Yeah this was obvious in July. But a lot of fanboys were still giddy over the trio coming back.
- sammy87

I think the fanboys around here recognized his mistakes as soon as they were announced. Even the Pittsburgh media, who barely pay attention to this team until Steelers season is over, questioned most of his supplemental additions and his lack of action on goal tending.

The trio has been mostly great. Everything else Hextall has done has blown up.

I think the fanboys around here recognized his mistakes as soon as they were announced. Even the Pittsburgh media, who barely pay attention to this team until Steelers season is over, questioned most of his supplemental additions and his lack of action on goal tending.

The trio has been mostly great. Everything else Hextall has done has blown up.
- madmike71

Oh I was happy to have Geno, Letang, Rust and Rakell back. And they’re all playing fine. I think Letang is having a rough go, as is Rust a bit but Rakell has been better than last year and Geno just keeps churning on.

Said it when it happened, shoulda let Kap walk and never should have signed Rutta. That’s 6m that should have never been signed to the books. Blocked Smith from being in the lineup. I think Matheson was definitely expendable with POJ ready to jump in but I dunno in hindsight if acquiring Petry was the right move. He’s quietly producing similarly to his usual rates but he’s still nothing special to me.

Hextall should just ask Carter if he would take a trade. I can’t imagine he thought he would be playing with this team of bums when he re upped.

Would you give up 1st, 2nd, Pickering, PO Joseph, and salary cap filler (Kapanen and Mcginn) for Bennett and Verhaeghe???

Anyone see the mess going on with AT&T local sports broadcasts? From what I gather, their parent company Sinclair bought all of these local sports channels when AT&T had to divest them due to debt concerns from their acquisition of Time Warner. However, the sports channels all operate under Diamond Sports.

Now Diamond Sports hasnt made an interest payment timely and several MLB teams, including the Pirates, reportedly didnt get their full payment for broadcasting rights. Diamond Sports could be close to bankruptcy.

Its believed only the MLB teams are impacted, but a number of NHL teams use these regional networks for broadcasting, but it doesnt sound like there are any problems for this season. I remember way back probably 10+ years ago Lemieux and Burkle were interested in buying AT&T Sports Pittsburgh and the Pirates and controlling both teams plus their local broadcasting. Similar to what teams in markets like NYC, Chicago, and Boston. Probably not as profitable today compared to back then, but it will be something to watch to see if FSG makes a play for the network.

I think the fanboys around here recognized his mistakes as soon as they were announced. Even the Pittsburgh media, who barely pay attention to this team until Steelers season is over, questioned most of his supplemental additions and his lack of action on goal tending.

The trio has been mostly great. Everything else Hextall has done has blown up.
- madmike71

The good news is 1 more season of carter! Lol!

I mean goaltending has been an issue and that was neglected.

I like raked but rust was signed at his peak. Always felt he wasn’t much without Crosby or Malkin.

The good news is 1 more season of carter! Lol!

I mean goaltending has been an issue and that was neglected.

I like raked but rust was signed at his peak. Always felt he wasn’t much without Crosby or Malkin.
- sammy87

1 more season of Carter, Kapanen and DeSmith.... all our biggest problem children are back for an encore. LOL

1 more season of Carter, Kapanen and DeSmith.... all our biggest problem children are back for an encore. LOL
- Willaged

Not to mention Rutta and McGinn. It's like trying to get out of a straight jacket. Carter will likely retire and we still get strapped with his cap hit. Hextall is an f'n Maroon.

Not to mention Rutta and McGinn. It's like trying to get out of a straight jacket. Carter will likely retire and we still get strapped with his cap hit. Hextall is an f'n Maroon.
- madmike71

Yep- Cap savings will be achieved through Domoulin, Zucker and Blueger... Blueger can be replaced by Poehling which saves over 1M, Domoulin by Smith- saves 3M.... unfortunately to replace Zucker will cost the same or more- so really no savings there as he is a top 6 guy- and no one ready on this team to step into that spot... so its either resign Zucker or replace in FA....

Not to mention Rutta and McGinn. It's like trying to get out of a straight jacket. Carter will likely retire and we still get strapped with his cap hit. Hextall is an f'n Maroon.
- madmike71

Why retire? He’ll walk away from $3m.

He sticks around.

1 more season of Carter, Kapanen and DeSmith.... all our biggest problem children are back for an encore. LOL
- Willaged

By my quick math, nearly $8M being wasted on clown players.

Yep- Cap savings will be achieved through Domoulin, Zucker and Blueger... Blueger can be replaced by Poehling which saves over 1M, Domoulin by Smith- saves 3M.... unfortunately to replace Zucker will cost the same or more- so really no savings there as he is a top 6 guy- and no one ready on this team to step into that spot... so its either resign Zucker or replace in FA....
- Willaged

I'm slowly moving into the sell or stand pat category. If any of our players are moveable and somebody wants them, I'd do it. Let's be realistic, if Jarry comes back at all, he's not going to last through any kind of playoff run.

I used to think they should go all in, but I don't see how they fix so many problems at the TDL. This goal tending problem isn't fixable and the east is a powerhouse. Seems futile.

I'm slowly moving into the sell or stand pat category. If any of our players are moveable and somebody wants them, I'd do it. Let's be realistic, if Jarry comes back at all, he's not going to last through any kind of playoff run.

I used to think they should go all in, but I don't see how they fix so many problems at the TDL. This goal tending problem isn't fixable and the east is a powerhouse. Seems futile.
- madmike71

I largely agree, I'd have no problem unloading some of our pending UFAs for some draft capital only to flip that draft capital to re-tool. Not to mention the potential at a top 3 pick.

The problem is selling that to Crosby and the rest of the supporting cast, guys who havent been the problem this year.

Why retire? He’ll walk away from $3m.

He sticks around.
- sammy87

Sure....maybe.

Best thing is he develops a skin condition and becomes allergic to his equipment or something. Dude has earned around 80 million in his career and he's quickly becoming the next Jack Johnson here. Unless he's been a total fool with his money like JJ, he should thank the Pens for extending his career and forego the stolen paycheck. That's what I would do anyway. But yeah... I realize he has no obligation to do that.

Sure....maybe.

Best thing is he develops a skin condition and becomes allergic to his equipment or something. Dude has earned around 80 million in his career and he's quickly becoming the next Jack Johnson here. Unless he's been a total fool with his money like JJ, he should thank the Pens for extending his career and forego the stolen paycheck. That's what I would do anyway. But yeah... I realize he has no obligation to do that.
- madmike71

No "maybe" about it. People don't walk away from 3 million dollars.

No "maybe" about it. People don't walk away from 3 million dollars.
- jmatchett383

I think Duncan Keith just retired early. I'm not saying it's common. Football players do it more frequently. Andrew Luck, Stephon Tuitt come to mind.

Just saying if I was once a very good player who was obviously struggling and hurting my team, I wouldn't do it if I really didn't need the money.

I think Duncan Keith just retired early. I'm not saying it's common. Football players do it more frequently. Andrew Luck, Stephon Tuitt come to mind.

Just saying if I was once a very good player who was obviously struggling and hurting my team, I wouldn't do it if I really didn't need the money.
- madmike71

NHL contracts are guaranteed. NFL no.

Luck saw long term damage if he continued and walked away.

Wasn’t Keith pretty injured? Carter still plays a whole season just at a poopty level.

I sometimes chime in on the Rangers comment section and they keep talking about Sam Lafferty and how he'd be a good target for the Rangers. I havent seen him on Chicago, has he become a useful NHL player while Nylander is trapped in the AHL still?

I sometimes chime in on the Rangers comment section and they keep talking about Sam Lafferty and how he'd be a good target for the Rangers. I havent seen him on Chicago, has he become a useful NHL player while Nylander is trapped in the AHL still?
- SuperHenderson13

22 goals and 21 assists in 48 games this season....0.90 ppg....hard not to think he could possibly bring some production to the bottom 6. Its also crazy, to me anyway, he hasn't been given one shot with the big Pens yet haha. Grudens and Caggiulas getting shots...

Yeah this was obvious in July. But a lot of fanboys were still giddy over the trio coming back.
- sammy87

The trio aren't the problem at all though...in any way...not cap hits, nor production, nothing hahaha

Once again we only hear from you when the Pens aren't doing well hahaha its like clockwork. You thrive when they struggle. Why is that?

We dont need Carter to retire per se, we need Sully to snap the F out of it regarding him. Scratch him some games.

I can't see Carter retiring.

Anyone see the mess going on with AT&T local sports broadcasts? From what I gather, their parent company Sinclair bought all of these local sports channels when AT&T had to divest them due to debt concerns from their acquisition of Time Warner. However, the sports channels all operate under Diamond Sports.

Now Diamond Sports hasnt made an interest payment timely and several MLB teams, including the Pirates, reportedly didnt get their full payment for broadcasting rights. Diamond Sports could be close to bankruptcy.

Its believed only the MLB teams are impacted, but a number of NHL teams use these regional networks for broadcasting, but it doesnt sound like there are any problems for this season. I remember way back probably 10+ years ago Lemieux and Burkle were interested in buying AT&T Sports Pittsburgh and the Pirates and controlling both teams plus their local broadcasting. Similar to what teams in markets like NYC, Chicago, and Boston. Probably not as profitable today compared to back then, but it will be something to watch to see if FSG makes a play for the network.
- SuperHenderson13

Where are you hearing this. I owned AT&T ($T) for years and just recently sold it all. I did keep my Warner Bros. Discovery ($WBD) stock after the split. Sinclair isn't AT&T's parent company. They are two separate companies that do have common interests. They have agreements that allow Sinclair to operate on AT&T networks, such as Dish. Although AT&T has sold off Dish and they do not have any programming there.

I am unfamiliar with Diamond Sports. I did a quick search and found they are a subsidiary of Sinclair.

22 goals and 21 assists in 48 games this season....0.90 ppg....hard not to think he could possibly bring some production to the bottom 6. Its also crazy, to me anyway, he hasn't been given one shot with the big Pens yet haha. Grudens and Caggiulas getting shots...
- MattStrat

10 goals, 11 assists lol not 22 and 21.

10 goals, 11 assists lol not 22 and 21.
- j.boyd919

What?


https://theahl.com/stats/...=standard&page=1&league=4

Why retire? He’ll walk away from $3m.

He sticks around.
- sammy87

it's more like $1.5M after taxes, based on his age / career earnings, his portfolio is probably earning more than that per year at this point, so between that and having kids, could easily see him not wanting to deal with the grind of an NHL season anymore. Also, based on the new rules on 35+ contracts, I thought they don't count against the cap so long as they're not front loaded (which Carter's was not).