That to me looks really good also. I thought Cullen actually did a pretty good job this year. I'd be surprised if he doesn't retire but if he still wants to play, I'd still keep him as a 13th forward.

I just hope they have a plan for the 4th line, not just putting together a bunch of leftover guys.
- MacPatty

I’m probably the biggest Cullen fan here but perhaps he would be better as an assistant coach for the Pens at this point. I hope we keep him around.

Tavares is a good comparison. He might be better than Malkin at this point and the Islanders let him walk for nothing... they got a hell of a lot better.

Pens can still get a haul for Malkin despite him being an injury prone, pad the stats type of player. Would be great if JR could get both him and Kessel out the door before the end of the playoffs or the latest the draft.
- MacPatty

Lol you are retarded.

Recognizing that I could NEVER love a 4th liner as much as RW hates on all of 'em, the ONLY thing that showed any sign of life in the series against the Isles WAS the Pens fourth line. And this was WITHOUT Teddy.

Not saying we shouldn't look past Cullen and Wilson for options, but there ain't much in WB either. I thought Cullen had a solid season with some flashes of playing younger than his age, and I thought Wilson pummeled the Isles.

I hope Teddy sticks this season... maybe 3C. But again, these are the players and positions that should be discussed LAST, after some of the superstars on this team are reviewed for their many shortcomings.

Good thoughts RW, but your priorities are BACKWARDS.
- Cousinskrid

Bjugstad is a solid 3C. I don’t think they need to look any further for a 3C at the moment. The reason he posted upgrading the 4th line is because it’s the cheapest and easiest to do, not necessarily because it’s main priority number one. Main priorities are going to take a while if you’re gonna unload either JJ, Guddy or Maatta.

Bjugstad is a solid 3C. I don’t think they need to look any further for a 3C at the moment. The reason he posted upgrading the 4th line is because it’s the cheapest and easiest to do, not necessarily because it’s main priority number one. Main priorities are going to take a while if you’re gonna unload either JJ, Guddy or Maatta.
- j.boyd919

It’s funny how Määttä became out of favour with most here. I still think he’s a solid player and has a spot in the starting 6.

It’s funny how Määttä became out of favour with most here. I still think he’s a solid player and has a spot in the starting 6.
- Barnaby36

Oh I like Maatta and think it’s a mistake to look to trade him but the writings on the wall. He’s definitely the odd man out as he doesn’t have any “push back” and was scratched for 3 games for a dogpoop hockey player.

It's funny that you wrote all of that to create a hypothetical situation to defend Malkin.

It doesn't even matter what the situation was. Everyone complains that Sully doesn't make adjustments but some of his best players refuse to play to the system he wants to run.

Not to mention what it shows the rest of the team when a "leader" refuses to help in the D zone and then insults a teammate who was probably right there in the room. There is a reason Malkin was a -100 this year and it wasn't JJ.
- MacPatty

I didn’t defend anyone. I said that it’s too vague to really come to a conclusion dummy.

I didn’t defend anyone. I said that it’s too vague to really come to a conclusion dummy.
- j.boyd919

I’d trade Letang before thinking about trading Malkin tbh. We can win without Letang and trading him would bring us at least a very good D-man and a top 9 forward.

I’d trade Letang before thinking about trading Malkin tbh. We can win without Letang and trading him would bring us at least a very good D-man and a top 9 forward.
- Barnaby36

"We did with without Letang," "We can win without Letang," and "We should be able to win without Letang" are 3 very, very different things.

Bjugstad is a solid 3C. I don’t think they need to look any further for a 3C at the moment. The reason he posted upgrading the 4th line is because it’s the cheapest and easiest to do, not necessarily because it’s main priority number one. Main priorities are going to take a while if you’re gonna unload either JJ, Guddy or Maatta.
- j.boyd919

Main priorities are way above Guddy and Maatta. And I do hope they unload JJ, for his own sake. He's taken the full wrath of a spoiled fanbase, and it's GMJRs fault. All JJ did was sign on the dotted line. He was a small, but contributing piece to the solid stretch in March.

It's funny that you wrote all of that to create a hypothetical situation to defend Malkin.

It doesn't even matter what the situation was. Everyone complains that Sully doesn't make adjustments but some of his best players refuse to play to the system he wants to run.

Not to mention what it shows the rest of the team when a "leader" refuses to help in the D zone and then insults a teammate who was probably right there in the room. There is a reason Malkin was a -100 this year and it wasn't JJ.
- MacPatty

Sully shouldn't be trying to force a system that his best players don't want to play. Malkin isn't a "stat" padder. I know it was a while ago but he is a conn smythe winner. The guy loses focus, no one is arguing that, but he's still a future HoFer.

"We did with without Letang," "We can win without Letang," and "We should be able to win without Letang" are 3 very, very different things.
- jmatchett383

Time to see what both Geno and Kristopher will bring back. We have played well without both of them, and a few times.

CORE moving forward: Sid, Jake, Phil, Dumo, Shultz and Murray. Still a pretty darn solid core. Then McCann, Bjug, Pedd, Maatta, Rust.

Oh I like Maatta and think it’s a mistake to look to trade him but the writings on the wall. He’s definitely the odd man out as he doesn’t have any “push back” and was scratched for 3 games for a dogpoop hockey player.
- j.boyd919

Yup. Sadly this is how I think things are.

That to me looks really good also. I thought Cullen actually did a pretty good job this year. I'd be surprised if he doesn't retire but if he still wants to play, I'd still keep him as a 13th forward.

I just hope they have a plan for the 4th line, not just putting together a bunch of leftover guys.
- MacPatty

The Pens have twelve signed/RFA forwards with NHL experience on the roster. That is assuming they move on from the UFA's Cullen and Wilson. They also have some youngsters who should get a shot at playing time.

Doing nothing wouldn't be such a bad idea. Signing older leftover guys won't guarantee they make the big club. They sent several to WBS this past season. Blandisi and Hayes come to mind.

Competition is a good thing. Right now ties go to the younger player. We need to get younger.

Time to see what both Geno and Kristopher will bring back. We have played well without both of them, and a few times.

CORE moving forward: Sid, Jake, Phil, Dumo, Shultz and Murray. Still a pretty darn solid core. Then McCann, Bjug, Pedd, Maatta, Rust.
- Cousinskrid

So who's going to replace Letang's production/minutes and Geno's annual production? Just going, "Let's move them for a package" isn't really a plan, becuase you're creating two pretty big holes. What teams are you trading them to (factor in cap hit) and what specific players/picks do you expect in return?

Yup. Sadly this is how I think things are.
- Rinosaur

Is Ethan Prow a legit option? He's 26 and just had his first big AHL season.

Sully shouldn't be trying to force a system that his best players don't want to play. Malkin isn't a "stat" padder. I know it was a while ago but he is a conn smythe winner. The guy loses focus, no one is arguing that, but he's still a future HoFer.
- Thrill81

This isn't pond hockey... players don't just go out and do whatever they feel like. I agree, he is for sure a hall of Famer and has been great in the past during their cup runs.

But he has been a completely different player the last 2 years. He just wants to float and get power play time. I'll look forward to him finally having to face opponents top shut down line when he doesn't have Crosby there to protect him.

So who's going to replace Letang's production/minutes and Geno's annual production? Just going, "Let's move them for a package" isn't really a plan, becuase you're creating two pretty big holes. What teams are you trading them to (factor in cap hit) and what specific players/picks do you expect in return?
- jmatchett383

Without knowing who is available, this is just speculation. At least I'm not offering all our worst players for everyone else's best players, LOL.

With the core I'm wishing for, I think the Pens can still move forward with speed (and youth) as their prime objective with acquisitions. Geno (I love you Geno) is just too east-west and Letang just does... whatever back there...

My hope is that by making two bold moves now, maybe the Pens won't 'have to' tank down the road a ways, as all championship teams seemed destined to do.

Time to see what both Geno and Kristopher will bring back. We have played well without both of them, and a few times.

CORE moving forward: Sid, Jake, Phil, Dumo, Shultz and Murray. Still a pretty darn solid core. Then McCann, Bjug, Pedd, Maatta, Rust.
- Cousinskrid

Schultz would be a dogpoop 1D. We saw that playout in Edmonton.

I didn’t defend anyone. I said that it’s too vague to really come to a conclusion dummy.
- j.boyd919

It took you 3 paragraphs to state something was too vague? You throw around dummy and retard a lot here... may be time to look in the mirror.

Schultz would be a dogpoop 1D. We saw that playout in Edmonton.
- j.boyd919

I think Dumo on the left and Shultz on the right would be a solid first pair. And that's not even considering anyone Geno and/or Letang could bring back.

Edmonton sucks no matter what, so I don't know that I'd hold a candle to anything they'd done with Shultz.

Time to see what both Geno and Kristopher will bring back. We have played well without both of them, and a few times.

CORE moving forward: Sid, Jake, Phil, Dumo, Shultz and Murray. Still a pretty darn solid core. Then McCann, Bjug, Pedd, Maatta, Rust.
- Cousinskrid

I'm with you on Malkin but I'd switch you Phil for Kessel on the trade list.

Letang is massively more difficult to replace than Kessel an I think his trade value is somewhat compromised due to injuries. I really like Schultz but he is on an expiring deal and I'm not sure that they will commit the same term and dollars as he would get in FA.

If I had my way I'd be doing a deal around Ekblad and Trochek for Malkin and Schultz. Not sure if Florida would.

Without knowing who is available, this is just speculation. At least I'm not offering all our worst players for everyone else's best players, LOL.

With the core I'm wishing for, I think the Pens can still move forward with speed (and youth) as their prime objective. Geno (I love you Geno) is just too east-west and Letang just does... whatever back there...

My hope is that by making two bold moves now, maybe the Pens won't 'have to' tank down the road a ways, as all championship teams seemed destined to do.
- Cousinskrid

So if we're trading Letang (the only legit top-pairing dman in the system) and Malkin (arguably the best #2C in the game) for younger players who you hope can grow into those roles over time, you're basically forfeiting the rest of the Crosby era in hopes of a mini rebuild? I think that's a bad idea.

I would try like hell to unload Hornqvist and one of either JJ or Gudbranson. Hell, I may even entertain a JJ buyout. Hornqvist won't get much, maybe a 4th line forward and a 3rd/4th round pick. I would then use that cap space from Hornqvist to go after a UFA dman (Stralman, or go big for Gardiner at a much higher hit). If you can get Gardiner, you'll have to cut ties with someone (JJ buyout). Fill in the 4th line with guys making no more than $1.5M per.

That would be my plan.

I'm with you on Malkin but I'd switch you Phil for Kessel on the trade list.

Letang is massively more difficult to replace than Kessel an I think his trade value is somewhat compromised due to injuries. I really like Schultz but he is on an expiring deal and I'm not sure that they will commit the same term and dollars as he would get in FA.

If I had my way I'd be doing a deal around Ekblad and Trochek for Malkin and Schultz. Not sure if Florida would.
- MacPatty

That sounds like a terrible deal for Florida, even as good as Malkin is.

So who's going to replace Letang's production/minutes and Geno's annual production? Just going, "Let's move them for a package" isn't really a plan, becuase you're creating two pretty big holes. What teams are you trading them to (factor in cap hit) and what specific players/picks do you expect in return?
- jmatchett383

I’d probably try a Colin Miller or Nate Schmidt + Alex Tuch or William Karlsson or Marchessault for Letang + Prospect + Pick

So if we're trading Letang (the only legit top-pairing dman in the system) and Malkin (arguably the best #2C in the game) for younger players who you hope can grow into those roles over time, you're basically forfeiting the rest of the Crosby era in hopes of a mini rebuild? I think that's a bad idea.

I would try like hell to unload Hornqvist and one of either JJ or Gudbranson. Hell, I may even entertain a JJ buyout. Hornqvist won't get much, maybe a 4th line forward and a 3rd/4th round pick. I would then use that cap space from Hornqvist to go after a UFA dman (Stralman, or go big for Gardiner at a much higher hit). If you can get Gardiner, you'll have to cut ties with someone (JJ buyout). Fill in the 4th line with guys making no more than $1.5M per.

That would be my plan.
- jmatchett383

I don't disagree with any of these other moves... and I 'd imagine you could get a really good C... maybe 2C... and D in return for 71 and 58.

The Pens are in dire need of speed, youth and new chemistry I think.

I just think we've forgotten how good Shultz can be, maybe because he was saddled with JJ. Ok, hog-tied... my bad.