Anyone else have a hard time believing Guentzel just forgot how to play center, after playing center his entire life? If Rust and Malkins retained you could
Malkin-Sid-someone
Someone-Guentzel-Rust

Anyone else have a hard time believing Guentzel just forgot how to play center, after playing center his entire life? If Rust and Malkins retained you could
Malkin-Sid-someone
Someone-Guentzel-Rust
- Grinder47

They’ve tried this before. It didn’t work.

I’d take a gamble this off-season with the plan of not being afraid to trade more quality futures to fill holes.

Trade: Dumo, Zucker and McGinn
Let walk: Attempt to get something for Kap and Heinen’s rights. Let Erod walk if he wants anything above $1M.

Fill out the bottom six with DOC, Puustinen and Nylander. Try to find another Heinen-situation if possible, too.

DOC-Carter-Nylander
Zohorna-Blue-Puustinen
Some combo of these guys.

See how this shakes out then trade for any upgrades you can.

Start your top six out like this…

Jake-Sid-Rust
Palat-Geno-Rakell
- Rinosaur

For your bottom 6, I generally agree. I might say you should do your best to stack your 3rd line as best as possible given how many teams today can roll 4 lines. But no reason to pay guys like McGinn when guys can do it much cheaper.

But I like your idea of Nylander. I think he can give you exactly what Kapanen gives you at a fraction of the price plus has an upside that Kapanen doesnt seem to have anymore.

For your bottom 6, I generally agree. I might say you should do your best to stack your 3rd line as best as possible given how many teams today can roll 4 lines. But no reason to pay guys like McGinn when guys can do it much cheaper.

But I like your idea of Nylander. I think he can give you exactly what Kapanen gives you at a fraction of the price plus has an upside that Kapanen doesnt seem to have anymore.
- SuperHenderson13

Like I said, it’s a gamble. I think the Pens need to see what they have, if anything, then make necessary trades.

At this point we know what we have in Teddy and Crater, so solidify the top six. Doesn’t have to be Palat, but someone legit and proven. No gambles there.

Based on what I'm seeing, the NHL salary cap should stop being relatively flat after the 2025-2026 season, so 4 more years. So as a player, you really should only be signing 4 or 5 year deals right now, right? Once the escrow is paid back and the NHL players arent indebted to the owners, the salary cap should go up by a good amount to account for the new TV money?

The quotes from Rust are a good signal to me that he's leaving.

Like I said, it’s a gamble. I think the Pens need to see what they have, if anything, then make necessary trades.

At this point we know what we have in Teddy and Crater, so solidify the top six. Doesn’t have to be Palat, but someone legit and proven. No gambles there.
- Rinosaur

I think at most the Pens can pull off 2 trades. My 2 candidates would be Dumo and Zucker being dumped.

The quotes from Rust are a good signal to me that he's leaving.
- SuperHenderson13

That's how I read it too. As good as gone.

I think at most the Pens can pull off 2 trades. My 2 candidates would be Dumo and Zucker being dumped.
- j.boyd919

I think they can move McGinn, too. His contact isn’t horrible, but I’d rather move him and see if some of young guys can slot in.

I think SEA or AZ would be good trading partners for McGinn. AZ needs bodies and to my knowledge McGinn doesn’t have a clause.

That's how I read it too. As good as gone.
- j.boyd919

Even the way Kapanen is talking about Malkin... sounds like everyone knows where things stand.

Pens Inside Scoop
@PensInsideScoop
·
8m
Rickard Rakell: "It was a great experience for me. I've learned a lot from the players and coaches here. I feel like this team had a lot of potential. This is definitely a place I would like to come back to and where I think I can take my game to the next level, as well."
Pens Inside Scoop
@PensInsideScoop
·
6m
Rickard Rakell: "I know this organization has a lot of free agents to take care of. From my standpoint, I'm just going to see what happens. I haven't put that much thought into it yet... but like I said, this is a team and a place I really want to come back to."
- j.boyd919

He's a decent RH shot on the PP too. I could see Rackell getting a lot of Rust's minutes and outperforming his next contract.

Does anyone have an appetite to send offer sheets to other teams' RFAs? It is something the old regime would never have done. If anyone would do it, it would be FSG. I dont see them caring about "norms" or any unwritten rule.

The Rangers dont have as much cap space next year as I thought. Send an offer sheet to Kakko as a thank you for the playoff exit.

I would've much rather dumped first round picks into RFAs than old rentals.

That's how I read it too. As good as gone.
- j.boyd919

Maybe I didn’t read everything. Some of it sounded like typical lip service, but nothing I read seemed to strongly indicate anything other than he’s waiting for the Pens offer and he hopes it’s fair.

I’d take a gamble this off-season with the plan of not being afraid to trade more quality futures to fill holes.

Trade: Dumo, Zucker and McGinn
Let walk: Attempt to get something for Kap and Heinen’s rights. Let Erod walk if he wants anything above $1M.

Fill out the bottom six with DOC, Puustinen and Nylander. Try to find another Heinen-situation if possible, too.

DOC-Carter-Nylander
Zohorna-Blue-Puustinen
Some combo of these guys.

See how this shakes out then trade for any upgrades you can.

Start your top six out like this…

Jake-Sid-Rust
Palat-Geno-Rakell
- Rinosaur

I wouldn't look to play that many prospects. Get a strong 3rd line wing for scoring depth and probably mix in a vet on the 4th line. A Heinen type for the 4th would work for me.

Nylander and Puustinen seem overrated here to me. Nylander deserves a look maybe, but not penciled in on a 3rd line. Make him at least beat DOC out in a competition.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/3256181

Trade Dumo for Tatar
Trade Zucker to anywhere
Sign Radulov, Namestnikov, Goalie, Heinen
Let Kap walk.
Play POJ, DOC, young kids on injuries.

Not a bad lineup here. Pens have options if they can dump 2 contracts.

I wouldn't look to play that many prospects. Get a strong 3rd line wing for scoring depth and probably mix in a vet on the 4th line. A Heinen type for the 4th would work for me.

Nylander and Puustinen seem overrated here to me. Nylander deserves a look maybe, but not penciled in on a 3rd line. Make him at least beat DOC out in a competition.
- Tojo.

Well that goes against the concept of a gamble lol.

If we’re not going to gamble, then I’d elect a few different options.

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/3256181

Trade Dumo for Tatar
Trade Zucker to anywhere
Sign Radulov, Namestnikov, Goalie, Heinen
Let Kap walk.
Play POJ, DOC, young kids on injuries.

Not a bad lineup here. Pens have options if they can dump 2 contracts.
- j.boyd919

This top 6 was brought to you by Feds91Stammer

This top 6 was brought to you by Feds91Stammer
- Feds91Stammer

https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/3256181

Trade Dumo for Tatar
Trade Zucker to anywhere
Sign Radulov, Namestnikov, Goalie, Heinen
Let Kap walk.
Play POJ, DOC, young kids on injuries.

Not a bad lineup here. Pens have options if they can dump 2 contracts.
- j.boyd919

Radulov is as cooked as cooked can be.

I think Rakell gets in the low $5M.

I’m not opposed to the rest. I think SEA is a good fit for Zucker.

Jeff Carter said that playing a full season this year felt "a lot different" physically after playing shortened seasons the last two years.

Think that showed, he seemed like he hit a bit of a wall.

Pens Inside Scoop
@PensInsideScoop
·
8m
Rickard Rakell: "It was a great experience for me. I've learned a lot from the players and coaches here. I feel like this team had a lot of potential. This is definitely a place I would like to come back to and where I think I can take my game to the next level, as well."
Pens Inside Scoop
@PensInsideScoop
·
6m
Rickard Rakell: "I know this organization has a lot of free agents to take care of. From my standpoint, I'm just going to see what happens. I haven't put that much thought into it yet... but like I said, this is a team and a place I really want to come back to."
- j.boyd919

(frank) else is he supposed to say? Take it with a grain of salt.

Radulov is as cooked as cooked can be.

I think Rakell gets in the low $5M.

I’m not opposed to the rest. I think SEA is a good fit for Zucker.
- Rinosaur

Lowest shooting percentage of his career.
Playing with a rookie center.

Candidate for buy low big reward.
Russian Geno Friend.

(frank) else is he supposed to say? Take it with a grain of salt.
- sammy87

He’s supposed to say that the Yinzers are insufferable and that Carter is dogpoop and he will be going to free agency.

Well that goes against the concept of a gamble lol.

If we’re not going to gamble, then I’d elect a few different options.
- Rinosaur

I'd say that's beyond gambling though our prospects aren't that good. Who moves up when you have a couple injuries? Can't just cut depth to have a nice looking top 6.

This will be an unpopular idea, but if the Pens can unload Dumo, Zucker and McGinn, they could basically take Dadonov off VGK’s hands for a low price since they need to dump salary.

He had a pretty solid season and If the Pens can’t do much in FA, he’s a decent option IMO.