I saw an interview recently where Letang said he would like to stay in Pittsburgh but also said he would be really excited if he had an opportunity to play in Montreal. Letang definitely isnt taking a discount from where he is currently at. Question is what will his term be and whether he is looking to try something else.
- MacPatty

After mtl’s year so far highly doubt anyone will want to sign there next year. Unless they just want a big pay cheque with a long summer.

I saw an interview recently where Letang said he would like to stay in Pittsburgh but also said he would be really excited if he had an opportunity to play in Montreal. Letang definitely isnt taking a discount from where he is currently at. Question is what will his term be and whether he is looking to try something else.
- MacPatty

Like I said, they either wanna cash out or take a little less for a chance at another run.

After mtl’s year so far highly doubt anyone will want to sign there next year. Unless they just want a big pay cheque with a long summer.
- 10inchTerror

Letang’s accomplished all he can reasonably accomplish since he’s well past his Noris window now. I don’t really see why he wouldn’t be fine just taking a pay check at this point in his career if he doesn’t have the same attachment Sid and Geno have to Pitt. No one knows that but Letang.

Lol last night after we went up 5-1 he basically said the games over, and I instantly saw your head explode 🤣
- 668710

Hahaha man, I'm glad I slept through that. What was he thinking?

I hope Hextall tries to trade Zucker for someone who can score goals.

I'm over that experiment.
- j.boyd919

I saw someone say Francis is a poopty GM. Zucker for Tanev.

Hahaha man, I'm glad I slept through that. What was he thinking?
- MattStrat

Literally right after he said it with like 15 seconds left in the 2nd, Larsson almost scored twice lol

I saw someone say Francis is a poopty GM. Zucker for Tanev.
- Grinder47

Mediocre for Mediocre, definitely a good way to not upgrade the Pens.

I saw someone say Francis is a poopty GM. Zucker for Tanev.
- Grinder47

From what I remember a lot of Francis' issues when he was the GM of CAR was being hamstrung by ownership, but I will say I think he made some questionable decisions in constructing SEA's roster.

Obviously nobody knew if Tarasenko was going to bounce back, but was probably a gamble worth taking and he also could have selected Price or just simply went with Drieger and selected a quality backup. Grubauer + Driedger seemed excessive. The total cost of Driedger + Grubauer is just a hair under what Price makes.

Mediocre for Mediocre, definitely a good way to not upgrade the Pens.
- j.boyd919

Jokes aside, Tanev probably has a lot more value in a trade than Zucker right now.

Would be nice to move Zuck in a hockey trade haha

From what I remember a lot of Francis' issues when he was the GM of CAR was being hamstrung by ownership, but I will say I think he made some questionable decisions in constructing SEA's roster.

Obviously nobody knew if Tarasenko was going to bounce back, but was probably a gamble worth taking and he also could have selected Price or just simply went with Drieger and selected a quality backup. Grubauer + Driedger seemed excessive. The total cost of Driedger + Grubauer is just a hair under what Price makes.
- Rinosaur

Why the (frank) would he have taken Price?

Jokes aside, Tanev probably has a lot more value in a trade than Zucker right now.
- Rinosaur

Would you entertain a Petterson and Kapanen trade for Tarasenko? That's what Blues fans are saying would get it done on CF.

Would you entertain a Petterson and Kapanen trade for Tarasenko? That's what Blues fans are saying would get it done on CF.
- j.boyd919

If that were on the table I think we kind of
Have to do it if the plan is really to try to contend until Crosby and Malkin retire.

If that were on the table I think we kind of
Have to do it if the plan is really to try to contend until Crosby and Malkin retire.
- Victoro311

Not gonna lie, I just don't see how this helps us contend more than having Petterson and Kapanen. Tarasenko isn't quite playing at the level I would willingly destroy my 2nd pairing over.

Not gonna lie, I just don't see how this helps us contend more than having Petterson and Kapanen. Tarasenko isn't quite playing at the level I would willingly destroy my 2nd pairing over.
- burgh4life87

Not to mention that MM bumps up into the second pairing. F that. The less minutes for Matheson the better.

Would you entertain a Petterson and Kapanen trade for Tarasenko? That's what Blues fans are saying would get it done on CF.
- j.boyd919

So you're ok with a Matheson/Marino 2nd pair?

Would you entertain a Petterson and Kapanen trade for Tarasenko? That's what Blues fans are saying would get it done on CF.
- j.boyd919

(frank) em, send them Matheson and Kap

How much leverage would STL actually have? I'm not saying they're not going to get a good deal, but if Tarasenko is still insistent on leaving I can't imagine they get a king's ransom.

Why the (frank) would he have taken Price?
- Feds91Stammer

Why not?

Not gonna lie, I just don't see how this helps us contend more than having Petterson and Kapanen. Tarasenko isn't quite playing at the level I would willingly destroy my 2nd pairing over.
- burgh4life87

Pens have a really good process and system, but no one that can score goals. Or rather, not enough guys that can score goals. We're basically a super old version of recent Canes teams up until about last year. We're gonna go absolutely nowhere staying the current course and not scoring goals. Tarasenko's possession numbers have plummeted post-injuries but he's actually punching in 5v5 goals at a really good rate (second highest of his career) right now while shooting solidly below his career average shooting percentage but maintaining his career average in shot rate. So in Tarasenko you have a guy who won't help our underlying process, but is scoring goals with a chance to actually up his production if he regresses back to his mean.

I agree with you that losing Pettersson is a pretty big risk. Matheson and Marino are bad together and Matheson is out of his depth above the second pairing. But if it's on the table, you have to consider it as a big swing that can really turn the tide on our goal scoring production. Riikola continues to really impress whenever he's called upon. Would sending Pettersson out for a goal scorer and seeing if Riikola can rise to the occasion a worthy gamble? IDK, but I also know Sullivan won't elevate Riikola from the AHL to the second pairing, so I guess the point's probably moot.

So you're ok with a Matheson/Marino 2nd pair?
- Rinosaur

I think so. Maybe? I dunno. I thunk that’s an upgrade. Slides Rust down to 3RW if you don’t want to move EliteRod.

I think so. Maybe? I dunno. I thunk that’s an upgrade. Slides Rust down to 3RW if you don’t want to move EliteRod.
- j.boyd919

I'm ok with Matheson on a 2nd pair with right dman, but him and Marino are terrible together.

Pens have a really good process and system, but no one that can score goals. Or rather, not enough guys that can score goals. We're basically a super old version of recent Canes teams up until about last year. We're gonna go absolutely nowhere staying the current course and not scoring goals. Tarasenko's possession numbers have plummeted post-injuries but he's actually punching in 5v5 goals at a really good rate (second highest of his career) right now while shooting solidly below his career average shooting percentage but maintaining his career average in shot rate. So in Tarasenko you have a guy who won't help our underlying process, but is scoring goals with a chance to actually up his production if he regresses back to his mean.

I agree with you that losing Pettersson is a pretty big risk. Matheson and Marino are bad together and Matheson is out of his depth above the second pairing. But if it's on the table, you have to consider it as a big swing that can really turn the tide on our goal scoring production. Riikola continues to really impress whenever he's called upon. Would sending Pettersson out for a goal scorer and seeing if Riikola can rise to the occasion a worthy gamble? IDK, but I also know Sullivan won't elevate Riikola from the AHL to the second pairing, so I guess the point's probably moot.
- Victoro311

Matheson was solid with Ceci and they played 2nd pairing minutes, so I think it's possible to pair Matheson with the right dman, but Marino isn't it and like you said, it's unlikely Riikola gets 2nd pairing duty.

Pens have a really good process and system, but no one that can score goals. Or rather, not enough guys that can score goals. We're basically a super old version of recent Canes teams up until about last year. We're gonna go absolutely nowhere staying the current course and not scoring goals. Tarasenko's possession numbers have plummeted post-injuries but he's actually punching in 5v5 goals at a really good rate (second highest of his career) right now while shooting solidly below his career average shooting percentage but maintaining his career average in shot rate. So in Tarasenko you have a guy who won't help our underlying process, but is scoring goals with a chance to actually up his production if he regresses back to his mean.

I agree with you that losing Pettersson is a pretty big risk. Matheson and Marino are bad together and Matheson is out of his depth above the second pairing. But if it's on the table, you have to consider it as a big swing that can really turn the tide on our goal scoring production. Riikola continues to really impress whenever he's called upon. Would sending Pettersson out for a goal scorer and seeing if Riikola can rise to the occasion a worthy gamble? IDK, but I also know Sullivan won't elevate Riikola from the AHL to the second pairing, so I guess the point's probably moot.
- Victoro311

If Sully trusted Riikola to play that spot I think I would be more inclined to make a move like this, but I think you are right when you say Sully won't do that.
At this point I think the combination of Kapanen and Pettersson give more to the Pens. I guess we have to wait and see what happens when Rust and Malkin return too. Maybe things will change by the time the deadline comes around.

I think so. Maybe? I dunno. I thunk that’s an upgrade. Slides Rust down to 3RW if you don’t want to move EliteRod.
- j.boyd919

I saw the one trade proposal on there that was Kap, Petts, a 1st and Hallander for Tarasenko.