Gotta feel bad for them, so unfair to have to play against a starting goalie
- Pags

That wasn’t a fight in game 5. They just laid on each other. Laf is turning into a player teams hate. He plays chippy but you can see his skill. People will think he’s a bust, but stamkos lecavalier and barkov all started slow in their careers. He’ll be in the top 6 all next year.

The rangers have to figure out their 5v5 play bc they have the talent.
- nyrangers2

Uhh Stamkos led the league in goals his 2nd season.

Uhh Stamkos led the league in goals his 2nd season.
- Feds91Stammer

I know. His rookie year wasn’t great.

I look at this as lafs full first year. Don’t think he’ll be as good as stamkos just similar starts. I’m looking for some positive after a tough ending.

Nah. It’s not ignorance. It’s just not overrating players achievements from 40+ years ago.
- Feds91Stammer

Good grief, you still troll these boards!? This has been your schtick for years, get a hobby

I know. His rookie year wasn’t great.

I look at this as lafs full first year. Don’t think he’ll be as good as stamkos just similar starts. I’m looking for some positive after a tough ending.
- nyrangers2

You can always fall back on knowing your Super Bowl MVP is from .........
Beaver Falls.

I've been reading more about the coming draft and it really is sounding more and more like a weak draft. Scouts/Writers seem to even be cooling off on Wright a bit compared to how highly everyone spoke of him previously.

If the Pens can trade their 1st for anything significant they should do it without hesitation. I don't even think they can get a Poulin-level prospect at this point.
- Rinosaur

In terms of the draft, the NHL is closest to the NBA. Your first 5-10 picks are set and the rest of the draft is just a crap shoot. NFL and MLB have much more specific positions to be filled. NHL could be simplified to just 3; center, winger, dman (with the occasional goalie pick).

If their plan is to be “all in” for the next 4-5 years, then the team should be using the next 3-4 1st round picks to upgrade the team. No player in the 16-32 range will be your next franchise player.

In 4 years you have guys like Mcdavid, Panarin, and Eichel all as free agents. if Crosby, Malkin, and letang retire at that time, you could easily throw money at those players. It’s definitely not likely, but the pens 1st round pick is overrated until they’re a bonafide bottom 3 team.

In terms of the draft, the NHL is closest to the NBA. Your first 5-10 picks are set and the rest of the draft is just a crap shoot. NFL and MLB have much more specific positions to be filled. NHL could be simplified to just 3; center, winger, dman (with the occasional goalie pick).

If their plan is to be “all in” for the next 4-5 years, then the team should be using the next 3-4 1st round picks to upgrade the team. No player in the 16-32 range will be your next franchise player.

In 4 years you have guys like Mcdavid, Panarin, and Eichel all as free agents. if Crosby, Malkin, and letang retire at that time, you could easily throw money at those players. It’s definitely not likely, but the pens 1st round pick is overrated until they’re a bonafide bottom 3 team.
- drummer829

Disagree with the no franchise player will be there in the 16-32 range. It’s a numbers game and just 1 pick isn’t likely to net an impact player but multiple can.

Revisionist history mode pens could have had:
2015 - Barzal
2016 - Kyrou/Debrincat
2017 - Boqvist/Robertson
2018 - Miller

A positive sounding article from Rossi. Nothing specific or definitive, but he's reporting it's sounding more likely the Pens will make sure they keep both Letang and Malkin. FSG believes the money is better spent their than replacing them via FA and the other part, which IMO is more significant, is they want to make sure Crosby retires a Penguin and they believe keeping Letang and Malkin is key to that.

In terms of the draft, the NHL is closest to the NBA. Your first 5-10 picks are set and the rest of the draft is just a crap shoot. NFL and MLB have much more specific positions to be filled. NHL could be simplified to just 3; center, winger, dman (with the occasional goalie pick).

If their plan is to be “all in” for the next 4-5 years, then the team should be using the next 3-4 1st round picks to upgrade the team. No player in the 16-32 range will be your next franchise player.

In 4 years you have guys like Mcdavid, Panarin, and Eichel all as free agents. if Crosby, Malkin, and letang retire at that time, you could easily throw money at those players. It’s definitely not likely, but the pens 1st round pick is overrated until they’re a bonafide bottom 3 team.
- drummer829

I agree they should be using their firsts if they can make significant upgrades, but I don't agree on your generalization of the draft. Every draft is different and while you may not get a McDavid in the bottom half of the 1st round, you can still can very impactful players. That said, this draft seems to be very thin and I'd move this pick if there's a good deal to be made.

Pastrnak was taking 25th overall and you should never bank on big names like that ever reaching FA. You can't plan for something like that. That's something, if it happens, you recalibrate when it happens.

A positive sounding article from Rossi. Nothing specific or definitive, but he's reporting it's sounding more likely the Pens will make sure they keep both Letang and Malkin. FSG believes the money is better spent their than replacing them via FA and the other part, which IMO is more significant, is they want to make sure Crosby retires a Penguin and they believe keeping Letang and Malkin is key to that.
- Rinosaur

Agreed it was a nice vibe to hear. Although the comment section would lead you to believe keeping Malkin and Letang would be about as good of a move as signing Jack Johnson lol.

A positive sounding article from Rossi. Nothing specific or definitive, but he's reporting it's sounding more likely the Pens will make sure they keep both Letang and Malkin. FSG believes the money is better spent their than replacing them via FA and the other part, which IMO is more significant, is they want to make sure Crosby retires a Penguin and they believe keeping Letang and Malkin is key to that.
- Rinosaur

They can retain them and still try to overhaul the roster a bit. Trade Zucker and one of Dumo/Petts.

A positive sounding article from Rossi. Nothing specific or definitive, but he's reporting it's sounding more likely the Pens will make sure they keep both Letang and Malkin. FSG believes the money is better spent their than replacing them via FA and the other part, which IMO is more significant, is they want to make sure Crosby retires a Penguin and they believe keeping Letang and Malkin is key to that.
- Rinosaur

Great to hear. As annoying as Rossi is, he is pretty well connected to Malkin's world.

I refuse to believe FSG can realistically think losing Letang and Malkin would be better for the franchise in the short term and long term.

Disagree with the no franchise player will be there in the 16-32 range. It’s a numbers game and just 1 pick isn’t likely to net an impact player but multiple can.

Revisionist history mode pens could have had:
2015 - Barzal
2016 - Kyrou/Debrincat
2017 - Boqvist/Robertson
2018 - Miller
- Feds91Stammer

The next two players drafted after Barzal were Kyle Connor and Thomas Chabot, So you can definitely get really good players in the middle of the the first round!

Feds, I see you were annoying a lot of people that last couple of days. GOOD JOB!!!

They can retain them and still try to overhaul the roster a bit. Trade Zucker and one of Dumo/Petts.
- PittsPens

I have to think Dumo or Petts are as good as gone and probably the only major departure via trade. I'd like to see McGinn moved, but I have a feeling they value him and while I'm sure they'd like to trade Zucker, I'm not sure how easy that will be. I don't think it's as hard as people think, but I think it will take a specific situation to make it happen.

I read rumblings SEA may be open to moving Soucy. If that's the case I'd trade Zucker + a pick or prospect for Soucy.

Great to hear. As annoying as Rossi is, he is pretty well connected to Malkin's world.

I refuse to believe FSG can realistically think losing Letang and Malkin would be better for the franchise in the short term and long term.
- SuperHenderson13

Yeah, it sounds like they realize letting them walk is a bad idea, so that's good. If they're truly concerned about losing Sid then that's all the motivation they need.

I found this interesting...

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ead-of-nhl-buyout-window/

Frank Seravalli made a list of top ten candidates for a buyout and Zucker is in at #8

8. Jason Zucker
Left Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 30
Contract: 1 more season, $5.5 million AAV
Buyout Cap Charges: $2 mil (2022-23), $1.7 mil (2023-24)
Scoop: This is an interesting one. No doubt, the Zucker trade (1st round pick, Calen Addison, Alex Galchenyuk) has not worked out for Pittsburgh, acquired under the previous regime. Zucker was injured but did finish out the season on the active roster, skating in the last five games of their Round 1 loss to New York. And an active injury would preclude a buyout. But if the Pens are looking for more space, Zucker is a clean way to clear out an additional $3 million, which could help in the calculus to try and keep Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Evan Rodrigues.

I'd prefer the Pens find a way to either dump his salary completely without adding incentive or try and get something useful at a lower cap hit in exchange, but I personally think this could be a good move.

I found this interesting...

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ead-of-nhl-buyout-window/

Frank Seravalli made a list of top ten candidates for a buyout and Zucker is in at #8



I'd prefer the Pens find a way to either dump his salary completely without adding incentive or try and get something useful at a lower cap hit in exchange, but I personally think this could be a good move.
- Rinosaur

I think you could easily find a taker for him if the Penguins keep $2M. Zucker at $3.5M for 1 year would be a good risk for teams.

I would prioritize trading Dumo. I think Zucker can give you something useful if he stays healthy. I dont like selling low on guys. I think a team would value Dumo and could get a good value for him.

Any RFAs who we could target for a trade? If we trade our first, I'd much rather it be for a younger guy who has shown he can hang in the NHL.

I found this interesting...

https://www.dailyfaceoff....ead-of-nhl-buyout-window/

Frank Seravalli made a list of top ten candidates for a buyout and Zucker is in at #8



I'd prefer the Pens find a way to either dump his salary completely without adding incentive or try and get something useful at a lower cap hit in exchange, but I personally think this could be a good move.
- Rinosaur

Another wonderful trade made by JR!

Another wonderful trade made by JR!

- stevens87

I give Rutherford a lot more grief for the Brassard trade than the Zucker trade. Covid really hurt Zucker's start here. Zucker was coming in to play with Sid and to replace Jake who was supposed to be out for the season. Covid hits and all of a sudden, the league starts again and Jake is healthy and can go on Crosby's line.

I think Zucker is guilty of bad luck and a few bad stretches, but he isnt a bad player. No doubt Guerin took his old boss to the woodshed on that deal.

Another wonderful trade made by JR!

- stevens87

Hindsight is 20/20. It's a good trade that unfortunately didn't work out.

I think you could easily find a taker for him if the Penguins keep $2M. Zucker at $3.5M for 1 year would be a good risk for teams.

I would prioritize trading Dumo. I think Zucker can give you something useful if he stays healthy. I dont like selling low on guys. I think a team would value Dumo and could get a good value for him.

Any RFAs who we could target for a trade? If we trade our first, I'd much rather it be for a younger guy who has shown he can hang in the NHL.
- SuperHenderson13

Zucker is a solid player, but his production doesn't live up to his cap hit, so yeah, he can be useful, but it's just a bad caphit for the Pens at this point.

If there's any RFA's of weight I don't think Zucker is going to get you their rights, but I'd be fine if the Pens retained $2M on a trade; that would be better than a buyout.

Hindsight is 20/20. It's a good trade that unfortunately didn't work out.
- Rinosaur

Pens gave up three first round picks plus Addison and their return?

Brassard
Zucker
Kapanen


That's A LOT of hindsight!

Pens gave up three first round picks plus Addison and their return?

Brassard
Zucker
Kapanen


That's A LOT of hindsight!
- stevens87

Right. Not than any 1 particular trade was bad in terms of value..that’s just a lot of valuable assets given up without getting a true impact player in return.

Pens gave up three first round picks plus Addison and their return?

Brassard
Zucker
Kapanen


That's A LOT of hindsight!
- stevens87

None of these were bad trades at the time. But it illustrates why I've long advocated for using 1st round picks to target RFAs or young NHL players.

The Penguins traded their 1st for David Perron. On paper, it made a ton of sense. Perron never had an NHL quality coach and it didnt work out. That eventually turned into Hagelin which paid off with 2 Cups. That pick ended up being Matt Brazal, a top quality NHLer. That's a risk you have to take. Boston had 3 first round picks, all largely busts. The 3 taken after Boston's 3 are all studs (Brazal, Connor, and Chabot).

Obviously I'd take the 2 Cups over Brazal and there are plenty of years where you draft a dud in the 1st round like Simon Despres, Beau Bennett, Angelo Esposito, etc.

I think half of teams in the league overvalue 1st round picks, and plenty of teams undervalue them. I dont like trading them for rentals, and I dont always like holding them and gambling with them. Give me a player with youth and upside who is already in the NHL versus an unproven commodity.

None of these were bad trades at the time. But it illustrates why I've long advocated for using 1st round picks to target RFAs or young NHL players.

The Penguins traded their 1st for David Perron. On paper, it made a ton of sense. Perron never had an NHL quality coach and it didnt work out. That eventually turned into Hagelin which paid off with 2 Cups. That pick ended up being Matt Brazal, a top quality NHLer. That's a risk you have to take. Boston had 3 first round picks, all largely busts. The 3 taken after Boston's 3 are all studs (Brazal, Connor, and Chabot).

Obviously I'd take the 2 Cups over Brazal and there are plenty of years where you draft a dud in the 1st round like Simon Despres, Beau Bennett, Angelo Esposito, etc.

I think half of teams in the league overvalue 1st round picks, and plenty of teams undervalue them. I dont like trading them for rentals, and I dont always like holding them and gambling with them. Give me a player with youth and upside who is already in the NHL versus an unproven commodity.
- SuperHenderson13

I think it makes sense to have an all or nothing approach with 1st round picks. Either you always trade them to improve your team or you always keep them to maximize the odds of hitting an impact player.