Had some fun with a lineup including the Tik and Plot. Tried to be realistic.

https://hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6177

With the signing today plus potential to sign Tik, would anyone here be interested in Drouin for Pouliot? If DP is dealt, Franson and maybe a bottom pairing guy would need to be signed. Maybe even Sutter gets traded in a deal to NSH for Ellis?

Had some fun with a lineup including the Tik and Plot. Tried to be realistic.

https://hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6177
- MacPatty

IMO that's a huge overpayment for Duclair

With the signing today plus potential to sign Tik, would anyone here be interested in Drouin for Pouliot? If DP is dealt, Franson and maybe a bottom pairing guy would need to be signed. Maybe even Sutter gets traded in a deal to NSH for Ellis?
- BourbonCounty

Wouldn't be totally against it, but signing the two Russians reduces the need to trade Pouliot for a forward. Not sure Drouin is the guy I would go after if I am trading away Pouliot though. He has a similar game to Kapanen, so probably don't need two of the same. Heck, why not try to move Kapanen and Harrington/Dumolin for Drouin if Tampa really wants to move him.

On Franson... he is a good player, but someone is going to offer him about 7/$42M which does not make sense for the Pens.

IMO that's a huge overpayment for Duclair
- BourbonCounty

You might be right, but I dont like to throw out trade proposals where it is obviously favorable to the Pens. Just wanted to make it realistic enough that Arizona might pull the trigger on it in real life.

With the signing today plus potential to sign Tik, would anyone here be interested in Drouin for Pouliot? If DP is dealt, Franson and maybe a bottom pairing guy would need to be signed. Maybe even Sutter gets traded in a deal to NSH for Ellis?
- BourbonCounty

If NSH sent Ellis for a package with Sutter as the centerpiece, I would forgive Rutherford for the Lovejoy trade. That would be a steal.

If NSH sent Ellis for a package with Sutter as the centerpiece, I would forgive Rutherford for the Lovejoy trade. That would be a steal.
- jfkst1

Their defensive depth is out of this world. Their center depth is atrocious. Crazier things have happened.

Wouldn't be totally against it, but signing the two Russians reduces the need to trade Pouliot for a forward. Not sure Drouin is the guy I would go after if I am trading away Pouliot though. He has a similar game to Kapanen, so probably don't need two of the same. Heck, why not try to move Kapanen and Harrington/Dumolin for Drouin if Tampa really wants to move him.

On Franson... he is a good player, but someone is going to offer him about 7/$42M which does not make sense for the Pens.
- MacPatty

That is true, although Drouin is the next Kane. Imagine him next to Geno/Sid. I think he could slot in top 6 with Geno and Plotkinov. Tik could slide down to the third line. Both Russians would be on 1 yr deals as well and would need extended if they work out. Drouin won't need a new contract until around the time Dupuis and Kunitz are off the books.

Idk, just a thought. Would be a huge move for both teams.

You might be right, but I dont like to throw out trade proposals where it is obviously favorable to the Pens. Just wanted to make it realistic enough that Arizona might pull the trigger on it in real life.
- MacPatty

I get what you mean, but still. Even without adding our first into that deal I still feel like we're overpaying slighty.

That is true, although Drouin is the next Kane. Imagine him next to Geno/Sid. I think he could slot in top 6 with Geno and Plotkinov. Tik could slide down to the third line. Both Russians would be on 1 yr deals as well and would need extended if they work out. Drouin won't need a new contract until around the time Dupuis and Kunitz are off the books.

Idk, just a thought. Would be a huge move for both teams.
- BourbonCounty

I get the feeling that trade would end up being a huge mistake for one of the teams involved and I'm not sure which one it would be...

If NSH sent Ellis for a package with Sutter as the centerpiece, I would forgive Rutherford for the Lovejoy trade. That would be a steal.
- jfkst1

4 more years at 2.5... Steal of all steals

Their defensive depth is out of this world. Their center depth is atrocious. Crazier things have happened.
- Victoro311

They would be the team to target a Sutter trade around. No team has worse center depth in the league than NSH. Not even sure they are willing to bring Ribiero back with his legal issues and even so, at his age, Fisher's age, and their lack of winger talent, Rutherford should be able to make them bleed something beneficial. A healthy Pens blue line with Letang, Maatta, Ellis, Pouliot in Johnston's system would be ridiculous.

I get the feeling that trade would end up being a huge mistake for one of the teams involved and I'm not sure which one it would be...
- Victoro311

Exactly. Honestly, if we had our choice of either DP or Drouin I'd draw a name out of a hat. I would be completely happy with either or. Both have team Canada potential without a doubt.

They would be the team to target a Sutter trade around. No team has worse center depth in the league than NSH. Not even sure they are willing to bring Ribiero back with his legal issues and even so, at his age, Fisher's age, and their lack of winger talent, Rutherford should be able to make them bleed something beneficial. A healthy Pens blue line with Letang, Maatta, Ellis, Pouliot in Johnston's system would be ridiculous.
- jfkst1

Sutter + 2nd for Forsberg?

Sutter + 2nd for Forsberg?
- BourbonCounty

Where is the sarcastic font?

Sutter + 2nd for Forsberg?
- BourbonCounty

They won't be giving up a winger, much less that one. It just creates more holes on their roster. They have a ton of dmen, and are probably the only team with too many RH ones at that. Ellis would be a perfect fit in Johnston's system. Add another one of these Russkie forwards and 2nd pairing RD probably becomes the Pen's biggest hole.

They would be the team to target a Sutter trade around. No team has worse center depth in the league than NSH. Not even sure they are willing to bring Ribiero back with his legal issues and even so, at his age, Fisher's age, and their lack of winger talent, Rutherford should be able to make them bleed something beneficial. A healthy Pens blue line with Letang, Maatta, Ellis, Pouliot in Johnston's system would be ridiculous.
- jfkst1

From a skill standpoint absolutely. I question that defense's ability to clear the crease though. A Pouliot-Ellis pairing would be disgustingly soft. Id probably configure it something like this and pray Cole and Dumoulin figure out how to start using their bodies quickly.

Letang-Maatta
Pouliot-Cole
Dumoulin-Ellis

They won't be giving up a winger, much less that one. It just creates more holes on their roster. They have a ton of dmen, and are probably the only team with too many RH ones at that. Ellis would be a perfect fit in Johnston's system. Add another one of these Russkie forwards and 2nd pairing RD probably becomes the Pen's biggest hole.
- jfkst1

No doubt they won't give up a winger, you said JR should make them bleed though so I figured that was good enough

But I defintiely agree. I would poop my pants if Sutter for Ellis happened. Even if we had to add a pick or something.

From a skill standpoint absolutely. I question that defense's ability to clear the crease though. A Pouliot-Ellis pairing would be disgustingly soft. Id probably configure it something like this and pray Cole and Dumoulin figure out how to start using their bodies quickly.

Letang-Maatta
Pouliot-Cole
Dumoulin-Ellis
- Victoro311

Pouliot could probably stand to be on the 3rd pairing in protected minutes and PP time. Cole is LH shot and plays both sides so he could just slide over. Either way it would be a steal. Please Hockey Gods avenge us for the Lovejoy trade!

The idea of adding Plotnikov and Tikhonov adds so many possibilities. If that's your Malkin line, you've given up no assets and little cap space. Think Tikhonov gets a little more since he's a true UFA. I'd just count on one, put the other on line 3, and still try to add a wing in a trade. My pick is still Semin, but might have the ability to instead put a guy like Skinner on Sid's line. Really so much more can be done.

Here's a quick shot

https://www.hockeyscap.com/armchair-gm/team/6168

Pouliot could probably stand to be on the 3rd pairing in protected minutes and PP time. Cole is LH shot and plays both sides so he could just slide over. Either way it would be a steal. Please Hockey Gods avenge us for the Lovejoy trade!
- jfkst1

Can Dumoulin play the right? Cus that's what you'd have to do to bump up Ellis and send down Pouliot

Can Dumoulin play the right? Cus that's what you'd have to do to bump up Ellis and send down Pouliot
- Victoro311

Lack of RH dmen is kind of a problem with the Pens. Maatta, Pouliot, Dumoulin, and Harrington all seem to either prefer or exclusively play the left side. Which of course as you know was one of the factors (along with experience) that Rutherford used to justify the Despres trade.

Should be no surprise here but the unanimous consensus from the Buzzcast panel of experts is that even at half his salary retained Semin's contract is untradeable and he "has been out right stealing money from the Canes." They also described him as "soulless," and "useless." This is nothing I didn't already know but there is literally 1000 players in the world that would be a better option than Semin at this point. Glad we have this new Rushian and another one likely to be signed as well on July 1. Let's put the Semin BS to bed once and for all.

The NHL board just agreed to start formal expansion process for interested markets.

Should be no surprise here but the unanimous consensus from the Buzzcast panel of experts is that even at half his salary retained Semin's contract is untradeable and he "has been out right stealing money from the Canes." They also described him as "soulless," and "useless." This is nothing I didn't already know but there is literally 1000 players in the world that would be a better option than Semin at this point. Glad we have this new Rushian and another one likely to be signed as well on July 1. Let's put the Semin BS to bed once and for all.
- Dcoms

I agree. Semin is far too big a risk. With at least one of these guys likely to pan out in the top 6, there is no need to take it. The Semin thing has been done into the ground more than the trade Geno thing at this point.