Yeah and those 2 being out trickles down to the bottom 6 too, because of how many minutes those guys play they aren't just playing with Sid and Geno, they are also getting significant time with the bottom 6 which would in the process help generate more chances with the bottom 6 having more offensively minded D on the ice vs. Rutta/Frieds/Ruhwedel as your RHD.
- j.boyd919

This is the truth. Much you brought up in previous discussions as a point. We have had a lot of injuries defense being one of them. Most teams wouldn't be doing as well have been without their whole R side of starting defenseman and starting goalie. Thankfully we are starting to get healthy (knock on wood). So this team should improve.

I think at this point McCabe is definitely the superior player to Dumo, and that's what the idea is, to replace Dumo with a younger/better/play driving Dman but I am not sure how much better he is than POJ. I don't think it's THAT much. Plus having him on contract for how many more years vs. just using POJs ELC+RFA contract is probably smarter imo.
- j.boyd919

That makes sense. Thank you for breaking that down. I do agree though. POJs contracts should be cheaper and POJ still has room to improve. Our LHD should be solid with Smith, POJ and Pettersson.

The issue with going from POJ to McCabe is that he doesn't really move the needle offensively either, you're still in the same position where the D isn't pulling their weight, so instead of moving laterally from POJ to McCabe, a better course of action in my opinion would be (if you even can) dump Dumo with pick attached. Use cap savings to acquire bottom 6 help that can actually help score, then you gotta hope the D starts chipping in more.

I personally find the D's inability to produce tangible offense a bigger issue than the bottom 6 at the moment, but that is also going to be more difficult to address via trade so I think they have to go "all in" on trying to get bottom 6 help that can give some depth scoring.
- j.boyd919

Also a much higher probability of fixing itself given that it’s possible Letang and Petry eventually get it together once they stay on the ice for an extended consecutive period. I think you gotta try to fix the bottom six and assume Letang and Petry are still good players and hope for the best.

Who the (frank) is Sylvie McCarthy
- j.boyd919

I know right?

“It’s funny to hear a female talk about shifts.”

I know right?

“It’s funny to hear a female talk about shifts.”
- jmatchett383

It's a female? I thought it was a dude lol I got nothing against female writers. Some of my favorite sports journalists are women.

Also a much higher probability of fixing itself given that it’s possible Letang and Petry eventually get it together once they stay on the ice for an extended consecutive period. I think you gotta try to fix the bottom six and assume Letang and Petry are still good players and hope for the best.
- Victoro311

Yep, that was pretty much my point, is that you bank on Petry/Letang righting the ship on D, and focus on low cost but effective upgrades to the bottom 6 instead of insignificant improvements on D.

I don't get the McCabe for Dumo crowd. It may just be me though. I get that maybe for PK purposes it would make sense; however the reason you move Dumo is much like you stated the benefit of getting rid of 4.1 million. Especially since we have Smith and even Friedman as potential younger and cheaper options at LHD.

I know it is a different thought, but how about acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko (after dumping Dumo and Kap of course)? I know the Russian to play with Malkin narrative is dead, but honestly he is a star. He has improved Vancouvers powerplay. He goes to the net and will sit net front during powerplays. He has a nice shot and speed. We can bump Rust down to the 3rd line in an effort to add some scoring potential outside of the top 2 lines. I could see a solid 3rd line of
McGinn - Bluegar - Rust. Put Carter in the Cullen role of 4th line limited minutes.
- 123Kid

Boyd is the original pioneer of wanting McCabe around here and was all about it RWs blog about such things about a month and a half ago hahah... But in all fairness things have changed, or become more evident, since then.

Boyd is the original pioneer of wanting McCabe around here and was all about it RWs blog about such things about a month and a half ago hahah... But in all fairness things have changed, or become more evident, since then.
- MattStrat

Oh yeah, I definitely wanted McCabe back when he was an FA. I don't deny that at all. I don't think I really wanted him via trade this season though, did I?

Oh yeah, I definitely wanted McCabe back when he was an FA. I don't deny that at all. I don't think I really wanted him via trade this season though, did I?
- j.boyd919

You did. This is from about a month ago:

My name is j.boyd919, that's me alright. So guys, feel me on this, right, the Pittsburgh Penguins professional ice hockey club should totes trade for professional ice hockey player Jake "Bobby Orr" McCabe. It doesn't really matter what the cost would be, because no one or even five players on the Penguins roster are as good as he is. Yes the Penguins should acquire Jake McCabe no matter what the cost. Women shouldn't be able to vote or drive.
- j.boyd919

You did. This is from about a month ago:
- jmatchett383

hahahah

Oh yeah, I definitely wanted McCabe back when he was an FA. I don't deny that at all. I don't think I really wanted him via trade this season though, did I?
- j.boyd919

I think the point of the blog was Dumo and a pick for McCabe and I think this is when he was still being deployed 1st pair with Tanger. You, me and others were for it. I could be wrong...have been before and will be again hahah

These are all excellent points. Hextall is boxed in with NTC's and cap hits. There's no big deal to make. I'm fairly comfortable with the D IF they're healthy. It's not a cup team, but I think they can do some damage with a legit 3 C. I heard on the radio the other day that out of our last 24 goals, 21 were scored by the top 6. People are underestimating how big the loss of Letang and Petry have been.
- madmike71

A point Ive been trying to beat into peoples brains here when theyre basing a negative take on the the whole season, and possible outcome of it, on the past 3ish weeks without those guys. Grinder, for instance, thinks its justification of his take that Geno, Tanger and Rust shouldnt of been extended hahaha

A point Ive been trying to beat into peoples brains here when theyre basing a negative take on the the whole season, and possible outcome of it, on the past 3ish weeks without those guys. Grinder, for instance, thinks its justification of his take that Geno, Tanger and Rust shouldnt of been extended hahaha
- MattStrat

Please win in regulation tonight, all Habs fans are cheering for you!

- jmatchett383

hahaha I should have had a little proof read before posting.

So apparently that blog wasnt a month and half ago...it was only 20 days ago haha wtf?....seems a lot longer than that...and this wasnt when Dumo was getting mins with Tanger. I've been wrong about a few things here.

I think the point of the blog was Dumo and a pick for McCabe and I think this is when he was still being deployed 1st pair with Tanger. You, me and others were for it. I could be wrong...have been before and will be again hahah
- MattStrat

Oh okay, yeah maybe that sounds right lol Dumo+pick for McCabe could have been a thing, was it before Smith came up and looked fine? Lol I've changed my mind on that.

Interesting chart from an interesting article.




https://www.pensburgh.com...ffwSjycJd7-Ji2yjeJtM_6sok

Oh okay, yeah maybe that sounds right lol Dumo+pick for McCabe could have been a thing, was it before Smith came up and looked fine? Lol I've changed my mind on that.
- j.boyd919

Possible you'll change it back again now that Tanger is healthy, Dumo is getting paired with him and Smith is going to be scratched and probably sent back down? hahah

Possible you'll change it back again now that Tanger is healthy, Dumo is getting paired with him and Smith is going to be scratched and probably sent back down? hahah
- MattStrat

Sully gonna Sully

There really isn’t much the Pens can having spent the money they have on the players they did. The injuries have been significant, no. 1 goalie, 1 and 2 dman. That would (frank) any team and the fact they’re even in the playoffs at the moment is actually surprising.

I’m also of the opposite belief is that they don’t really need a bigger move. It’s the bottom 6 and D that has been the problem this year. More so the D not pulling their weight.

Pens don’t have chips to make these big moves you want him to. All of his “big” movies happened in the off-season. Adding Petry, Rutta, Smith, resigning Geno, Rust and Rak.

He completely retooled the D for better or for worse so I’m not sure about this “not willing to make the big move” narrative you’re pumping.
- j.boyd919

I agree. I think the Pens need to do something similar to what the Rangers did last year. Instead of making a splashy move they brought in 3-4 mid range guys and greatly improved their depth.

If you bring in a top 6, but he's on a line with guys like Carter, Kapanen, and Heinen, how much impact will he really make? The Pens right now have zero third liners. They need a whole line or at least 2/3 of one.

You did. This is from about a month ago:
- jmatchett383

Well played sir

Also a much higher probability of fixing itself given that it’s possible Letang and Petry eventually get it together once they stay on the ice for an extended consecutive period. I think you gotta try to fix the bottom six and assume Letang and Petry are still good players and hope for the best.
- Victoro311

Honestly I think that's what you need to do. That and promote Smith permanently. Then you have an offensive presence on each pair, and Pettersson and POJ at least move the puck well.

It would be nice to see Pettersson or Dumo score, but we've always had those types of defensemen with long goal droughts and been fine. The fact we're this far in and due to a combination of injury and poor play we have a combined 5 goals from Letang and Petry is IMO the main source of defensive scoring concern. Those are the guys they are committed to for those roles.

Honestly I think that's what you need to do. That and promote Smith permanently. Then you have an offensive presence on each pair, and Pettersson and POJ at least move the puck well.

It would be nice to see POJ or Dumo score, but we've always had those types of defensemen with long goal droughts and been fine. The fact we're this far in and due to a combination of injury and poor play we have a combined 5 goals from Letang and Petry is IMO the main source of defensive scoring concern. Those are the guys they are committed to for those roles.
- Tojo.

Yup, and if that doesn't correct itself, then Petry was a big old swing and a miss, emphasis on old. And Letang's health has just prevented him from being the player he can be. Pens are effed if that's the case.

You did. This is from about a month ago:
- jmatchett383

I remember this post smdh my head…