I think adding Graves help alleviate some of that. They did what I didn't think they could but had to to compete and basically added a top defense pair.
- Tojo.

Never thought of it that way... But you're right. A really, really good top D pair.

I think adding Graves help alleviate some of that. They did what I didn't think they could but had to to compete and basically added a top defense pair.
- Tojo.

hahaha thats true and I never really thought about it that way. Its impressive, really. Off the top of my head I cant recall another team doing this in an offseason before. Very hard feat to pull off.

When the (frank) is Dubas gonna get off his lazy ass and trade Carter and a 3rd for Nylander (the good one, not Alex)?

When the (frank) is Dubas gonna get off his lazy ass and trade Carter and a 3rd for Nylander (the good one, not Alex)?
- jmatchett383

Perhaps Treliving would value some veteran presence on the 4th line....Then Carter can go back to his home province and play for his childhood team to end his career....

...then where would the other appox 3.5 mill in cap space required come from....hmmm

Perhaps Treliving would value some veteran presence on the 4th line....Then Carter can go back to his home province and play for his childhood team to end his career....

...then where would the other appox 3.5 mill in cap space required come from....hmmm
- MattStrat

Well obviously Toronto is retaining 50% to land a stud like Carter.

Well obviously Toronto is retaining 50% to land a stud like Carter.
- jmatchett383

hahaha yup...when the Pens toss in a 2nd round pick with Carter to do so...

Still not understanding how the coach has been such and overlooked thing this offseason. Everyone female doges about Carter, not the coach that put 40 year old Carter in an 18 year old Jordan Staal role for 90percent of last season with 2 linemates that never worked together.
- Grinder47

The other thing is if Carter still has his scoring touch this season he can be useful, along with him being good at faceoffs, it's just that his boy Hextard gave him too much money.

Still not understanding how the coach has been such and overlooked thing this offseason. Everyone female doges about Carter, not the coach that put 40 year old Carter in an 18 year old Jordan Staal role for 90percent of last season with 2 linemates that never worked together.
- Grinder47

The options for bottom 6 center for most of last year were Carter, Teddy, Poehling, and on the wings Arch, McGinn, Kap, Heinen. There weren't any combos that were going to be any good. Teddy was mostly a healthy scratch for Vegas and Poehling wasn't qualified by Dubas and then signed a 1-year deal to get yelled at by Torts.

I am withholding judgement on the coaching from last year given that for all I know Sully was playing chicken with Hex trying to get him to do anything that would improve the lineup, given that no moves the coaches were going to make would've made much of a difference. (After the TDL when it was clear help wasn't coming, Carter did move to 4C, and it didn't matter.)

People dog Carter because he's cooked...

That said, I agree Sully has some issues and wouldn't have minded if he was shown the door. We just don't agree on what the issues are.

Of far greater concern to me is the goaltending that has failed so much really isn't changed. (Even if I understand options were non-existent). That and bottom six scoring.

Really we have a lot of the same problems. Just now our defense went from ok to exciting
- Tojo.

We gotta hope Blomquist is the real deal. Is he gonna play for the baby pens this year?

The options for bottom 6 center for most of last year were Carter, Teddy, Poehling, and on the wings Arch, McGinn, Kap, Heinen. There weren't any combos that were going to be any good. Teddy was mostly a healthy scratch for Vegas and Poehling wasn't qualified by Dubas and then signed a 1-year deal to get yelled at by Torts.

I am withholding judgement on the coaching from last year given that for all I know Sully was playing chicken with Hex trying to get him to do anything that would improve the lineup, given that no moves the coaches were going to make would've made much of a difference. (After the TDL when it was clear help wasn't coming, Carter did move to 4C, and it didn't matter.)
- MickV

Hextall was brought in to tear the Pens to the studs, and he just about did that lol I also feel like even after the new owners came in.. he still continued to tear them down with the mirage of "contending" (given the players acquired). Hextall and Sully were never on the same page, this was well documented that they didn't even talk. Dubas and Sully have been working together to build the roster together. I think we see a much more cohesive team with that collaboration even with Sully at the helm.

I'm willing to give him a season with Dubas before I make any judgments given what we learned after Hex's exit.

I didn't read all the comments but the name of TATAR was brought up by a reporter yesterday. We could see him as possibility.

In Pitlick's last two AHL stints he was over a point per game...thats a good sign. He can play all 3 forward positions...might be a little dark horse "throw in"...the next Dupuis?...

...
- MattStrat

I dont trust anyone named Rem

When the (frank) is Dubas gonna get off his lazy ass and trade Carter and a 3rd for Nylander (the good one, not Alex)?
- jmatchett383

Hey quit stealing my brand

I didn't read all the comments but the name of TATAR was brought up by a reporter yesterday. We could see him as possibility.
- Barnaby36

Yeah... but then there's cap space n sh!t saying probably not...now, if Carter wasnt in the equation....

I dont trust anyone named Rem
- YouMeAndDupuis9

hahaha

We gotta hope Blomquist is the real deal. Is he gonna play for the baby pens this year?
- 668710

Yes, and moving DeSmith helps uncrowd things in net. He probably battles Hellberg for the starting spot.

Not to entertain Grinder’s concern trolling here. The GM piece was by far the most important thing to solve this off season. I mean we went from adding fringe NHLers on bloated contracts to adding a HoFer over night. The difference is catastrophic.

That said, and again not entertain Grinder’s concern trolling because obviously Sullivan is a good coach, but even good coaches have shelf lives and Sullivan has clearly lost the locker room twice already. I think we probably see a bounce back at the beginning of the season with everyone reinvigorated by the change in vision from the FO, but at some point that will wear off and it’ll be back to the same old voices saying the same old things in the locker room. Idk what the buy in will look like at that point.

Yeah... but then there's cap space n sh!t saying probably not...now, if Carter wasnt in the equation....
- MattStrat

It’s simple. If Tatar is willing to do 1x1m you send Nieto and Pitlick to WBS.

Tatar - Sid - Rakell
Jake - Geno - Nylander
Smith - Acciari/Eller - Rust
DOC - Acciari/Eller - Carter/Vinnie H

It’s simple. If Tatar is willing to do 1x1m you send Nieto and Pitlick to WBS.

Tatar - Sid - Rakell
Jake - Geno - Nylander
Smith - Acciari/Eller - Rust
DOC - Acciari/Eller - Carter/Vinnie H
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah you can figure out a vet min contract no problem. That’s all it comes down to: will he take vet min?

Yeah you can figure out a vet min contract no problem. That’s all it comes down to: will he take vet min?
- Victoro311

That’s the million dollar question. Dubas has worked with his agent before so that’s also something.

That’s the million dollar question.
- Feds91Stammer

hahahah....I figure he will end up getting around 2/2.5 for one or two years.

hahahah....I figure he will end up getting around 2/2.5 for one or two years.
- MattStrat

Earlier in the summer I saw he was looking for a 2 year deal but not so sure he takes one as it seems he will be signing for much less than market value at this point.

That’s the million dollar question. Dubas has worked with his agent before so that’s also something.
- Feds91Stammer

Feds to what extent has Tatar lost his wheels as he’s aged? His rate metrics look the same as they’ve always been which is great but I’d be concerned about getting slower.

Feds to what extent has Tatar lost his wheels as he’s aged? His rate metrics look the same as they’ve always been which is great but I’d be concerned about getting slower.
- Victoro311

Nothing noticeable imo and speed has never been his game. It’s always been puck control and transition play.

Nothing noticeable imo and speed has never been his game. It’s always been puck control and transition play.
- Feds91Stammer

I know speed has never been his game that’s precisely my concern. Any slower and he’d be a certified plodder.