

If we are going all in, I'd take a shot at the following. This gets you on the dot cap compliance.

PIT: Kane 1/2 retained
SJS: Zucker

PIT: Fleury 1/2 retained
CHI: Desmith & Poulin.

I don't love giving away Poulin for a rental but for me it's either go all in or trade everyone away. No more half pregnant approaches.
- MacPatty

I had brought up the trading idea a few days back just to think out loud and I just don't think it's a good idea. Kane's negatives far outweigh his positives IMO. Also, with all the negative press this guy brings, I can't see new ownership wanting to start out on a controversial foot.

That said, I think it was mentioned somewhere that they're not going to take a player with a decent salary back AND retain 50%. I think retaining 50% would be simply for picks/prospects.

We miss Codi Ceci. He was an excellent signing.

The goaltender situation is going to sort itself in house. Domingue has NHL experience, quite a bit more than DeSmith and they're close in age. I would say you need to start DeSmith against Vancouver or Seattle, preferable Vancouver. If he stinks up the joint, send him down to WBS. His start against Montreal was encouraging, it bought him one more chance.

Let's face it, we have three back ups at minimum wage now. Linberg is in the mix. Realistically we aren't getting anyone better.
- Thunderbolt

I’m actually surprised that Domingue hasn’t found his way into the big club yet with DeSmith’s struggles. Domingue was solid for Tampa when he was backing up Vasi.

I agree with you on that. Ruh made the same mistake that everyone at that price point will make at some point lol
- j.boyd919

Not that I'm trying to make any excuses for Ruhwedel, but even the best defenders get walked by scrubs sometimes. Sometimes if you're asleep at the wheel for one second you're too far out of position to catch even the likes of Lucic.

I’m actually surprised that Domingue hasn’t found his way into the big club yet with DeSmith’s struggles. Domingue was solid for Tampa when he was backing up Vasi.
- j.boyd919

Really? I thought he sucked but was just lucky to have an all time great team in front of him.

I fell asleep during the game but lets not crucify the guy for one play. Letang, Dumoulin, Marino, Pettersson, Matheson all had bad plays ang gave up goals at some point. The sky isn't falling.
- Barnaby36

I think something that most of us are guilty of is fixating on mistakes we expect players to make when they're mistakes they've been known to do frequently. Matheson is a good example of this. His reputation before coming to the Pens was his issues with turnovers and yeah, he commits turnovers and people jump on him like "Yup, typical, here we go again" when in reality it's not nearly at the frequency to where it's any more than guys like Letang or Sid. I also get the rationale that he doesn't bring what Sid or Letang do, but that's besides the point and IMO the positives in his game outweigh him making a bad turnover once a game.

I'm not trying to focus specifically on Matheson, just an example. Ruhwedel has been everything you want in a 3rd pairing dman and IMO he's quite underrated. Mistakes like he made are few and far between for him.

While they won't give him away, I dont think Chicago would hold Fleury hostage. I don't think they would be interested in Rust...

If we are going all in, I'd take a shot at the following. This gets you on the dot cap compliance.

PIT: Kane 1/2 retained
SJS: Zucker

PIT: Fleury 1/2 retained
CHI: Desmith & Poulin.

I don't love giving away Poulin for a rental but for me it's either go all in or trade everyone away. No more half pregnant approaches.
- MacPatty

If you’re going all in wouldn’t you want to avoid acquiring the biggest POS in the league?

F trading any serviceable roster players for E Kane....if you did this, how long before Kane is being a POS and suspended again? then you're without said serviceable player you traded away and Kane.

F acquiring Kane in any way, really haha

I’m actually surprised that Domingue hasn’t found his way into the big club yet with DeSmith’s struggles. Domingue was solid for Tampa when he was backing up Vasi.
- j.boyd919

DeSmith played against two high flying teams to start. Ottawa was the first game that showed he just isn't up to the task.

Sullivan is more stubborn than patient, so I can see where he is reluctant to make the switch. The time is now for DeSmith to prove he belongs in the NHL. I hope Sullivan sees it the same way.

While they won't give him away, I dont think Chicago would hold Fleury hostage. I don't think they would be interested in Rust...

If we are going all in, I'd take a shot at the following. This gets you on the dot cap compliance.

PIT: Kane 1/2 retained
SJS: Zucker

PIT: Fleury 1/2 retained
CHI: Desmith & Poulin.

I don't love giving away Poulin for a rental but for me it's either go all in or trade everyone away. No more half pregnant approaches.
- MacPatty

Can't see where Chicago and Pittsburgh make good trading partners. The trade you suggest for MAF is interesting. Kane is just a flat no for me.

Anyway I expect RW to have a new blog up when I return. Nice discussing different options with you. A lot of good varying opinions today.

That kind of poop happens to most 5/6 defensemen lol that’s why they are third pair/scratches.
- j.boyd919

Yea, I'm just painting the picture correctly. When he heard that Lucic beat Ruhwedal I got the impression that he felt that Ruh got beat physically in front of the net.