Link to the article?
- j.boyd919

https://pittsburghhockeyn...ges-but-last-year-almost/

That is one of the links discussing how he was almost traded and Crosby stepped in. I can't seem to locate the other article which discussed how he wasn't happy and his wife leaked that it was because he wasn't the main guy. Maybe it is in this article, but I'm at work so I can only skim through the article.

Totally random, but I really wish we knew more about the reasoning for moving Kahun. I don't think that trade was truly detrimental, but it's still puzzling to me. Kahun IMO is the better player.

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/evgeni-malkin-is-safe-from-pittsburgh-penguins-changes-but-last-year-almost/

That is one of the links discussing how he was almost traded and Crosby stepped in. I can't seem to locate the other article which discussed how he wasn't happy and his wife leaked that it was because he wasn't the main guy. Maybe it is in this article, but I'm at work so I can only skim through the article.
- 123Kid

Its in the last couple paragraphs.

https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/evgeni-malkin-is-safe-from-pittsburgh-penguins-changes-but-last-year-almost/

That is one of the links discussing how he was almost traded and Crosby stepped in. I can't seem to locate the other article which discussed how he wasn't happy and his wife leaked that it was because he wasn't the main guy. Maybe it is in this article, but I'm at work so I can only skim through the article.
- 123Kid

Ahh the great Dan Kingerski. I don’t put stock in anything that guy says. He’s like the Eklund of Penguins rumors.

Bertuzzi is exactly the type of player the Pens need to be pursuing. He would lay down and die to get out of the bubble.
- Grinder47

Exact reason why I brought up Bertuzzi. He’s a good player who plays with an edge. He’ll be the first guy in on the forecheck making sure he finishes a check and he has shown he can finish plays

Totally random, but I really wish we knew more about the reasoning for moving Kahun. I don't think that trade was truly detrimental, but it's still puzzling to me. Kahun IMO is the better player.
- Rinosaur

My issue was that the Kahun-Malkin-Rust line was playing very well together. Not only that, but he’s a young player cost controlled for a few years. So you still trade for Zucker and move Kahun to the 3rd line with McCann. I’m sure that’d be way better than McCann being stuck with Marleau and Hornqvist

This from the same article if true could be trouble (other than maybe moves JJ). It's both Rossi and Yohe on this BTW:

The Penguins, for the first time since 2007, likely will not spend near the salary cap to start the upcoming season, according to multiple team and league sources.

Revenue is down, in part because of early playoff exits and in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ownership believes cost-cutting measures are reasonable at this time. Rutherford would be permitted to spend to the cap in-season if ownership was convinced the club was a piece or two away from a deep playoff run, team and industry sources said.

“They’re a revenue-based ownership. They spend what they make,” an industry source said. “Maybe it’s not the best thing to count on playoff home games, but they do, so nobody should be surprised if things tighten there.”

The Penguins have 16 players with guaranteed roster spots who count $68.2 million against an $81.5 million cap. But multiple team and league sources said the Penguins will look to spend in the low- to mid-$70 million range to start next season. To get there, the team will seek trades of multiple veterans, especially because ownership favors those moves over buyouts.
- Tojo.

I think this may be more of a good thing, likely means Bjugstad and JJ are as good as gone and potentially Hornqvist. Likely get rid of Tanev in the expansion draft and the team will be injected with a ton of youth by 2021-2022.

Exact reason why I brought up Bertuzzi. He’s a good player who plays with an edge. He’ll be the first guy in on the forecheck making sure he finishes a check and he has shown he can finish plays
- drummer829

This team needs edge. I wish we had the Tkachuk brothers manning the top 2 lw’s.

My issue was that the Kahun-Malkin-Rust line was playing very well together. Not only that, but he’s a young player cost controlled for a few years. So you still trade for Zucker and move Kahun to the 3rd line with McCann. I’m sure that’d be way better than McCann being stuck with Marleau and Hornqvist
- drummer829

If there's something we've learned about Sullivan is that he's a my way or the highway kind of guy and he does not change things up for his players. This worked great in year one when everyone was frustrated and begging for someone to take charge and lend direction that Mike Johnston was not providing, but as the years have gone on there's been casualties as guys have bought out. Cole and Kessel are the obvious examples of personalities Sullivan just never adjusted to. To a lesser extend Brassard, but I think that was more of a Brassard problem than a Sullivan problem. Sounds like Kahun fell into that camp. Not sure what the beef was, but the beat was consistent in reporting that Kahun was disgruntled here and Rutherford and Sullivan used that as an opportunity to bring a player they liked back.

Yes as a coach you have to be the boss and you're not there to make friends, but good leaders also adjust so that they can get the best out of their personnel. In every case that Sullivan has booted a guy out because he didn't like them, we've brought in a worse version for a replacement. Kessel turned into Galchenyuk. Luckily that eventually turned into Zucker, but Kessel and a pick for Zucker is not good value. Cole turned into Hunwick who was brought in as Cole's longterm replacement ahead of Cole's inevitable trade, who eventually turned into Johnson because Hunwick flopped. Kahun turned into half a season of Conor Sheary. If Sullivan's here to stay, he can't keep making our team worse by jettisoning guys he has a personal beef with. It's becoming a pattern.

See I look at that game 1 OT loss to the Habs with 7 missed PP opportunities and think with the Pens PP setup (personnel) its not far fetched to think they would of converted one time with him in Phils old spot. If they had, they most likely win that game.
- MattStrat

I think they'd have had a better chance if they just put Hornqvist in front. Like they did the next game and immediately scored.

Ahh the great Dan Kingerski. I don’t put stock in anything that guy says. He’s like the Eklund of Penguins rumors.
- j.boyd919

He's worse than Eklund. He actually calls trades that didn't happen.

I think they'd have had a better chance if they just put Hornqvist in front. Like they did the next game and immediately scored.
- Tojo.

hahaha fair enough.

Remember in game 3 when their PP clicked going 2 for 2 very early in the game then the refs completely put away the whistles for the Habs rest of the game(think there was actually one more PP late in the game)? There were a lot of blatant non calls after this.

So many things, big and small, added up to this play in round series loss IMO.

He's worse than Eklund. He actually calls trades that didn't happen.
- Rinosaur

I call that overachieving.

hahaha fair enough.

Remember in game 3 when their PP clicked going 2 for 2 very early in the game then the refs completely put away the whistles for the Habs rest of the game(think there was actually one more PP late in the game)? There were a lot of blatant non calls after this.

So many things, big and small, added up to this play in round series loss IMO.
- MattStrat

To me the problem with the Pens is exactly what JR identified. They gave up.
Once things looked like they weren’t going to go the Pens way instead of putting their heads down and pushing harder they looked to the sky and gave up.

When I think about what I saw in the Pens in comparison to how the team played mid season I’m disgusted.

To me the problem with the Pens is exactly what JR identified. They gave up.
Once things looked like they weren’t going to go the Pens way instead of putting their heads down and pushing harder they looked to the sky and gave up.

When I think about what I saw in the Pens in comparison to how the team played mid season I’m disgusted.
- stackthepads

They really did give up, lots of guys that weren't even close to what they usually look like. I was expecting more from Jake and Geno.

To me the problem with the Pens is exactly what JR identified. They gave up.
Once things looked like they weren’t going to go the Pens way instead of putting their heads down and pushing harder they looked to the sky and gave up.

When I think about what I saw in the Pens in comparison to how the team played mid season I’m disgusted.
- stackthepads

Agree. It's like they were expecting the Habs to roll over, then when they saw this team was going to make them work hard, they folded.

The list of players who played to their capabilities was very small.

Very good article on McCann

https://thesportsdaily.co...inger-or-trade-bait-p1b1/
- Rinosaur

Good article. It's not a hill I'm willing to die on, but with how promising his first half was, I'd be inclined to give McCann another shot. Haven't heard a better option yet.

Bertuzzi is exactly the type of player the Pens need to be pursuing. He would lay down and die to get out of the bubble.
- Grinder47

Maybe the first time I agree with Grinder..

Totally random, but I really wish we knew more about the reasoning for moving Kahun. I don't think that trade was truly detrimental, but it's still puzzling to me. Kahun IMO is the better player.
- Rinosaur

I didnt like it at the time either. I really liked Kahun.

I mean I actually like Rodrigues and he's a little more versatile...but a) we didnt use him and b) we still gave away the best player in the deal imo

Maybe the first time I agree with Grinder..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Admit it, you swipe everyone.

Ahh the great Dan Kingerski. I don’t put stock in anything that guy says. He’s like the Eklund of Penguins rumors.
- j.boyd919

No doubt.

I think we had 10 times greater chance to win the lottery than for Geno to be traded....but Florida probably is the one destination that could actually "make sense" in a Geno trade...but one of Barkov, Huberdeau, or Ekblad have to be coming back our way and the age disparity is likely too great to make up for the talent disparity.

I think a Geno trade has to start with a lesser 2C + other pieces
or
top pairing RHD so we could trade tanger for that 2C

add in all the no movement clauses... just seems impossible to pull off and its still questionable if we would become "better"...or just "younger"

No doubt.

I think we had 10 times greater chance to win the lottery than for Geno to be traded....but Florida probably is the one destination that could actually "make sense" in a Geno trade...but one of Barkov, Huberdeau, or Ekblad have to be coming back our way and the age disparity is likely too great to make up for the talent disparity.

I think a Geno trade has to start with a lesser 2C + other pieces
or
top pairing RHD so we could trade tanger for that 2C

add in all the no movement clauses... just seems impossible to pull off and its still questionable if we would become "better"...or just "younger"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Hmm not that I advocate for trading geno or tanger, but for what would have to come back to make the cap work would prob be significant, and if that piece is in the mid 20 age I think it would be a large improvement. Maybe not this year or next, but very shortly after.

Maybe the first time I agree with Grinder..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

What team wouldn't want Bertuzzi? I can't imagine DET is going to part with their young core.

What team wouldn't want Bertuzzi? I can't imagine DET is going to part with their young core.
- Rinosaur

Wait, there is a new Bertuzzi that's not Todd?

Good article. It's not a hill I'm willing to die on, but with how promising his first half was, I'd be inclined to give McCann another shot. Haven't heard a better option yet.
- Tojo.

There really isn't any better options on the open market. I thought McCann filled in at C very well when all the injuries went down. I agree with the article that he deserves to get a long look at one position.