We are getting the best player (Petry) and we are selling high on Matheson and buying low on Smith. That is likely the thinking. Also, Matheson had 4 years and Marino had 5... Neither has consistently proven themselves to the level we should be confident in what they can do further down the line.
- MacPatty

Agreed ... but Hughes wanted to accomodate his trade request (family matters) while lowering the cap hit (and getting younger).

I think this trade will benefit both teams ... you guys are in WIN NOW mode, we won't be there for a few years.

Petry should be a nice addition to your D corps and complement your older lineup. He's a good player, he had a tough year (like the whole team) but when St-Louis took over as coach his game came back.

Sounds like Petey was dealing with a lot first half of last season

Petry had asked for a trade last year because he was unable to see his family in Michigan due to COVID-19 lockdowns in Quebec. After tallying just 16 points in the first 40 games of the year on a poor Canadiens team, he finished the year with 20 points in his last 28 games.

Hopefully last year was partly being unable to see his family and that's resolved. If not, Pens are in big trouble. But if they get the Petry of most of his career this has to be a win. Why would they miss Matheson on the breakout on the second pair if Petry is there? And hopefully POJ or Smith adds a better breakout presence to the 3rd pair.
- Tojo.

The Petry deal isn't the problem. It is swapping Marino for Rutta.

Dumo - Letang
POJ - Petry
Pettersson - Marino

That is a contender D core imo.

Man... what a day. Read a good deal of what people said here and count me in on the "wait and see" crowd. This is such a re-shuffle of the defense that I'm torn on a few things...

-I'm a Matheson fan/believer and while him and Petry are similar in certain respects, Petry checks off a specific box for Hex/Burke. We don't talk about it a lot, but Petry is a big body and really throws his body around, so ok, I can get on board with their mission.

-Marino for Ty Smith/3rd. I think Hextall could have got more, but Smith definitely has some potential to be a Klingberg-type dman.

-Poehling... this is the only annoying part because he's basically another Arichiblald-type, but he had one season with 9 goals, and I don't get why Hex is going after these kind of guys. I'd rather be dressing Z, DOC and Puustinen than dressing these clowns.

I just hope Hextall will be sending Archibald, Poehling and Caggiula down and use the remaining cap space on Milano.

Rutta has quickly become the McGinn sining of this off-season.

Kap 6/6

Kap 6/6
- Blackstrom2

(frank) off

(frank) off
- Rinosaur

no space for that anyway. After the Guentzel trade though, ya'll should be good.

no space for that anyway. After the Guentzel trade though, ya'll should be good.
- Blackstrom2

Well not really because we'll probably trade him for Lucic.

Well not really because we'll probably trade him for Lucic.
- Rinosaur

(frank), I just cam. That would be awesome.

(frank), I just cam. That would be awesome.
- Blackstrom2

Haha

Regardless, my first bet of the season will be betting on NJD to make the playoffs.

-Poehling... this is the only annoying part because he's basically another Arichiblald-type, but he had one season with 9 goals, and I don't get why Hex is going after these kind of guys. I'd rather be dressing Z, DOC and Puustinen than dressing these clowns.
- Rinosaur

Agree with this completely. Can't keep collecting these "what if" guys if we're never going to find out if we have anything in them. Why bother? Poehling is this years Nylander, and just another ? to add to the logjam of prospects we think we may have. Have to play them at some point and figure out who's worth keeping and who's not.

Agree with this completely. Can't keep collecting these "what if" guys if we're never going to find out if we have anything in them. Why bother? Poehling is this years Nylander, and just another ? to add to the logjam of prospects we think we may have. Have to play them at some point and figure out who's worth keeping and who's not.
- Pags

Yeah, it's odd.

Agree with this completely. Can't keep collecting these "what if" guys if we're never going to find out if we have anything in them. Why bother? Poehling is this years Nylander, and just another ? to add to the logjam of prospects we think we may have. Have to play them at some point and figure out who's worth keeping and who's not.
- Pags

At least poehling is a kid and can still grow as a player. Archibald and caiggula can just beat it. Or hopefully be sent down.

At least poehling is a kid and can still grow as a player. Archibald and caiggula can just beat it. Or hopefully be sent down.
- 10inchTerror

Yes. he is and so are Nylander, DOC, Puustinen, Poulin, Hallander etc. Not that we play kids much, but that's a lot of guys trying to prove themselves with little to no place to play in Pittsburgh. On the bright side we have to be among the favorites for the Calder Cup lol

Hopefully a few players may get shopped like McGinn if some of these kids show they can push their way onto the roster. I mean with the injuries we had last year it is probably wise to have some players who can fill in.

Yes. he is and so are Nylander, DOC, Puustinen, Poulin, Hallander etc. Not that we play kids much, but that's a lot of guys trying to prove themselves with little to no place to play in Pittsburgh. On the bright side we have to be among the favorites for the Calder Cup lol
- Pags

I’m sure they will lucky to get in haha

Hopefully a few players may get shopped like McGinn if some of these kids show they can push their way onto the roster. I mean with the injuries we had last year it is probably wise to have some players who can fill in.
- 123Kid

Can you envision us trading for a top 6 forward?

Can you envision us trading for a top 6 forward?
- Barnaby36

Maybe at the deadline. I think as mentioned earlier. I think Hex will roll with Zucker in the top 6. Tbh a lot of people including myself have been down on Kapanen, but 2 years ago him and Malkin were great together. I think we never get a long enough look with Zucker and Malkin because they were both injured so much the previous 2 seasons and if him and Malkin are healthy who knows what this team will look like. I think around the deadline it would be a good idea to bring in another top piece.

I wish we would sign another player like Milano and maybe trade Kap for another 2 way young prospect. That may just be the WBS Penguins fan in me though lol.

The Petry deal isn't the problem. It is swapping Marino for Rutta.

Dumo - Letang
POJ - Petry
Pettersson - Marino

That is a contender D core imo.
- Feds91Stammer

This^. Rutta signing was just a huge waste of cap space. I’d be ok with it if the pens needed a 5th or 6th dman, but pens already had 3 of them

This^. Rutta signing was just a huge waste of cap space. I’d be ok with it if the pens needed a 5th or 6th dman, but pens already had 3 of them
- drummer829

I’d still ship out Marino with petry on board. Lots of money tied up in defence.

I’d still ship out Marino with petry on board. Lots of money tied up in defence.
- 10inchTerror

But if this was the plan, the pens could had easily kept Marino instead of Rutta. Literally everyone was thinking the point of moving one of the dmen was to make the offense much better

Man... what a day. Read a good deal of what people said here and count me in on the "wait and see" crowd. This is such a re-shuffle of the defense that I'm torn on a few things...

-I'm a Matheson fan/believer and while him and Petry are similar in certain respects, Petry checks off a specific box for Hex/Burke. We don't talk about it a lot, but Petry is a big body and really throws his body around, so ok, I can get on board with the logic.

-Marino for Ty Smith/3rd. I think Hextall could have got more, but Smith has definitely has some potential to be a Klingberg-type dman.

-Poehling... this is the only annoying part because he's basically another Arichiblald-type, but he had one season with 9 goals, and I don't get why Hex is going after these kind of guys. I'd rather be dressing Z, DOC and Puustinen than dressing these clowns.

I just hope Hextall will be sending Archibald, Poehling and Caggiula down and use the remaining cap space on Milano.
- Rinosaur

Poehling is younger than all those guys.

Poehling is younger than all those guys.
- Tojo.

He shows some puck skills. If you look him up on YouTube he has some nice puck skills with a great setup shorthanded on a nice toedrag then a pass to setup a SHG. A good no look behind the legs pass from behind the net to set up a goal and a few amazing shots for goals. He is 6'2". I think he makes his way into the bottom six and at 23 he still has potential to move up the lines.

The more I think of it. The more I feel like bringing in Petry makes Friedman expendable. He brings the hard checking get under the opponents skin type of ability, but he has more skill and is smarter about it.

The fact most people are writing off Ty Smith and Ryan Poehling makes things interesting. Two guys that have the talent to start on the 3rd pairing and the 4th line for now. Both below 23yo. Let’s just hope these deals work out just fine. I was expecting something totally different for our D. Would never think about trading Matheson nor Marino before Dumoulin or Pettersson.

The more I think about it, the Pens roster may be too jammed for a prospect to break through. Sure you can waive an Archibald or Friedman, but they always seem unwilling to and want to preserve their depth over playing the waiver exempt guy. 8 D who need waivers doesn't leave room for any surprises.

Guys like DOC and Smith would seem to have a fair shot, but can still go down this year until they play more games. There is a spot for a forward at least for now.