Jump ahead to the 4 minute mark on this one. The safe play is to dump it down the boards. If you recall, this one stung... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPZI-SAz5I
- WSCTeton17

Maatta looks a little lazy on that backcheck(as always), had be been aggressive to the goalpost, he coulda been there to disrupt OV on that rebound

Jump ahead to the 4 minute mark on this one. The safe play is to dump it down the boards. If you recall, this one stung... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NbPZI-SAz5I
- WSCTeton17

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep15aKt-vWQ This one is Olli with a poor gap on the first goal against. Just leaves him right there cocked for the 1-T

While taking out Bjugs for part of the season you would have to include Sheahan for the rest of it. But it’s entirely possible that it could’ve worked out
- WSCTeton17

I assumed Sheahan was still being shipped to Florida with the 3rd being in place of Brassard

Not to concerned about the spare parts that could be given away or buried in the minors

Wish we had kept Cole and traded for Kane last year. Gave Horn's money to Kane and let Horn walk this year -Don't do the Brass deal

Assume we could have still acquired McCann somehow for picks, given that all Brass got was a 3rd and Sheahan's gonna walk (kinda sounds like we could have got Bjugstad and McCann for the 2nd, a 3rd and 2 4ths)

Don't sign JJ, Don't do the Hags for Pearson for Guds thing, Don't trade Sheary and Hunwick

Our playoff Roster last year could been

Guentzel Crosby Kane
Hornqvist Malkin Kessel
Hagelin Sheahan Rust
Sheary Rowney Kuhn

Letang Dumo
Schultz Cole
Maatta Oleksiak

Murray

This years Playoff Roster would have been

McCann Crosby Guentzel
Hagelin Malkin Kane
Rust Bjugstad Kessel
Simon Cullen Sheary

Letang Dumo
Schultz Cole
Maatta Petterson

Murray
DeSmith

We would of course, still have Gustavsson, Whoever we took with our 2018 1st (Brass Non-trade) and the cap space from not having JJ and Guds on the roster and Hags contract expiring going forward

All GMJR had to do was practically nothing, just sit back and look for a value trade like McCann and Bjugstad from a team looking to dump cap and term

Magic 8 ball says also don't sign Hunwick, Don't do the Reeves trade, etc, etc, etc, but I was working forward from just last years Trade deadline when Cole was moved out and Brass was moved in
- RoloTahmasee

Not a justification, but a side note...I’m pretty sure Gustavsson had a terrible season and got passed up on the AHL depth chart.

Maatta looks a little lazy on that backcheck(as always), had be been aggressive to the goalpost, he coulda been there to disrupt OV on that rebound
- RoloTahmasee

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=njWkXf0HT-0
Maatta with the screen on the first goal and serves up a pizza near the end when we needed offense, not more turnovers. But I recall how bad Letang was with turnovers this series as well

I assumed Sheahan was still being shipped to Florida with the 3rd being in place of Brassard

Not to concerned about the spare parts that could be given away or buried in the minors
- RoloTahmasee

Right but you said factoring our $3MM of Bjugstads cap meaning we would still have Sheahan the rest of the season, right? I’m just saying you would still need to include his $1MM and then Bjugstads remainder. So it would be close but doable. GMJR could’ve made it work. Maybe have cap retained on McCann or whatever

New member. Long time pens fan. If Crosby and Guentzel can’t score and Malkin and kessel can’t score it’s because they are not getting the puck. Defence is the problem and mr Rutherford seems to think it’s the best d he has had. That’s the problem

New member. Long time pens fan. If Crosby and Guentzel can’t score and Malkin and kessel can’t score it’s because they are not getting the puck. Defence is the problem and mr Rutherford seems to think it’s the best d he has had. That’s the problem
- Lbado

Defense in the manner of individual efforts not being good enough and just a lack of an effective scheme to break the puck out. The Islander forwards took good angles but they also did a great job of getting open with speed on their breakouts which we did not do

Back to Maatta for those who might like him: do you like him $3MM more than Petts or Ruhwedel? I like those two a lot and think they have a lot more to give

New member. Long time pens fan. If Crosby and Guentzel can’t score and Malkin and kessel can’t score it’s because they are not getting the puck. Defence is the problem and mr Rutherford seems to think it’s the best d he has had. That’s the problem
- Lbado

^^^ This. Thank you.

New member. Long time pens fan. If Crosby and Guentzel can’t score and Malkin and kessel can’t score it’s because they are not getting the puck. Defence is the problem and mr Rutherford seems to think it’s the best d he has had. That’s the problem
- Lbado

Yes, the D group is not great but the forwards were poop with the puck too. I think Ruth was merely trying to preserve some perceived value when he looks to make some trades this summer.

I am going to sum up the Pens season with a quote... "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Malkin and Kessel both Richarded off all season and come playoff time they were non factors. Not just non factors but all season long they looked like they were ready for the golf course.

Trade both Malkin and Kessel and you will definitely lose the trade on paper. But you can end up with a bunch of guys who can make you a better all around team who will have a better chance of winning the cup.

Vic, I know you like Maatta in some sense or another. What’s the worst return you would be willing to accept without taking back any cap space? For fun, might as well do one for Hornqvist. Others feel free to join in

The way I look at it is like a business. The Coyotes got ripped for the Schmaltz/Strome trade but Chayka took players that were barely being used and replaced them with one that was successful in his short time there. If we’re not getting usefulness out of these two, I’d like to get something that we can/will use (cap space, trade chips, players) &really that’s what also bothers me about losing Cole. We just have heresay of why he left, right? But the common theme is that he had too much personality. Seriously? That’s why we traded from a position of weakness? He had 7 points in 15 games prior to the trade and was averaging around 18 minutes a game (down from 20 in late December). He had good chemistry with Schultz and trading him created this huge hole.. because of some strict ass coach who’s been getting his s#it handed to him ever since
- WSCTeton17

From where I’m standing, “willing to accept” doesn’t come into with Maatta. Everyone knows he’s going to get traded and he had a terrible season due to miss deployment so his value is way down and they’re gonna trade him just to trade him. Given that trading him will almost certainly make the blue line worse, what I would like from a Maatta trade is a top 4 defenseman that can replace him, but he’s being traded to make space for Pettersson, so that’s unrealistic. In absence of that, I think a top 9 winger would be decent enough value that I wouldn’t be too upset, but again, I’ll be shocked if Maatta is moved for even decent value. I’m assuming we get a mid round pick and young, 20 something year old castaway that has been doghoused by his team and JR has decided is a can’t miss prospect. It’ll be a 50/50 tossup if the player will pan out like McCann did or continue to be a bust.

As for Hornqvist, if GM’s are smart, he’d have no value. I’m not optimistic at all that he bounces back from that concussion and I think he’s super close to being totally cooked. He’s on the wrong side of 30, has had too many head injuries, and doesn’t have any skills he can fall back on once his body starts failing him. But the thing is, GMs aren’t smart and Hornqvist has all the qualities “hockey minds” love: grit, tenacity, vocal leader in the locker room, you name it. I’d be happy if we just cap dumped him without taking back salary, and anything of value we get on top of that is just a bonus.

Give me Trochek, Noel and a 1st from Florida for Malkin, Jarry and a late round pick.

Send out Kessel for Grabner & Hayton.

Finally, Johnson, Simon, a 1st and a 3rd for Saad.

Spend the freed up cap space wisely.

New member. Long time pens fan. If Crosby and Guentzel can’t score and Malkin and kessel can’t score it’s because they are not getting the puck. Defence is the problem and mr Rutherford seems to think it’s the best d he has had. That’s the problem
- Lbado

But I’ve been told by the chuckleheads on here that the defense can’t make that big of an impact on forward play.

From last blog: According to cap friendly, Hornqvist has two years left for a no trade clause. Then he has two years at modified no trade where he submits an eight team no trade list.

The Pens do not need to go ape shiit this off season. They really need one upgrade and that is a top four LD. The reason this is so important is that Justin Shultz is going to be a UFA after next season and there is no guarantee he will resign. He is a tough negotiator. If he leaves that will create an even bigger hole than we have now.

The overwhelming consensus here is that Maatta cannot carry a pairing, and I am in that group. Also Petterson is an unknown in that scenario.

Everyone wants to blame are 3rd pairing defense that play 15 minutes a game and not are #1 Defense man playing 27 minutes game that generated no offense and gave up numerous odd man breaks. Letang needs to go, we played are best hockey at the end of the season when Letang was out. He was one player who will not play within the current system and he no longer has the speed at 31 to make up for is numerous bonehead mistakes...

I get it, it's a joke. Because rawr rawr Rutherford rawr rawr

Everyone wants to blame are 3rd pairing defense that play 15 minutes a game and not are #1 Defense man playing 27 minutes game that generated no offense and gave up numerous odd man breaks. Letang needs to go, we played are best hockey at the end of the season when Letang was out. He was one player who will not play within the current system and he no longer has the speed at 31 to make up for is numerous bonehead mistakes...
- PENS1989

So who is going to play his minutes? Maatta? Schultz?

Also, if he's as terrible as you say, I guess you shouldn't expect anything of value in return.

Everyone wants to blame are 3rd pairing defense that play 15 minutes a game and not are #1 Defense man playing 27 minutes game that generated no offense and gave up numerous odd man breaks. Letang needs to go, we played are best hockey at the end of the season when Letang was out. He was one player who will not play within the current system and he no longer has the speed at 31 to make up for is numerous bonehead mistakes...
- PENS1989

I've not seen anyone blaming the third pair for anything. Overwhelmingly, the ridicule that is being heaped upon this team is directed at the acquisition of immobile, aging players that have histories of being inadequate at their position that become a detriment to their partners, and the coach's decision to willfully deploy said players in roles that exacerbate said deficiencies. In fact, I believe that nearly everyone had been pleasantly surprised at the third pairing. The only knock on the third pairing that I've seen expressed is the cost. To your other point, if the coach's current "system" neuters offense by taking away the leeway that special, creative players have, then it is he that should go despite having won two cups. When properly deployed, the Pens have a glut of talented players that could pepper opposing teams heavily night after night. Letang is included in that list and should not be subjected to trade talk because of a few mistakes. His mistakes are FAR outweighed by his ability to create, skate, score, and most of all, DEFEND! Go back to sleep.

Everyone wants to blame are 3rd pairing defense that play 15 minutes a game and not are #1 Defense man playing 27 minutes game that generated no offense and gave up numerous odd man breaks. Letang needs to go, we played are best hockey at the end of the season when Letang was out. He was one player who will not play within the current system and he no longer has the speed at 31 to make up for is numerous bonehead mistakes...
- PENS1989

The 3rd pairing is Pettersson and Gudbranson... you want to talk about the 2nd pairing, which has Jack Johnson... idiot

Retarded. Let’s take this team and turn it into maybe a bubble team. Gross. Delete your account.
- j.boyd919

The Pens were a bubble team this year with them. They sucked this year and will suck next year if they don't make changes.

I'd rather try a different approach and pick up something for the future than go ahead with the status quo, flame out and have to do a full rebuild in 2 years. Delete your account.

The Pens were a bubble team this year with them. They sucked this year and will suck next year if they don't make changes.

I'd rather try a different approach and pick up something for the future than go ahead with the status quo, flame out and have to do a full rebuild in 2 years. Delete your account.
- MacPatty

I can't get on board with making sweeping changes. More often than not they just blow up in your face.

Currently the Pens have nine forwards signed, two RFA and at least four young guys who should get a shot at making the big squad. That is fifteen NHL ready players.

Obviously to get a top four defense you will most likely need to trade a forward. The guys you are looking at are Hornqvist, Bjugstad and Rust. Any of which can land you a solid top four, especially if you sweeten the pot with a pick or Maatta.

Mark Madden sat on RW's Hockeybuzz Blog. Feels bad dude.

The Pens were a bubble team this year with them. They sucked this year and will suck next year if they don't make changes.

I'd rather try a different approach and pick up something for the future than go ahead with the status quo, flame out and have to do a full rebuild in 2 years. Delete your account.
- MacPatty

The pens were a bubble team because of the poop players on their roster. So your plan is to get rid of all elite players and hard average players at their positions while still keeping all the poop players that were a detriment to the team last year. Sounds like a fantastic plan.

Give me Trochek, Noel and a 1st from Florida for Malkin, Jarry and a late round pick.

Send out Kessel for Grabner & Hayton.

Finally, Johnson, Simon, a 1st and a 3rd for Saad.

Spend the freed up cap space wisely.
- MacPatty

Zero chance that Hayton goes anywhere for someone past their prime. We’ve worked with Chayka and members of the Coyotes before. They love this kid and they think he might be a top 6 player this year

After regaining some lost form, I don’t see the Hawks trading Saad. They don’t need to. With the cap going up it’s an even smaller percentage of their cap. Anisimov will be the odd man out and they’ll be looking to bring players in, not out

To me, you can’t justify trading Malkin until you tell me who the new guy is going to play/produce with. If you can’t answer that then the trade proposal is useless. If we trade Geno and Phil are we expecting 50 points from Trochek while centering Saad and Hornqvist or what?