Ryan Wilson: Ron Hextall lacks hockey acumen to fix the problems he created Ron Hextall lacks hockey acumen to fix the problems he created

Penguins get Gibson and Ducks acquire Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

So I saw this trade proposed and wonder what Pens fans think of it.

Penguins get Gibson and Ducks acquire Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

So I saw this trade proposed and wonder what Pens fans think of it.
- dozerD10

Saw that on the athletic too

Penguins get Gibson and Ducks acquire Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

So I saw this trade proposed and wonder what Pens fans think of it.
- dozerD10

Not bad considering Jarry's hip. I'd love to make a big deal with the Yotes for Chychurn and Vejmelka

I wouldn't mind a trade for Gibson. I am not so sold on spending so much for Chychrun. I personally would rather McCabe and Domi which would cost us less then Chychrun. Domi can be a net front presence on the PP. If I was gonna spend the assets I would go Meier instead of Chychrun.

I wouldn't mind a trade for Gibson. I am not so sold on spending so much for Chychrun. I personally would rather McCabe and Domi which would cost us less then Chychrun. Domi can be a net front presence on the PP. If I was gonna spend the assets I would go Meier instead of Chychrun.
- 123Kid

As long as Meier would sign. Otherwise, pass. We shouldn't be making moves for this year only, that's a lost cause. I like what Washington is doing.

I’m in the sell camp. This team stinks, they aren’t a couple players away from contending. Trading futures for this group is a waste of assets.

I’m in the sell camp. This team stinks, they aren’t a couple players away from contending. Trading futures for this group is a waste of assets.
- kfinl170

I agree but that would mean hex would have to admit failure and I don’t think he will.

They need a new 3rd line
Top 4 dman
Top 6 f
Healthy #1 g

Good luck

I agree but that would mean hex would have to admit failure and I don’t think he will.

They need a new 3rd line
Top 4 dman
Top 6 f
Healthy #1 g

Good luck
- sammy87

Well he apparently won’t admit anything judging by his actions

Penguins get Gibson and Ducks acquire Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

So I saw this trade proposed and wonder what Pens fans think of it.
- dozerD10

Uhhhhhh, no.

Ducks are in no position to contend in the next few years. Why would they want Kapanen and or Jarry? They need future players. Ie, picks and prospects.
So you’re pushing Kappy who was placed on waivers, so that worthless, Jarry, who can’t stay healthy, and a couple fairly insignificant picks. Up the prospects and picks, and you’d have a starting conversation.

I wouldn't mind a trade for Gibson. I am not so sold on spending so much for Chychrun. I personally would rather McCabe and Domi which would cost us less then Chychrun. Domi can be a net front presence on the PP. If I was gonna spend the assets I would go Meier instead of Chychrun.
- 123Kid

I'd lean the other way. While the Pens need on the third line is glaring, I'd argue they still haven't replaced Dumoulin and Letang is showing signs of slowing down so the biggest piece they need is a top pairing defenseman. You can build a third line with smaller moves.

It's also a multi year solution. Meier would be very expensive to resign and while he's an upgrade on Zucker, you'd still have all the same problems on the roster you do now and less cap space to fix them.

Don't think I'd do either personally, the team is just done. Too many holes to fix and you don't know who is going to take the next step down from the aging curve. Smaller moves sure, but I wouldn't be throwing multiple high end futures at any player thinking that will solve their problems.

I know many people pan the simple +/- stat in favor of more advanced stats but the current bottom ten +/- of the Pens who have played at least 20 games, in reverse order, are:

*** Kris Letang -15
** Jeff Carter -11
**** Evgeni Malkin -10
**** Bryan Rust -9
* Teddy Blueger -8
** Kasperi Kapanen -8
* Drew O'Connor -5
*** Brian Dumoulin -3
** Danton Heinen -3
Rickard Rakell -1

Observations, based on this and from watching the play:

* The fourth line is especially atrocious. Even at this point in the season their +/- should be closer to 0. No one expects them to score much but they also should be playing much more sound hockey and not being scored against. It might be worth bringing up WBS players to see if any are able to do better, especially to replace Blueger. The fourth line can provide value to an aging team because they can give the rest of the team a rest while wearing down opposition. But when their defensive play is so bad it negates any value they could provide and the team has to rely on the top 3 lines more.

** The third line is also very bad defensively and their offensive production is nowhere near enough to compensate for this. On top of this these players are signed to contracts that handcuff the team for years to come. I have not paid attention to the Kapanen situation but I am guessing he will have no trouble clearing waivers.

*** Dumo has been horrible and as usual Letang tries to do too much, especially for his age. Both of their ice time needs to be reduced.

**** Geno and his line need to play better defensively as well. A lot of Geno's goals are on the PP, meaning that his line is on the ice for a lot of 5 on 5 goals against. Much like Letang he takes too many risks. He can't do that considering that we no longer have the goaltending to bail them out.

And of course the goaltending situation is the worst part of the team.

Yeah, I think Hextall may have "closed the window" with the contracts he gave out .

I'd lean the other way. While the Pens need on the third line is glaring, I'd argue they still haven't replaced Dumoulin and Letang is showing signs of slowing down so the biggest piece they need is a top pairing defenseman. You can build a third line with smaller moves.

It's also a multi year solution. Meier would be very expensive to resign and while he's an upgrade on Zucker, you'd still have all the same problems on the roster you do now and less cap space to fix them.

Don't think I'd do either personally, the team is just done. Too many holes to fix and you don't know who is going to take the next step down from the aging curve. Smaller moves sure, but I wouldn't be throwing multiple high end futures at any player thinking that will solve their problems.
- Tojo.

I'd sell off Zucker or anybody else outside of the main core. Call up a couple of those guys from WB and take a 20 game look at them.

Fire Hextall in the offseason and maybe a new GM can cobble together a decent bottom half of the roster.

Reality is hex should have been making deals since December. Even as a casual fan at this point that doesn’t even follow the team that closely let alone the league….was pretty clear in July this team sucked.

Reality is hex should have been making deals since December. Even as a casual fan at this point that doesn’t even follow the team that closely let alone the league….was pretty clear in July this team sucked.
- sammy87

100% this is the biggest issue. Could have made a deal. See how it worked and then see what holes remained.

Need to sell off all the contracts. Rust can assume the Carter role as a way over paid 3rd liner with a ntc. Get two bonifide wingers to play with Malkin and start next season with ahlers in the bottom six.

Get ready for a win Penguins. Blues are not playing as a team at the moment. Berube is pissed as he should be. The Thomas Kyrou duo should be split up today.

I'd sell off Zucker or anybody else outside of the main core. Call up a couple of those guys from WB and take a 20 game look at them.

Fire Hextall in the offseason and maybe a new GM can cobble together a decent bottom half of the roster.
- madmike71

This

Yes Hextall sucks. Rutta has been good and that signing shouldn’t be criticized so much. It’s old reading the same poop every day. Thank god Kappy isn’t in the line up anymore.

Penguins get Gibson and Ducks acquire Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fourth-round pick.

So I saw this trade proposed and wonder what Pens fans think of it.
- dozerD10

It’s awful considering Jarry is better than Gibson. But I love that being the building blocks to a large trade.

Get ready for a win Penguins. Blues are not playing as a team at the moment. Berube is pissed as he should be. The Thomas Kyrou duo should be split up today.
- BluesDroogie

Pens win and hex is convinced to keep the status quo….” This is what happens when we play our game”…..never mind the opponent

Pens win and hex is convinced to keep the status quo….” This is what happens when we play our game”…..never mind the opponent
- sammy87

I’ve heard the same when the blues have done that in the past. Mainly under Hitchcock back a few years. Makes fans angry as poop right?

Blues claim Kapanen... wow. What a break for the Penguins not just for now, but for next year.

I will go on record and say i dont think Kapanen is a bad player per say. He is overpaid and has the problem of not being good enough for a consistent top 6 role but not good enough at the intangibles to be successful in a constant bottom 6 role. A lot of people i know who have met him says he is a really good dude. Best of luck to him in St. Louis.

The most important thing he did for us was bring Phil Kessel back in 2015.

Pens win and hex is convinced to keep the status quo….” This is what happens when we play our game”…..never mind the opponent
- sammy87

This is the best case scenario. Don't let him do any more damage. There's no possible way to get this team into contender status by tinkering with the bottom 6. This might be the best collection of playoff teams in one conference that I can remember. The two wild card teams will be punching bags, but the others are really f'n good. NJ might be a year or two early, but that's it. I'm looking forward to it even if the Pens don't participate.

Yes Hextall sucks. Rutta has been good and that signing shouldn’t be criticized so much. It’s old reading the same poop every day. Thank god Kappy isn’t in the line up anymore.
- sextoymagic

I'm on more sporadically these days, but feels like a lot has changed with less people talking about making a big trade involving 1sts.

For Ruuta, I'll agree he's been fine. And it hasn't been as good a year for Ruhwedel. They just had other cheap options like Friedman and Smith to try where they could have saved cap space.