With Kessel most likely leaving does Geno think the window is closed? That might be his take on this and, if so, might encourage him to request a trade. Sure hope he stays. Loved Geno the Machino but worry he doesn’t have much left in the tank.
- Dr Blob

A point per game player is a lot left in the tank.

Disagree...Its a business. If moving Malkin makes the team better then so be it. Keeping a player around because he helped you win in the past makes no sense to me. He deserves nothing more than his $9.5mil contract. Its no different than any other job.

Ray Bourque retired a Bruin
Peyton Manning a Colt
Jordan Bulls

Malkin can retire a Pen if he wants.
- sammy87

I would agree if the rumors actually made sense. The rumor mill is coming out with absolute outlandish ideas or just crap deals.

Free up 4 mill , get an over a point a game player + a mid first for an aging superstar on a team that needs to get younger . Might just have to do that .

I would agree if the rumors actually made sense. The rumor mill is coming out with absolute outlandish ideas or just crap deals.
- simethos

I don't disagree that this rumor seems outlandish...but that's from Florida's perspective. I'm not a Pens fan so I ask you, you don't think Huberdeau and first is a good deal? What type of package would you need in return?

Free up 4 mill , get an over a point a game player + a mid first for an aging superstar on a team that needs to get younger . Might just have to do that .
- Allforhim12

You'd have to! Sentiment/emotion is getting in the way of any Pens fan who feels that is a bad deal.

It was written in French, which means it has no credibility whatsoever.

You'd have to! Sentiment/emotion is getting in the way of any Pens fan who feels that is a bad deal.
- jersey1414

Huberdeau put up 92 points (once in his career) playing with a top 10 Center in Barkov. Trading our other top 10 center (Geno) for Huberdeau leaves him without a top 10 center. Anyone we sign/trade will not be a top 10 center. Do you really expect him to put up 92 points without Geno/Sid/Barkov? He won’t be playing LW with Sid, that’s Guentzels spot.

It was written in French, which means it has no credibility whatsoever.
- jmatchett383

The French sure use a lot of words just to say BS.

I don't understand the Huberdeau portion of the trade other than Florida knowing they are going to get Panarin and wanting to sell high on Huberdeau after his first big year.

I'm fine moving on from Malkin but there needs to be a plan for 2C to go along with it and I'd like to get more than just hubs and their 1st.

I don't disagree that this rumor seems outlandish...but that's from Florida's perspective. I'm not a Pens fan so I ask you, you don't think Huberdeau and first is a good deal? What type of package would you need in return?
- jersey1414

No I do not. Huberdeau is a good player, but Malkin is a future hall of fame, point per game center who is not easily replaced. At various points throughout the seasons, he has carried this team. He will do it again. I'm going to need more than just one good player and a draft pick that may never pan out. No way in hell would I do that deal.

I may be in the minority here, but if Jim Rutherford is going to gut the team for picks, younger players and what not, I'd rather they trade Letang. I think they could get a better return of players that could plug the defensive hole, than what would be lost if they got rid of Geno. We've already seen that the Penguins can survive without Letang. I'm not looking forward to the day that the Pens have only Crosby and then a steep steep drop off at center.

Huberdeau put up 92 points (once in his career) playing with a top 10 Center in Barkov. Trading our other top 10 center (Geno) for Huberdeau leaves him without a top 10 center. Anyone we sign/trade will not be a top 10 center. Do you really expect him to put up 92 points without Geno/Sid/Barkov? He won’t be playing LW with Sid, that’s Guentzels spot.
- j.boyd919

Do you value the 5mil cap relief? How do you project Malkin over the next 4 years of his contract? I think are variables/risks to consider. I am comparing a winger coming into his prime vs a center who is exiting his. Yeah it's a gamble and Malkin's resume when all is said and done will be HOF worthy...but at some point you break up the band.

Re: the 2C, who says you cna't use Kessel to address that area? Would they consider Guentzel at 2C? I just think there could be options, that's all.

There are a very very small number of trade possibilities where trading Evgeni Malkin ends in your team getting better. Not worth it. He's too good.

It was written in French, which means it has no credibility whatsoever.
- jmatchett383

EXACTLY

Instead we should be discussing what our enemies are up to. Philly and NYI are obviously looking to upgrade this offseason and if MTL gets Karlsson then Petry is probably on the move. This all effects the Pens

There could be a rumor about us getting Marchy, Wild Bill, and Reilly for Geno and Phil and people would still hate it

You'd have to! Sentiment/emotion is getting in the way of any Pens fan who feels that is a bad deal.
- jersey1414

For all
The reasons one would have to it won’t happen . Makes little to no sense for Florida .

Huberdeau put up 92 points (once in his career) playing with a top 10 Center in Barkov. Trading our other top 10 center (Geno) for Huberdeau leaves him without a top 10 center. Anyone we sign/trade will not be a top 10 center. Do you really expect him to put up 92 points without Geno/Sid/Barkov? He won’t be playing LW with Sid, that’s Guentzels spot.
- j.boyd919

The moved Guentzel to RW for McCann, they could do it for Huberdeau.

If you think the Pens can't win again with this group but can do a quick rebuild around Crosby, this move would make sense. 2 years down the road, you're better off with a still in his prime and cheap Huberdeau and a 1st that could be a player knocking on the door. So from a pure asset standpoint I can see doing this.

Does it make us better right now, no. I also want to see Malkin retire as a Pen. My while off-season plan has been geared towards improving the group around Malkin, and that's still the path I want to take. I can still see us contending by retooling around Crosby, Malkin, and Letang.

Do you value the 5mil cap relief? How do you project Malkin over the next 4 years of his contract? I think are variables/risks to consider. I am comparing a winger coming into his prime vs a center who is exiting his. Yeah it's a gamble and Malkin's resume when all is said and done will be HOF worthy...but at some point you break up the band.

Re: the 2C, who says you cna't use Kessel to address that area? Would they consider Guentzel at 2C? I just think there could be options, that's all.
- jersey1414

No I don't value 5mil in cap relief while losing a top 10 center.

I project Malkin's next 4 years to decline, but not THAT significantly, he's still a point per game player and that was saddled with JJ for half the season, which hampered a ton of his play.

No I don't believe Kessel's value can bring in a 2C with Geno's capabilities. Banking on acquiring a 2C to replace Geno is expecting too much.

Again, Huberdeau did this with Barkov who is a top 10 (maybe top 5) center in the NHL, and with top line minutes, and top PP minutes. I don't believe he would be playing with Sid which would put him on the 2nd line, which would limit is ice time and his 5v5 production.

I believe the Pens have no intentions on trying Guentzel at 2C because of his undeniable chemistry with Sid.

It is a gamble that I do not believe is worth it. And "breaking up the band" can happen when Sid and Geno retire. Until then, I do not see a trade where the Penguins improve by trading Geno.

"Breaking up the band" while still having dog poop players on your roster is retarded logic. Get rid of the problems, and the problems are not Geno, Sid, Kessel, Letang, etc. The problems are JJ, Cullen, Wilson, Gudbranson, etc. They are the bottom of the roster that cannot produce. Sid and Geno cannot be expected to carry a roster like they have in the past, so now more than ever you need to surround them with adequate supporting players, and GMJR hasn't and replacing the best players with lesser players will not make the team better.

I do it

I can see the Penguins trying to model themselves after the Bruins

A team full of responsible 2 way players that have the ability to score and a defense that can punish you

Crosby, Guentzel, Huberdeau, Zucker are in the mold of Bergeron Pasternak, Marchand and Krejci

Assuming they can add the 13th pick, coupled with their 1st as well as have capspace to take a run at some FA’s means they can still add and/or get younger

Getting that much younger is opening up a new window

The moved Guentzel to RW for McCann, they could do it for Huberdeau.

If you think the Pens can't win again with this group but can do a quick rebuild around Crosby, this move would make sense. 2 years down the road, you're better off with a still in his prime and cheap Huberdeau and a 1st that could be a player knocking on the door. So from a pure asset standpoint I can see doing this.

Does it make us better right now, no. I also want to see Malkin retire as a Pen. My while off-season plan has been geared towards improving the group around Malkin, and that's still the path I want to take. I can still see us contending by retooling around Crosby, Malkin, and Letang.
- Tojo.

What do you think the second line would be?

McCann-Bjugstad-Kessel trade? That’s a pretty bogus second line.

No I don't value 5mil in cap relief while losing a top 10 center.

I project Malkin's next 4 years to decline, but not THAT significantly, he's still a point per game player and that was saddled with JJ for half the season, which hampered a ton of his play.

No I don't believe Kessel's value can bring in a 2C with Geno's capabilities. Banking on acquiring a 2C to replace Geno is expecting too much.

Again, Huberdeau did this with Barkov who is a top 10 (maybe top 5) center in the NHL, and with top line minutes, and top PP minutes. I don't believe he would be playing with Sid which would put him on the 2nd line, which would limit is ice time and his 5v5 production.

I believe the Pens have no intentions on trying Guentzel at 2C because of his undeniable chemistry with Sid.

It is a gamble that I do not believe is worth it. And "breaking up the band" can happen when Sid and Geno retire. Until then, I do not see a trade where the Penguins improve by trading Geno.

"Breaking up the band" while still having dog poop players on your roster is retarded logic. Get rid of the problems, and the problems are not Geno, Sid, Kessel, Letang, etc. The problems are JJ, Cullen, Wilson, Gudbranson, etc. They are the bottom of the roster that cannot produce. Sid and Geno cannot be expected to carry a roster like they have in the past, so now more than ever you need to surround them with adequate supporting players, and GMJR hasn't and replacing the best players with lesser players will not make the team better.
- j.boyd919

You're right, get rid of the problem players. There are tons of teams lining up for JJ, Wilson and Gudbransson.

If they were set in trading Malkin, I’d try to to get Vegas to make a deal.

Malkin/JJ for William Karlsson/Theodore.

You're right, get rid of the problem players. There are tons of teams lining up for JJ, Wilson and Gudbransson.
- jersey1414

Wilson and Cullen are FAs, no need to resign them.
Buyout JJ - Addition by subtraction
Gudbranson could probably be shipped out after a strong showing in PIT

It's really not that difficult. It's actually pretty simple to improve the team WITHOUT trading the Pens best players.

Wilson and Cullen are FAs, no need to resign them.
Buyout JJ - Addition by subtraction
Gudbranson could probably be shipped out after a strong showing in PIT

It's really not that difficult. It's actually pretty simple to improve the team WITHOUT trading the Pens best players.
- j.boyd919

100%

Even if you keep Gudbranson, that's removing 3/4 of the listed problems.

This sounds like a great deal... for Florida.

Tippet and another prospect better be coming back if this actually happened
- Rinosaur

This is just a clickbait attempt by a French site with a rumor about a French player. I don't think there is any truth to it. Trade Geno for a winger, who's playing 2C for Pitt then? Bjugstad? Or they go and give Geno type money to Duchene? Malkin is a great player, but his greatest days are probably past, and his cap hit would hinder FL's ability to address other, more pressing needs that the team has. This would be an incredibly stupid deal for Florida to make, especially when looking long term. Hubie and Barky have like a Sedin twins chemistry playing together, breaking that up would be foolish. There's definitely no way it would happen before (IF) Panarin actually does sign with FL. Pitt should keep Geno and tweak other areas to try and win one more Cup before Sid and Geno are done. Trading Geno seemingly would shut the window on the Pens. IDK why they would even consider moving him unless he demanded a trade. FL's window is just starting to open, and giving up what it would take to get a 30-something Geno for three years combined with his cap hit limiting their other options would be, at best, an overall lateral move.

"The hole at a #2C would be catastrophic."

The hole at #2C this past season WAS catastrophic. And it showed night after night, to rear it's ugly head in the (brief) playoffs.

Nothing against Geno personally, but he isn't getting any younger. His heart didn't seem in it this season, and there is no remedy for that.

And just because GMJR has indeed had a couple bad trades, doesn't mean he doesn't still have a few tricks up his sleeve. Guess we'll see what happens.

What do you think the second line would be?

McCann-Bjugstad-Kessel trade? That’s a pretty bogus second line.
- j.boyd919

They'd have to do some work on that second line, but you'd have bought a little time to do so while adding a guy that while not at Malkin's level is younger, cheaper, and just a bit below. Could still play him with another center, just saying there is a super line option.

I'm not making that trade anyways, I can just see some logic behind it to extend their window. But this doesn't make us better next year, and I agree with wanting to see Malkin retire here.