I'm really more curious at this point with the goalie direction of the Pens. Nobody, including myself, has been taking DeSmith very seriously in regards to being a starter and that's probably to do with his age.

However, he's putting up starter numbers. Can he keep that up? This is where I'm curious to see the Pens' mind-set. Are the Pens going to ride this out and keep Murray out of the lineup? Are they going to make a move to bring a Miller or Howard and the move Murray out?

Regardless, I can't see them keeping Murray on the bench for an entire season.

EDIT: DeSmith is 9th in SV% and 12th in GAA.
- Rinosaur

I think it comes down to asking yourself who do trust more in a 7 game series, Casey or MM?

Fixed
- Rinosaur

I think it comes down to asking yourself who do trust more in a 7 game series, Casey or MM?
- joescullz

Howard

My guess is through this season. I really like Maatta, but the Pens need another RD in my opinion.
- Rinosaur

Yes.... Lack of an RD is killing them. I think he'll be gone this month. Not because they want to, because they need a couple upgrades. I'd rather have Maatta over Riikola or Pettersson, but the fall off isn't that great. I find it odd Riikola hasn't been sent down.

So Maatta for Frk?
- Feds91Stammer

Notice I said good middle 6 forward

I think it comes down to asking yourself who do trust more in a 7 game series, Casey or MM?
- joescullz

I don't know. Regardless of age, the biggest challenge IMO a goalie faces when becoming a starter in the NHL is the length of the season. I don't know what DeSmith is going to look like even at the half-way mark and I'll continue to be skeptical, but if he's consistent up until the end of the season I'm willing to go for it.

By that same token, if the Pens are going with DeSmith and not Murray I'd have to imagine Murray is being moved. While the Pens' asset management hasn't been the best, keeping someone like Murray on the bench of a full season would be a (frank)in disaster.

I'd have to think a vet is brought in to tandem with DeSmith.

Yes.... Lack of an RD is killing them. I think he'll be gone this month. I find it odd that Riikola hasn't been sent down. Not because they want to, because they need a couple upgrades. I'd rather have Maatta over Riikola or Pettersson, but the fall off isn't that great.
- madmike71

I don't find it odd. I think they want to see what they have in Petterson before they do anything.

Notice I said good middle 6 forward
- YouMeAndDupuis9

17-18

5v5 p60

Frk: 1.72
Crosby: 1.67

5v5 g60

Frk: 0.69
Crosby: 0.57

Some speculation going around that Hornqvist is concussed again.

So back on not being serious but possibly being half serious on half assed trade ideas by me (and yes, I'll finally trade Maatta).


Maatta for mid 6 winger
Johnson for anything that will let us relieve us of his poop and cap.
Brassard for a bottom 4 Dman (don't think you can get a guaranteed mid pairing unless a rental for rental).
Kessel for Reeves (JR special of (frank)ing up a good trading streak).



And nope, I have no one specific in mind, because I don't care enough about trades until 2 weeks before the deadline.


edit: Before you ask, no Stammers... no Maatta for Frk... dude so ugly he makes Geno look average.

17-18

5v5 p60

Frk: 1.72
Crosby: 1.67

5v5 g60

Frk: 0.69
Crosby: 0.57


- Feds91Stammer

These are the same metrics you used to convince us Riley Sheahan was good. I refuse to fall victim of your trickery.

So back on not being serious but possibly being half serious on half assed trade ideas by me (and yes, I'll finally trade Maatta).


Maatta for mid 6 winger
Johnson for anything that will let us relieve us of his poop and cap.
Brassard for a bottom 4 Dman (don't think you can get a guaranteed mid pairing unless a rental for rental).
Kessel for Reeves (JR special of (frank)ing up a good trading streak).



And nope, I have no one specific in mind, because I don't care enough about trades until 2 weeks before the deadline.


edit: Before you ask, no Stammers... no Maatta for Frk... dude so ugly he makes Geno look average.
- Guile

Somehow this is both unrealistic and makes us worse lol.

Somehow this is both unrealistic and makes us worse lol.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Then its super realistic for JR to do


However... I disagree (ignoring the Kessel joke of course).

Brassard and Maatta trades become a wash for what they are being deployed for. Maatta's spot would become an upgrade since he is just never returning to rookie form, and you hope to break even with Brassard's value to the 3rd line. Johnson, is an addition by subtraction.

So that is improving the D and weakening the centers, but an upgrade on the wing, unless Maatta gets a 3rd line center. Then it just improves the D overall.

The Penguins have recalled forward Jean-Sebastien Dea from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Forward Dominik Simon has been placed on injured reserve.

Well... (frank)ity (frank) (frank)

Dea called up and Simon to IR. Hopefully doesn’t mean long term for hornqvist

Side note... who is our likely next Dman called up?

Dea called up and Simon to IR. Hopefully doesn’t mean long term for hornqvist
- jchst22

The timing of this is so messed....Sprong's big opportunity is like 4 days after hes traded.

Dea called up and Simon to IR. Hopefully doesn’t mean long term for hornqvist
- jchst22

It means long-term for Simon.

These are the same metrics you used to convince us Riley Sheahan was good. I refuse to fall victim of your trickery.

- YouMeAndDupuis9

Nah I used sh% numbers to show you Sheahan was good and you can't say he wasn't good last season.

It means long-term for Simon.
- Rinosaur

I know they keep injuries hidden but he was day to day. Oh well

So back to trading Phil Kessel.... everyone seems to be ignoring Kessel for E Kane. Is it because of E Kane's 3 team trade list? Penguins are obviously everyone's favorite... just look at 4+ years ago when we believed players would take pay cuts to come play here.

Or are we doing realistic trade ideas? Because (frank) doing those.
- Guile

Kane isn’t that good so I’m not trying to trade a 90 point player for a 40-50 point player. Seems like a stupid move.

How much longer will Ollie Maatta be a Penguin?
- madmike71

does it really maatta?

Side note... who is our likely next Dman called up?
- Guile

Lol we currently have like ten blue liners rostered. A bomb would have to go off at the Lemieux Complex for us to need a call up.

These are the same metrics you used to convince us Riley Sheahan was good. I refuse to fall victim of your trickery.

- YouMeAndDupuis9

Sheahan had 32 points last year lol that is good. This year he’s falling victim to poop linemates again, same thing that sunk his production in Detroit.

I know they keep injuries hidden but he was day to day. Oh well
- jchst22

Sometimes injuries aren’t what is initially thought and sometimes you can even do MRIs until a few days after until the swelling goes down.