Agreed. Who are they associated with who are hockey gurus? What are they looking for specifically and who do they perceive would bring that to the table?

Like many have mentioned, I think they're going to base their opinion on Hextall's plan not the GM himself. My guess is Hexy's approach is too conservative and slow for them. If it doesn't include a clear path to keeping Malkin and Letang... they'll cut bait.

I don't think they dump Hexy because they have a better guy waiting in the wings. I think they won't like his plan, remove him, interview someone whose plan they like better. Done-zo.

And 100% to the comments that Letang and Geno bring way more box office than any other free agents in their range who are 3-4 years younger.

Give Malkin 4 years and Letang 5. Front load their contracts so at the end of their careers you have the option to trade them to cash strapped team with lots of salary cap. Key word being "option".
- coohill

They should sign Malkin & Letang to a dollar figure then just add a year to lower the cap hit knowing the last year will be a wash.

Anyone who think the Pens should let Geno, Letang and to some extent Rust walk are truly the spoiled of the spoiled. You've been living in back-n-gold land a little too long and need to take a look around the league.

If you think #1 Dmen or GENERATIONAL talents can be easily replaced, even at their ages, you should try being a fan of another random team for a year and see how that goes.

Something seems fishy to me. It’s like a bunch of baseball heads saw the name Crosby and just saw dollar signs. I think we’re going to see this team ran like a business where dollar signs are the most important thing.
- Grinder47

For sure, it's not like they brought the Red Sox 4 championships in 20 years and Liverpool their first Champions league title since 1990.

Bobby Margarita's mid first round projections:



Pens with the 21st pick. Wonder where they go.
- j.boyd919

Mesar is the pick if he’s still there imo.

If only you guys had the ability to google and research FSG…

I've been saying this for a long time but it's a no brainer to fire Hextall (and probably Burke along with him). This season was an unmitigated disaster in terms of general and asset management.

Its crazy that not only are Malkin and Letang free agents, it sounds like they had their loyalty challenged and their sensibilities insulted by the contract offers received from Hextall... which is ironic because those two hadn't been here for a year. Look, if Malkin wants $9M per year I am fine letting him walk, but I wouldn't offer him a 3/$15M contract in a video game....

I have absolutely no doubt that FSG already has their guy and their team prepping for the offseason. I think they will bring in a non hockey CEO, likely from one of their other franchises and they hire a fresh face GM, not someone from the old guard. I think Darche (Dir of Hockey Ops, Tampa) and Chris McFarland (AGM Avs) seem like they would fit the bill.

For sure, it's not like they brought the Red Sox 4 championships in 20 years and Liverpool their first Champions league title since 1990.
- j.boyd919

To Grinders defense, those sports don't have salary caps and that's the point he's making.

Im not sure if he knows it yet or not though but from everything Ive seen and read FSG appear to be extremely data and analytical based in their management and decisions, which I think is excellent news, but he will probably hate it hahaha

I've been saying this for a long time but it's a no brainer to fire Hextall (and probably Burke along with him). This season was an unmitigated disaster in terms of general and asset management.

Its crazy that not only are Malkin and Letang free agents, it sounds like they had their loyalty challenged and their sensibilities insulted by the contract offers received from Hextall... which is ironic because those two hadn't been here for a year. Look, if Malkin wants $9M per year I am fine letting him walk, but I wouldn't offer him a 3/$15M contract in a video game....

I have absolutely no doubt that FSG already has their guy and their team prepping for the offseason. I think they will bring in a non hockey CEO, likely from one of their other franchises and they hire a fresh face GM, not someone from the old guard. I think Darche (Dir of Hockey Ops, Tampa) and Chris McFarland (AGM Avs) seem like they would fit the bill.
- MacPatty

MacFarland is the guy. Avs are big on analytics with Arik and Dawson.

To Grinders defense, those sports don't have salary caps and that's the point he's making.

Im not sure if he knows it yet or not though but from everything Ive seen and read FSG appear to be extremely data and analytical based in their management and decisions, which I think is excellent news, but he will probably hate it hahaha
- MattStrat

Yeah because billionaire sports owner groups definitely don't research their sport before they buy them. I'm sure they bought it and were like "what's a salary cap?"

To Grinders defense, those sports don't have salary caps and that's the point he's making.

Im not sure if he knows it yet or not though but from everything Ive seen and read FSG appear to be extremely data and analytical based in their management and decisions, which I think is excellent news, but he will probably hate it hahaha
- MattStrat

They didn’t have caps before FSG took over either but they didn’t win any championships.

Yeah because billionaire sports owner groups definitely don't research their sport before they buy them. I'm sure they bought it and were like "what's a salary cap?"
- j.boyd919

hahahah I know, I was thinking along the lines of that too.

You're forgetting your sarcasm font today...

They didn’t have caps before FSG took over either but they didn’t win any championships.
- Feds91Stammer

Solid point.

For sure, it's not like they brought the Red Sox 4 championships in 20 years and Liverpool their first Champions league title since 1990.
- j.boyd919

Yeah that still doesn’t shed much light. Are they in it to win? If so they bought a team who is in year 4 of absolute playoff failure with little resources to use for trades and are probably looking at a “nostalgia” era of Sid, Malkin Letang. Everything you hear about FSG doesn’t lineup with the Pens current situation. Id rather have a billionaire owner who loves hockey and wants to brag to his billionaire buddies about how great his hockey team is. (frank) baseball, it should end at little league.

Yeah because billionaire sports owner groups definitely don't research their sport before they buy them. I'm sure they bought it and were like "what's a salary cap?"
- j.boyd919

Still the only positives you hear about FSG is they have a lot of money and like to win. Doesn’t add up to the NHL and the Pens current situation. Just hope it isn’t a 3 year thing and then they wash their hands of hockey because fat slobs will always go to the ball park because it makes them more American.

MacFarland is the guy. Avs are big on analytics with Arik and Dawson.
- Feds91Stammer

I don't know the answer but how involved was he with their scouting?

The Avs success has come from having a top 5 player in the league on a cheap contract and hitting absolute home runs with their draft picks. If he was involved with setting up that team I definitely want him.

Don't get me wrong, basically everything they have done has worked out to a player.

Malkin 4 years @ 7.1M per
Letang 4 years @ 8.5M per
Rust 6 years @ 6.0M per
Rakell 5 years @ 5.0M per

Trade Dumoulin or Pettersson.
Try to trade Zucker.

Yeah that still doesn’t shed much light. Are they in it to win? If so they bought a team who is in year 4 of absolute playoff failure with little resources to use for trades and are probably looking at a “nostalgia” era of Sid, Malkin Letang. Everything you hear about FSG doesn’t lineup with the Pens current situation. Id rather have a billionaire owner who loves hockey and wants to brag to his billionaire buddies about how great his hockey team is. (frank) baseball, it should end at little league.
- Grinder47

While I agree with your comments on baseball, I disagree with everything else here. The Pens this year were a few good roster moves away from being a true contender. Hextall just pissed away the opportunity.

While I agree with your comments on baseball, I disagree with everything else here. The Pens this year were a few good roster moves away from being a true contender. Hextall just pissed away the opportunity.
- MacPatty

So best case scenario you keep Malkin, Letang, Rust and Rakell. What roster moves do you make to help the team.

Yeah that still doesn’t shed much light. Are they in it to win? If so they bought a team who is in year 4 of absolute playoff failure with little resources to use for trades and are probably looking at a “nostalgia” era of Sid, Malkin Letang. Everything you hear about FSG doesn’t lineup with the Pens current situation. Id rather have a billionaire owner who loves hockey and wants to brag to his billionaire buddies about how great his hockey team is. (frank) baseball, it should end at little league.
- Grinder47

Sounds like you did your research. Where were the Red Sox and Liverpool at before FSG's purchase in regards to their "window" or "failures" ?

Still the only positives you hear about FSG is they have a lot of money and like to win. Doesn’t add up to the NHL and the Pens current situation. Just hope it isn’t a 3 year thing and then they wash their hands of hockey because fat slobs will always go to the ball park because it makes them more American.
- Grinder47

Yeah the only positives are the 2 most important aspects of ownership.

Sounds like you did your research. Where were the Red Sox and Liverpool at before FSG's purchase in regards to their "window" or "failures" ?
- j.boyd919

I don’t know, those teams might as well be non existent to me. More money actually helps on baseball though, tgat I do know. Have bo idea about soccer.

I don't know the answer but how involved was he with their scouting?

The Avs success has come from having a top 5 player in the league on a cheap contract and hitting absolute home runs with their draft picks. If he was involved with setting up that team I definitely want him.

Don't get me wrong, basically everything they have done has worked out to a player.
- MacPatty

https://www.nhl.com/avala...che/team/chris-macfarland

Sounds like a bit of everything and learning from Sakic is as good as it gets.

I don’t know, those teams might as well be non existent to me. More money actually helps on baseball though, tgat I do know. Have bo idea about soccer.
- Grinder47

Ah so you don't know poop. Got it. Makes sense.

I don’t know, those teams might as well be non existent to me. More money actually helps on baseball though, tgat I do know. Have bo idea about soccer.
- Grinder47

Red Sox were already a top spender before FSG and couldn’t win…

So best case scenario you keep Malkin, Letang, Rust and Rakell. What roster moves do you make to help the team.
- Grinder47

Imo you don't keep Rust and Rackell, you target Kadri or Trochek and move Malkin to the wing.

Look, I'm not the hugest Malkin fan but his talent is still there. Instead of forcing him to play down low in the D zone, they need to just unleash him on offence, similar to what they did with Kessel. Throw him on the wing and let him blow the zone. Force the opposing D to gamble on holding the line or bailing to cover Malkin. Just let him focus purely on scoring.

Jake-Crosby-x
X-Trochek-Malkin

There are countless guys you could put in those x spots who could have huge success at cheaper rates than Rust and Rackell.