I hope this trade works out for PIT, I sincerely do. I think it would be insanely entertaining to watch four super high end players with extensive experience on the same team.


However... counting on four 33-37 year old players to be your best players and not only make it through the season, but also maintain their level of performance is a tall order. I'm unfortunately seeing shades of Chicago's "one last hurrah" before they blew everything up.
- Chunk

The problem with this thought is that these 33-37 year old players are generational. One was just voted the best in his position… two others were over a point per game…

Karlsson isn't the best defenseman on the Penguins. The only place he's better than Letang is QB on the power play. I fully expect Letang to be on the left side of the PP.
- Thunderbolt

Ehhhhh... I dunno if I'd call Letang better than Karlsson... while I do think Letang has been underrated league wide, I think he's a notch below Karlsson.

Karlsson isn't the best defenseman on the Penguins. The only place he's better than Letang is QB on the power play. I fully expect Letang to be on the left side of the PP.
- Thunderbolt

You’re going to be disappointed when it’s another forward.

Ehhhhh... I dunno if I'd call Letang better than Karlsson... while I do think Letang has been underrated league wide, I think he's a notch below Karlsson.
- j.boyd919

I think there are parts of Letang’s game that are better than EK, sure. But EK is by far and away better offensively.

Ehhhhh... I dunno if I'd call Letang better than Karlsson... while I do think Letang has been underrated league wide, I think he's a notch below Karlsson.
- j.boyd919

Purely offensively, Karlsson is better. But as an all-sitautions player, it's Letang.

I'm not disagreeing with most of this but, despite winning the Norris last season, EK is not the best defenseman in the league. That would be one of Cale Makar, Victor Hedman, or Roman Josi (and maybe, just maybe Rasium Risto....nah, I can't even type that in jest)/
- jmatchett383

“Despite being voted the best, he’s not”.

If I say top 3-5 nobody bats an eye. He is the reigning Norris winner and the new season hasn’t started yet. It’s not unfair to call him the best as of right now but I understand your point. Still, I don’t think some people are understanding the magnitude of this. We wo have either Letang or EK on the ice for 50 minutes. That trickles the offense through every forward and could even limit the amount of D-zone coverage needed (helping jarry out).

“Despite being voted the best, he’s not”.

If I say top 3-5 nobody bats an eye. He is the reigning Norris winner and the new season hasn’t started yet. It’s not unfair to call him the best as of right now but I understand your point. Still, I don’t think some people are understanding the magnitude of this. We wo have either Letang or EK on the ice for 50 minutes. That trickles the offense through every forward and could even limit the amount of D-zone coverage needed (helping jarry out).
- Brownsoldier

Again, not arguing the premise at all.

I still can't really believe Dubas was able to undo nearly all of Hexy's damage and end up with EK.

Imagine if he could unload JC and sign Tatar. That would be God mode.

Again, not arguing the premise at all.
- jmatchett383

Ah. My bad. Didnt mean for it to sound like that. I think we both agree with what each other is saying minus some context.

Its EK season so emotions are running high.

I still can't really believe Dubas was able to undo nearly all of Hexy's damage and end up with EK.

Imagine if he could unload JC and sign Tatar. That would God mode.
- madmike71

god mode is already in full effect. Unloading JC would be more like titan mode.

Watched the press conference and it seems like Dubas is pretty set on a younger guy to step up and take a top 6 spot for a month or so. Unless he was just blowing smoke, seems like he’s not in any rush to make a move for a winger

Watched the press conference and it seems like Dubas is pretty set on a younger guy to step up and take a top 6 spot for a month or so. Unless he was just blowing smoke, seems like he’s not in any rush to make a move for a winger
- drummer829

Yeah he was also talking about how a lot of guys are going to be in competition for that spot and how he will be sending guys down who arent waiver eligible for cap space so that ups the competition as well, which he's excited for.

They are getting old and the chances that 3 of the 4 play all 82 games again this year isn’t a bet I’d be willing to take. Cinderella runs happen and I’d love it but they are also going to have to get through nj or Carolina in round 1/2. The metro is a strong division.
- 10inchTerror

Interesting considering many here are happy with the move to get EK. I would think that making this move would lead to much higher expectations.

You entertained this?
- MattStrat

Hahahahahaha 🤣 got me! Figured I'd join in

Two time all-star Jarry was the top goalie in the league in every stat November and December of last season, then he went down in the Winter Classic. Historically the guy takes time to get back into elite form after layoffs....so where Jarry really stinks is his durability. If he can stay healthy he's really good but there isnt much evidence in this professional career that indicates he can stay healthy. Crazier things have happened, though.

Should of gone after oft injured not really THAT great to begin with Demko instead of Karlsson is a really bad take though.
- MattStrat

Please tell me again how great Jarry has done in the Playoffs.

I'll wait

Watched the press conference and it seems like Dubas is pretty set on a younger guy to step up and take a top 6 spot for a month or so. Unless he was just blowing smoke, seems like he’s not in any rush to make a move for a winger
- drummer829

Well he also said Petry and Granlund were pieces to use moving forward with the Pens 😂

The problem with this thought is that these 33-37 year old players are generational. One was just voted the best in his position… two others were over a point per game…
- Brownsoldier

Indeed they are. Unfortunately, as they say, Father Time is undefeated. I'd love to see everything work out, but that's a lot to put on four high mileage cars. Fingers crossed for y'all. It will be entertaining nonetheless.

I'll be overseas when the season starts, but I'm going to do everything I can to catch that first game. Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Karlsson vs. Bedard and.... uh.... Hall?

Watched the press conference and it seems like Dubas is pretty set on a younger guy to step up and take a top 6 spot for a month or so. Unless he was just blowing smoke, seems like he’s not in any rush to make a move for a winger
- drummer829

There is only one way to find out what your roster needs. I expect Dubas to be active with the waiver wire too. He seems like he wants to take chances in the fringe areas and try to hit an unexpected home run. He sort of did that with Bunting.

Please tell me again how great Jarry has done in the Playoffs.

I'll wait
- Goalie-33

I mean he's been injured for every playoff except for the one play in series game he played against Montreal and had a .920 SP. I'm not concerned with his ability, but will he be healthy is the issue. I would have rather had a better backup/tandem situation for sure.

All the people hoping for the team to sign Tatar need to remember that doing so would put the team right up against the cap - and over when Guentzel comes back if no one else is on LTIR. This is the corner Hextall and Rutherford painted themselves into by not leaving any room for young player call ups. What if Eller stinks? What if the third line doesn't produce? What if someone has a sudden drop off in play? It happens a lot. Let's see what DOC, Poulin, Nylander, and Puustinen do in camp. They might be the answer and a cheap one at that.

Letang and and Karlsson both average around 25 mins per game. It’s possible both players see that number drop a little bit, which could be very good for their durability. Instead of playing Letang 15 minutes in the 3rd period of a close game, Karlsson will help relieve some of that pressure. Hopefully Ty Smith has a good camp because a POJ-Smith 3rd pairing could be a sneaky good d-line to provide extra offense.

Please tell me again how great Jarry has done in the Playoffs.

I'll wait
- Goalie-33

So when he was healthy for a while headed into that covid bubble play in round vs the Habs he played great in his one start.. 1.0 GAA average and. 952 SV%.. Murray got the other 3 starts.. .. Vs the Isles the next year he wasn't good but he just came back from like two months off the last game or two before playoffs started, remember what I said about long layoffs? ....2022 vs the Rangers he had a broken ankle and only played in game 7 after a very long layoff..he was bleeding through his sock post game. There ya have it... The only three seasons your question is applicable.

god mode is already in full effect. Unloading JC would be more like titan mode.
- Brownsoldier

I think it’s possible closer to the deadline. The issue is convincing Carter to move to a new team for the last couple months. He seems like a candidate to become a healthy scratch. Maybe spending half the season as a scratch will nudge him to accept a trade where he might get more playing time

Won’t take long for the Penguins to curse this stroke of genius! Zero forsight. Just grateful EK didn’t end up in TO so thanks for that!
- Bullot

I agree Karlsson wouldnt have been good in Toronto. There's a reason most stars dont want to go there.

Karlsson is old and has had injury problems. That isnt a big secret. It comes down to risk/reward. If a younger team took a chance on Karlsson, it could have crippled them if it went wrong. If it goes wrong for us, the damage is minimal given where we are at within the lifecycle.

I agree Karlsson wouldnt have been good in Toronto. There's a reason most stars dont want to go there.

Karlsson is old and has had injury problems. That isnt a big secret. It comes down to risk/reward. If a younger team took a chance on Karlsson, it could have crippled them if it went wrong. If it goes wrong for us, the damage is minimal given where we are at within the lifecycle.
- SuperHenderson13

This is why we were able to get him without losing any top prospects and while dumping some big salaries. He is a gamble and we were really the only team that it made sense for.