Ryan Wilson: Thoughts on the big picture and Game 7 after another early playoff exit Thoughts on the big picture and Game 7 after another early playoff exit

Cliffs notes: Basically keep the same Roster together because....dump the bad contracts because that will be easy. Give Rust a 2x raise. Expect different results. RY should be a CEO.

Someone mentioned last week that Hexy and Burke might be gone. Jeff Hathorn basically said the same thing this morning. "Being evaluated" and new ownership isn't sure they're the right guys to move the team forward.

Agree with much of what RW says here. I don't agree that Geno is 99% coming back. I'd say it's more 50/50.

Cliffs notes: Basically keep the same Roster together because....dump the bad contracts because that will be easy. Give Rust a 2x raise. Expect different results. RY should be a CEO.
- sammy87

This was a great team that could use a tiny bit more finishing and better injury luck. The older trio showed they still have a lot to give this season and even playoffs.

bless Sidney Goatby

Right now, CapFriendly is saying we have $28.3M in cap space. Trade Dumo and McGinn and that's $35.15M.

-$6.5M - Malkin
-$8.5M - Letang
-$7M - Trocheck
-$4.5M - Rakell
-$2M - Heinen
-$900K - Nylander
-$1.25M - Backup goalie


Jake-Crosby-Rakell
Malkin-Trocheck-Heinen
Zucker-Carter-Nylander
O'Connor-Blueger-Zohorna

Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman/POJ-Ruhwedal

Jarry
Back-up

This roster would still have $5.75M in salary cap. You could easily choose not to resign Heinen and have $7M to go after a talented second line winger. The 2023 UFA class looks a lot better. You will also be getting Zucker's money off the books, but Blueger and Jarry will need new deals.

Fun series. nerve wracking OT games. sad result but it is what it is

Right now, CapFriendly is saying we have $28.3M in cap space. Trade Dumo and McGinn and that's $35.15M.

-$6.5M - Malkin
-$8.5M - Letang
-$7M - Trocheck
-$4.5M - Rakell
-$2M - Heinen
-$900K - Nylander
-$1.25M - Backup goalie


Jake-Crosby-Rakell
Malkin-Trocheck-Heinen
Zucker-Carter-Nylander
O'Connor-Blueger-Zohorna

Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman/POJ-Ruhwedal

Jarry
Back-up

This roster would still have $5.75M in salary cap. You could easily choose not to resign Heinen and have $7M to go after a talented second line winger. The 2023 UFA class looks a lot better. You will also be getting Zucker's money off the books, but Blueger and Jarry will need new deals.
- SuperHenderson13

Lets get MAF back too.

Someone mentioned last week that Hexy and Burke might be gone. Jeff Hathorn basically said the same thing this morning. "Being evaluated" and new ownership isn't sure they're the right guys to move the team forward.

Agree with much of what RW says here. I don't agree that Geno is 99% coming back. I'd say it's more 50/50.
- madmike71

That was me. My friend was telling me the word inside the organization is that FSG will want their own people. He also told me not to be surprised if they go after a GM with a current NHL team and offer them both GM and President of Hockey Ops. I would imagine look at the teams with my analytically minded GMs.

Fun series. nerve wracking OT games. sad result but it is what it is
- DeflatedPucks

That's right, it was hell of a ride for 2 weeks. Much closer than I thought it would be. The harshness comes from after the two wins that got them up 3-1. They were just in the drivers seat. The 2 to 3 mins after Sid went down damaged them so much in that game, 3 goals against in that time frame I believe. Thats crazy. If Sully didnt put Carter on the top line as soon as Sid went down this might not of even went 7 games. One of the many if's and buts for these playoffs hahah

This was a great team that could use a tiny bit more finishing and better injury luck. The older trio showed they still have a lot to give this season and even playoffs.
- MattStrat

Great teams dont lose in round 1. Great teams overcome adversity as Tampa did. Great teams dont lose a game 7 against a young inexperienced team. Great teams dont blow leads in 3 straight clinching games. Pens have a few great players led by Crosby..Letang and Guentzel but they are far from a great team.

Great teams dont lose in round 1. Great teams overcome adversity as Tampa did. Great teams dont lose a game 7 against a young inexperienced team. Great teams dont blow leads in 3 straight clinching games. Pens have a few great players led by Crosby..Letang and Guentzel but they are far from a great team.
- hfc355

bruh stop. you should have stopped when you spewed garbage last blog Domingue wasn't great this series either.

That was me. My friend was telling me the word inside the organization is that FSG will want their own people. He also told me not to be surprised if they go after a GM with a current NHL team and offer them both GM and President of Hockey Ops. I would imagine look at the teams with my analytically minded GMs.
- SuperHenderson13

Yes, I remember your post. They'd have to move really quick, because this off-season is very complex. If you're moving on from Hexy, how do you let him make all these big decisions.

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- rrentz[/img]

You've won less Stanley Cups as an Original 6 team compared to a 1967 expansion team who almost went bankrupt multiple times.

not to mention the Rangers have 1 Cup since WW2 ended.

[img
- rrentz[/img]

this made me chuckle lol

Hex can definitely go in multiple directions this offseason. He can figure out a way to resign Letang, Malkin and Rust (which is the least popular opinion among fans). I think Letang and Rust price themselves out of Pittsburgh. I think Malkin takes a pay cut and returns. I also think Rakell resigns with us.

I agree with many on shopping some players like Dumo, Kap, and Zucker this offseason and bringing some younger talent up to the big team like POJ, Bjorkqvist, O'Connor, and Nylander.

Hex can go target Klingberg, Forsberg (my top 2 targets), , Giroux (has history w/ Hex), Burakovsky, Mikheyev, Niederreiter.

He could also go in a different direction entirely with the team and target Domi, Kadri, E. Kane, Chiarot (had us all questioning if they really had interest in him before the trade deadline), Manson, Trocheck, Nichushkin, Nick Paul, Motte, and Zadorov and bring a different element to the team.

Bring in some older players who may take less money for a shot at the cup
Radulov, Dustin Brown, Giordano


Personally I wouldn't mind seeing Hex change things up this offseason and build a different looking team entirely come next season. Besides the 1st line and PP most nights our team couldn't buy a goal come the end of the season. It is the first time as a Pittsburgh fan that I am optimistic for the team. I think Hextall has been very calculated with his approach and I think he will make some solid moves this offseason to keep us in contention. This might be the offseason to get younger, bigger and re-tool the lineup a bit.

Great series. Coulda gone either way at any point in most of the games. Decently honest play by both teams for the most part. Crosby was Sid the Kid again. Just dynamic all over the ice at all times. Great moment on the line with him and Truubs.
Gino was not playing at nearly 100% clearly neither was Jarry. Nice little nod between Gino and Bread on the line too. The Garden and the Rangers were not to be denied last night tho.

You've won less Stanley Cups as an Original 6 team compared to a 1967 expansion team who almost went bankrupt multiple times.

not to mention the Rangers have 1 Cup since WW2 ended.

- SuperHenderson13

OK

Shocked no mention of Trouba and his double minor and the failure of the NHL player safety department and reffing

Shocked no mention of Trouba and his double minor and the failure of the NHL player safety department and reffing
- Guile

Can't blame the refs for 5 blown leads in 3 different games that could close a series.

Great teams dont lose in round 1. Great teams overcome adversity as Tampa did. Great teams dont lose a game 7 against a young inexperienced team. Great teams dont blow leads in 3 straight clinching games. Pens have a few great players led by Crosby..Letang and Guentzel but they are far from a great team.
- hfc355

🤡

Can't blame the refs for 5 blown leads in 3 different games that could close a series.
- j.boyd919

The Rangers game winner with under 2 mins left in game 6 is crazy. There's not one starter in the league letting that in. A lot of Rangers goals came from crazy things. Like looking back at what Erod did in game 6 that changed the momentum? I saw the highlight of it again last night on the Sportsnet intermission and it was a shove. Wasnt to the face or anything haha...thats what gets called. Pens were on the good side of some goal reviews though.

It's super ironic to me, with all the complaining we heard about Bettman, the league and refs all favoring Pens, that the Rangers won the series on a PP in OT hahaha fvck sakes.

Right now, CapFriendly is saying we have $28.3M in cap space. Trade Dumo and McGinn and that's $35.15M.

-$6.5M - Malkin
-$8.5M - Letang
-$7M - Trocheck
-$4.5M - Rakell
-$2M - Heinen
-$900K - Nylander
-$1.25M - Backup goalie


Jake-Crosby-Rakell
Malkin-Trocheck-Heinen
Zucker-Carter-Nylander
O'Connor-Blueger-Zohorna

Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman/POJ-Ruhwedal

Jarry
Back-up

This roster would still have $5.75M in salary cap. You could easily choose not to resign Heinen and have $7M to go after a talented second line winger. The 2023 UFA class looks a lot better. You will also be getting Zucker's money off the books, but Blueger and Jarry will need new deals.
- SuperHenderson13

I don't think you're gonna want to give Trocheck 7 million but okay

I don't think you're gonna want to give Trocheck 7 million but okay
- BINGO!

The best part is people want to give Trocheck 7 million but don't want to give Geno 7 million lol.