The Pens D isn't THAT bad.

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Smith-Rutta

isn't the worst defense group.
I'd prefer someone a little more physical on the 3rd pair like Gudas but there's not a ton of guys in FA I'm enamored with, and Gudas is about to get overpaid.

Gavrikov from LA could be an option.

Will be curious to see if he tries to get out of Petry's contract. If he does, Ghostisbere, Severson, Clifton, Soucy become options for that 2RD.
- j.boyd919

It’s just old and way overpriced. Petry is not a $6m+ dman.

I’m not sold on poj either. I think he’s fine we’ve probably seen what we’re going to see. He’s cheap for now is about the biggest +.

The Pens D isn't THAT bad.

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Smith-Rutta

isn't the worst defense group.
I'd prefer someone a little more physical on the 3rd pair like Gudas but there's not a ton of guys in FA I'm enamored with, and Gudas is about to get overpaid.

Gavrikov from LA could be an option.

Will be curious to see if he tries to get out of Petry's contract. If he does, Ghostisbere, Severson, Clifton, Soucy become options for that 2RD.
- j.boyd919

I just want to mention something not really directed at you.

Just because the Pens want to value speed doesn't mean you need a team full of small, speedy guys. You don't need knuckle draggers who exist simply to fumble the puck while punching players in the face, but you need guys who can play a heavy game when needed.

And while I know chasing last year's cup is far from foolproof, look at this year's final 4. They are all able to play a heavy, physical game if the space isn't there. Your skill players are tasked with creating space, but they need to be able to fight through it and answer back as well. There's not a ton of Tkachuk/Bertuzzi types, but you do need to have some guys who can be a rea pain the ass without sacrificing skill.

How is it that dusting a house means cleaning things off, yet dusting a cake means to add stuff on?

I just want to mention something not really directed at you.

Just because the Pens want to value speed doesn't mean you need a team full of small, speedy guys. You don't need knuckle draggers who exist simply to fumble the puck while punching players in the face, but you need guys who can play a heavy game when needed.

And while I know chasing last year's cup is far from foolproof, look at this year's final 4. They are all able to play a heavy, physical game if the space isn't there. Your skill players are tasked with creating space, but they need to be able to fight through it and answer back as well. There's not a ton of Tkachuk/Bertuzzi types, but you do need to have some guys who can be a rea pain the ass without sacrificing skill.
- jmatchett383

Of course. Hornqvist, Bonino, Kunitz, Cullen, and a young Bryan Rust were all of that ilk. Not "physical" but grindy but were capable of playing a fast game. I don't think any of us are looking for 6 Carl Hagelin's on the bottom 6.

But if you look at the SCF... both of those teams are fast af. Even when the neutral zone is clogged and they have to dump and chase.. they are still both extremely fast.

Of course. Hornqvist, Bonino, Kunitz, Cullen, and a young Bryan Rust were all of that ilk. Not "physical" but grindy but were capable of playing a fast game. I don't think any of us are looking for 6 Carl Hagelin's on the bottom 6.

But if you look at the SCF... both of those teams are fast af. Even when the neutral zone is clogged and they have to dump and chase.. they are still both extremely fast.
- j.boyd919

Oh yes, they're fast and aggressive. I'm not saying you need 6 muckers and grinders. Just that there's a balance where a few guys who play that game are needed. I think Kunitz ((frank)ing hated him) and Rust are perfect examples.

Of course. Hornqvist, Bonino, Kunitz, Cullen, and a young Bryan Rust were all of that ilk. Not "physical" but grindy but were capable of playing a fast game. I don't think any of us are looking for 6 Carl Hagelin's on the bottom 6.

But if you look at the SCF... both of those teams are fast af. Even when the neutral zone is clogged and they have to dump and chase.. they are still both extremely fast.
- j.boyd919

I also think it has to do with forechecking, transition, and thought processing. You can tell Sullivan grew frustrated with certain guys last year who wouldn't hop on opportunities. They would take their time to make a decsion and let the window close. Our D transitioning out of the Ozone was painful last season. You could really tell how much we missed Matheson and Marino in that area.

How is it that dusting a house means cleaning things off, yet dusting a cake means to add stuff on?
- jmatchett383

So if the difference between a rat and a mouse is that a rat is outside and a mouse is inside, if a rat come inside does it become a mouse or is it still a rat that happens to be inside?

I also think it has to do with forechecking, transition, and thought processing. You can tell Sullivan grew frustrated with certain guys last year who wouldn't hop on opportunities. They would take their time to make a decsion and let the window close. Our D transitioning out of the Ozone was painful last season. You could really tell how much we missed Matheson and Marino in that area.
- burgh4life87

Thought processing for sure. Being able to make those smart decisions fast is important. That was where Bones and Cullen excelled in Sully's system. The hesitance in pinching but then deciding too burned the D a lot last year, gotta do it or not, can't delay in those types of decisions.

I don't think Petry is as advertised when it comes to exiting the Zone. I think that's one area where POJ can improve.

It’s just old and way overpriced. Petry is not a $6m+ dman.

I’m not sold on poj either. I think he’s fine we’ve probably seen what we’re going to see. He’s cheap for now is about the biggest +.
- sammy87

I actually really like the D core we have here. Petry is maybe a bit overpaid but still a really good 2nd pair. Ideally POJ takes a big step forward. I think the problem is that Pettersson just isnt a 1D.

One option I haven't heard anyone mention is Ryan Graves as a UFA. Big, physical LD with a bit of offensive touch to his game. Maybe not a standalone 1LD but I think he would make an ideal partner for Letang. I'd feel really good about this group:

Graves-Letang
Petterson-Petry
POJ/Smith-Rutta

So I have really liked everything Dubas has said so far. I am gathering from his comments that he is going to put his stamp on things right from the start, which I really like. It also sounds like he is really motivated to build something... if he wants payback, his success will deliver nails in Shannahan's coffin.

Just the way he was talking, I think he already knows exactly what he wants to do here. He seems to have a really good assessment of the team and players in advance of joining.

So I have really liked everything Dubas has said so far. I am gathering from his comments that he is going to put his stamp on things right from the start, which I really like. It also sounds like he is really motivated to build something... if he wants payback, his success will deliver nails in Shannahan's coffin.

Just the way he was talking, I think he already knows exactly what he wants to do here. He seems to have a really good assessment of the team and players in advance of joining.
- MacPatty

There are definitely different factions and schools of thought on this board but I feel like we’re pretty much all going to be United under Dubas. He’s going to make the Pens a lot better and that’s ultimately what we all want, and seems like a cool personality to boot.

Switch Tavares with Marner (I know, 1C-2C-1D) and see what the numbers are...but still way higher cap hit.

If I have any complaint about Dubas and the cap, it would be his negotiations with the top players. His depth signings are usually pretty good, which is really what the Penguins needs to focus on.
- jmatchett383

If I remember right, Dubas thought he was getting ahead of the curve signing his second contracts for stars a little higher and then the market went the other way.

Like you mention different situation here and he's done better with the smaller contract. Still a mistake of being too smart for his own good. Hopefully he learned from it.

some quotes from Sully and a Molinari article:

During an online session with reporters Friday morning, coach Mike Sullivan acknowledged that the Penguins have multiple areas to address before next season, and cited one that he considers particularly significant: Speed.

Skating was a hallmark of Sullivan’s Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, but as the Penguins have gotten older, they’ve also gotten a bit slower. Or so it seems, anyway, if only because the rest of the league has been stressing that aspect of the game in recent seasons.

The Penguins don’t overwhelm opponents with their skating anymore; they’re sometimes hard-pressed just to keep up.

That, Sullivan suggested, is something that will be a priority for the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, to focus on upgrading this summer.

“Speed has always been an important element (of the Penguins’ success in recent seasons),” he said. “I think speed is part of the evolution of the game. You look at the teams that are having success in the league, none of them are slow.

“I think that’s an aspect we can improve. There’s lots of other areas that I think we’ve looked at — we can talk for a long time on this subject — but if I were to point to one aspect, I think that’s an area we could look to improve.

“I also think it’s feasible (to do so). We have an opportunity in this offseason to try to surround our (core) group with what it needs to have success.”

The final call on personnel moves fall go to Dubas, who plans to serve as interim general manager until at least sometime in July.

Sullivan said he “had not had a prior relationship with Kyle, up until the last week or so,” but that his early discussions with Dubas indicate their philosophies appear to be in synch.

“Kyle and I have had a couple of conversations, just around the identity of the Penguins, how the Penguins have had success,” he said. “Trying to set the team up to play to their strengths.”
- j.boyd919

Nothing wrong with getting faster, but hope they don't think with a mid 30s core that they're going to get back to out skating everyone again.

Another good part of the Molinari piece
Sullivan did not divulge what he tell Dubas, but indicated that he would not dismiss the idea of going with two relatively equal goaltenders, rather than having a clear No. 1 and a backup. That’s a formula several teams have used successfully in this year’s playoffs.

“When you look at the evolution of the league, there aren’t a lot of goaltenders in today’s game … that go wire-to-wire and play 70-plus games, plus playoffs,” he said. “There might be a couple that approach that, but the majority of the league, I think, has evolved into a different model, so to speak, on how they utilize their goaltenders.
- burgh4life87

Finally, I've been asking for this for years! Hope they upgrade from DeSmith then so they can have a 2a and 2b

Assuming that POJ makes the jump to second pair that could work. Wasn't sure if he was ready to be that type of guy.
- burgh4life87

I think POJ can do it, but I also think Smith can possibly do it. So I have no So I have no issues going in with those 2.

Finally, I've been asking for this for years! Hope they upgrade from DeSmith then so they can have a 2a and 2b
- Tojo.

Isn’t a 2a 2b kinda what we have right now haha? Or is DeSmith a 3?

Nothing wrong with getting faster, but hope they don't think with a mid 30s core that they're going to get back to out skating everyone again.
- Tojo.

I took it as supplementing the core with speed.

Foot speed isn't the only speed. Quick decision making is speed as well.

No one can outskate a pass, so if you're fast on the transition in terms of moving the puck that's another way to be fast.

Isn’t a 2a 2b kinda what we have right now haha? Or is DeSmith a 3?
- Victoro311

Feel like we should be going 1b-2a..

Looking at current roster needs: 2nd line LW, 3 to 4 bottom 6 guys (DOC, Poehling & Nylander coming back) 1st line LD & 1a or b goalie.

We know that Carter and Granlund should not be on this roster.

Need to trade 1 of POJ, Smith or Ruhwedel.

Do we have enough cap space to transform this team back to the speed teams from the 2016 & 2017 teams????

I hope Kyle can pull some of this off, but I just don't see how all these holes can be filled and removing the unnecessary dead weight to have a Stanley Cup competitive team for the final years of the big 3.

Looking at current roster needs: 2nd line LW, 3 to 4 bottom 6 guys (DOC, Poehling & Nylander coming back) 1st line LD & 1a or b goalie.

We know that Carter and Granlund should not be on this roster.

Need to trade 1 of POJ, Smith or Ruhwedel.

Do we have enough cap space to transform this team back to the speed teams from the 2016 & 2017 teams????

I hope Kyle can pull some of this off, but I just don't see how all these holes can be filled and removing the unnecessary dead weight to have a Stanley Cup competitive team for the final years of the big 3.
- kschmitty33

Why do we have to trade POJ, Smith, or Ruhwedel?

POJ is 2LD
Smith can be 3LD
Ruhwedel can be 7th D

Petry, Rutta and DeSmith are the guys that SHOULD be moved. Not the young guys on cheap contracts (POJ and Smith), and moving a 7th Dman ain't going to net you poop.

I don't understand trying to move pieces that should be part of the solution (minus Ruh, mainly talking about Smith/POJ being on cheap term as young players).

Why do we have to trade POJ, Smith, or Ruhwedel?

POJ is 2LD
Smith can be 3LD
Ruhwedel can be 7th D

Petry, Rutta and DeSmith are the guys that SHOULD be moved. Not the young guys on cheap contracts (POJ and Smith), and moving a 7th Dman ain't going to net you poop.

I don't understand trying to move pieces that should be part of the solution (minus Ruh, mainly talking about Smith/POJ being on cheap term as young players).
- j.boyd919

Ruh and Friedman are the perfect depth D. Both combined make like 1.6 mill. That's perfect. Only way I move Smith or POJ is along with a pick for a more proven LD.

I actually really like the D core we have here. Petry is maybe a bit overpaid but still a really good 2nd pair. Ideally POJ takes a big step forward. I think the problem is that Pettersson just isnt a 1D.

One option I haven't heard anyone mention is Ryan Graves as a UFA. Big, physical LD with a bit of offensive touch to his game. Maybe not a standalone 1LD but I think he would make an ideal partner for Letang. I'd feel really good about this group:

Graves-Letang
Petterson-Petry
POJ/Smith-Rutta
- MacPatty

Offensively Petry is fine since he doesn't get the PP time he used to, his production was always going to drop. Defensively, I don't think he's as good with the puck on breakouts as advertised and I don't really think he's that great in front of his own net even though that was said to be one of the reasons he was acquired.

So completely different topic... with Seattle having a good year while completely pissing around Shayne Wright... what do you think it would take to trade for him?

3 unprotected 1sts? 4? I still think he can end up being the best player in that draft and being in Pittsburgh getting mentorship from Crosby and the vets is the best possible scenario for him. I can't draw up a scenario where I think it makes sense but would be amazing for us to get someone for the next generation of Pens who can contribute now.

Edit: The Canadians got Dach (a recent #3OA pick) for a mid first and a second.

Isn’t a 2a 2b kinda what we have right now haha? Or is DeSmith a 3?
- Victoro311

Lol yeah 1a and 1b. Definitely what I'm pulling for. Doesn't seem like a workhorse #1 is available.

So if the difference between a rat and a mouse is that a rat is outside and a mouse is inside, if a rat come inside does it become a mouse or is it still a rat that happens to be inside?
- Victoro311

You sound like a guy who’s never seen a rat.