Ryan Wilson: Penguins make highest first round selection in over a decade Penguins make highest first round selection in over a decade

I agree with you. The strategy of the club to "win the Cup now, but restock the prospects for 3 years out" is not achievable. Unless they can bring in more high-end (read: expensive) talent, it will be muddle in the middle for the Penquins. And to do that, they will have to mortgage some of whatever good futures they still have left, or get extremely lucky. Go for the Cup now or Retool. They cant do both.

I was expecting a bit more of a harsher tone, or fire, to this inevitable blog....

Not a single trade last night. Perhaps Dubas tried for someone(s) while waiving the 14th around for all we know....

I expected more fire and brimstone.

I think people need to face the reality that the organization will do the minimum to get this team to compete, but they are no longer going to just blindly trade 1st and 2nd round picks away for a marginal improvement in the team in the short term. I think it is perfectly possible to put a competitive team on the ice while starting to grow your farm system. Last night is a perfect example. We made a good trade to help now while still keeping our key 1st round pick.

If the Penguins had made better picks in 2018-2020 and actually kept those picks, those players would be about ready to hop onboard and help the team with minimal salary.

I agree with you. The strategy of the club to "win the Cup now, but restock the prospects for 3 years out" is not achievable. Unless they can bring in more high-end (read: expensive) talent, it will be muddle in the middle for the Penquins. And to do that, they will have to mortgage some of whatever good futures they still have left, or get extremely lucky. Go for the Cup now or Retool. They cant do both.
- parmen

Dubas, and mostly everyone here alluded to it, it wasn't the Pens top end players that sucked last year, it was the bottom of the roster, the injured defense didn't help, and the goaltending was trash.

Bottom of the roster should be relatively cheap to fix and I think that was where Dubas did a good job in Toronto.

If the D stays the same, as long as they could stay healthy they'd be fine, although it would be nice to add one more D.

Goaltending you don't have to spend a ton on, just need to get somewhat reliable tendies, something JAryr and CDS have not been.

I was expecting a bit more of a harsher tone, or fire, to this inevitable blog....

Not a single trade last night. Perhaps Dubas tried for someone(s) while waiving the 14th around for all we know....
- MattStrat

Dubas said he received calls for the 14th overall but no player enticed him enough to take it.

Dubas said he received calls for the 14th overall but no player enticed him enough to take it.
- j.boyd919

Yeah why take trash when you can get a Smith for almost nothing? I feel like that was a better deal.

Dubas said he received calls for the 14th overall but no player enticed him enough to take it.
- j.boyd919

ah, I wish we knew who/what was offered.

I also wonder if Dubas tried to get Hall but Boston didn't want him on a Eastern contender.

So the thing here is that unlike in other years where we’ve been at the cap and our only avenue to improve was to essentially “buy” guys via trade, we have solid cap flexibility this year and dubas has a plan in place to take advantage of that indicativa by the smith trade.

My point being that in previous years if we wanted to materially improve we would have HAD to trade our pick. This year we have the luxury not having to.

So the thing here is that unlike in other years where we’ve been at the cap and our only avenue to improve was to essentially “buy” guys via trade, we have solid cap flexibility this year and dubas has a plan in place to take advantage of that indicativa by the smith trade.

My point being that in previous years if we wanted to materially improve we would have HAD to trade our pick. This year we have the luxury not having to.
- Victoro311

I think it's totally fine to make the pick. Dubas obviously valued this draft because he traded Sandin for a 1st round pick after giving up his in the ROR trade.

Besides, every year there's a guy or two who surprises and makes it out of camp. Maybe it's Yager.

Well Chicago just got paid a 2nd round pick (not til 2026) to take Bailey from the Islanders. He fell apart last year, and has basically the same contract as Granlund so that is where the market was at to dump a salary. Unfortunately with every cap dump trade the price goes up.

I'd have gladly made that trade to relieve ourselves of Granlund.

Dubas said he received calls for the 14th overall but no player enticed him enough to take it.
- j.boyd919

I'm guessing it was some of the UFAs in Calgary or Winnipeg. Dubas already said he wouldn't move it for someone without term.

David Poile wouldn't even hold that sexy a$$ Les Paul fresh from the Gibson factory in Nashville he was gifted by Josi and Rinne last night, let alone end up playing it at all. What a f'n waste. He wont even strum a chord on that.


EDIT: flamed maple tops mmmmm

Well Chicago just got paid a 2nd round pick (not til 2026) to take Bailey from the Islanders. He fell apart last year, and has basically the same contract as Granlund so that is where the market was at to dump a salary. Unfortunately with every cap dump trade the price goes up.

I'd have gladly made that trade to relieve ourselves of Granlund.
- MacPatty

Yeah that would’ve been a no brainer trade for us I think.

Yeah that would’ve been a no brainer trade for us I think.
- Victoro311

I'm not so sure Dubas even wants Granlund gone....

Who better than to help a young center develop than Sidney Crosby?

I'm not so sure Dubas even wants Granlund gone....
- MattStrat

Rumor was that he tried to acquire him in Toronto before. Hopefully his opinion of him has changed.

I agree with you. The strategy of the club to "win the Cup now, but restock the prospects for 3 years out" is not achievable. Unless they can bring in more high-end (read: expensive) talent, it will be muddle in the middle for the Penquins. And to do that, they will have to mortgage some of whatever good futures they still have left, or get extremely lucky. Go for the Cup now or Retool. They cant do both.
- parmen

Well the Pens won't win the cup in the offseason. I think Dubas is going to add some guys he thinks can be key, core pieces but will not overspend on the depth. I expect we will all be a bit disappointed with our opening day roster if we want to chase a cup.

Its is really hard to pick up six-7 new players in an offseason and have all of those be quality moves that don't have long term risk. It is also setting up to be a really good 2024 free agent class. Everyone is fawning over Bertuzzi this year but I think he would be more of a middle of the pack guy in next year's free agency. Trade deadline could be interesting for the Pens.

So the thing here is that unlike in other years where we’ve been at the cap and our only avenue to improve was to essentially “buy” guys via trade, we have solid cap flexibility this year and dubas has a plan in place to take advantage of that indicativa by the smith trade.

My point being that in previous years if we wanted to materially improve we would have HAD to trade our pick. This year we have the luxury not having to.
- Victoro311

Spot on. Having cap space affords them the luxury to draft a prospect. Like others are saying... Don't need to spend a fortune on bottom 6 talent. Impressed with Dubas so far.

Rumor was that he tried to acquire him in Toronto before. Hopefully his opinion of him has changed.
- j.boyd919

Should have let him!

I don't think he will deliver value on his contract, but he might be able to turn it around and be productive on the 3rd line. I wouldn't be shocked to see him on the roster to start the season.

I say keep him up for 9 games, just too see. What’s it hurt?

Should have let him!

I don't think he will deliver value on his contract, but he might be able to turn it around and be productive on the 3rd line. I wouldn't be shocked to see him on the roster to start the season.
- MacPatty

I've been wondering if Grandlund might be able to turn things around if given better players to work with. Personally, I would risk it. Who knows what Dubas is thinking. F'n Hextall. What a maroon.

Well the Pens won't win the cup in the offseason. I think Dubas is going to add some guys he thinks can be key, core pieces but will not overspend on the depth. I expect we will all be a bit disappointed with our opening day roster if we want to chase a cup.

Its is really hard to pick up six-7 new players in an offseason and have all of those be quality moves that don't have long term risk. It is also setting up to be a really good 2024 free agent class. Everyone is fawning over Bertuzzi this year but I think he would be more of a middle of the pack guy in next year's free agency. Trade deadline could be interesting for the Pens.
- MacPatty

I don’t think the 4th line is that bad with Poehling, DOC, Alex Nylander, and a couple of other kids in WBS who could get a shot. Hopefully Carter is in the press box and allows some younger kids to play who actually provide a pulse.

The 3rd line needs to be completely rejuvenated. If you keep Granlund as the 3C then he needs support. Whether that’s resigning Zucker and using him on the 3rd line, or even trading for bigger name winger and dropping Reilly Smith to the 3rd.

Edit: I did see Duclair’s name come up as a trade candidate. That’d be a good 3rd line winger to have who can move up and down the lineup in case of injuries

I'm not so sure Dubas even wants Granlund gone....
- MattStrat

An interview on the fan seemed like they pulled it out of him because they were talking about buying Granny out and Dubas said that's very last resort and that he would get more creative in moving him.

I've been wondering if Grandlund might be able to turn things around if given better players to work with. Personally, I would risk it. Who knows what Dubas is thinking. F'n Hextall. What a maroon.
- madmike71

He's far from Patrick lol