I think Trouba is better than Maatta
- j.boyd919

Whats a Maatta wit you huh? Heeeeeyyyyyyyyy........

sorry not bottom pairing... pouliot-trouba... big risk
- ChrisMS

oh sorry, misread that. I'd be fine with it.

still i wouldn't trade matta for trouba

Don't forget bout the expansion draft.... Pens can only protect 3 dmen... So if pouliot has a good season, he'll prolly get taken in the expansion draft.. Assuming pens protect letang, dumoulin and maatta as they should
- Kunit

Precisely. Very good point!

My reasons for not wanting this trade:

I don't know that Trouba is a good fit for this team. Just because a player is a good player with a high ceiling doesn't mean he's a fit for any team.

Trouba clearly has some skill, but he's a physical shutdown dman which isn't exactly what the Pens thrive on. The Pens thrive on skill and speed, not physically imposing their will on teams.

I'm not saying he isn't a good fit, I just DON'T KNOW if he is based on what made this team so successful.

I also think that Maatta's skating will improve.

Precisely. Very good point!

My reasons for not wanting this trade:

I don't know that Trouba is a good fit for this team. Just because a player is a good player with a high ceiling doesn't mean he's a fit for any team.

Trouba clearly has some skill, but he's a physical shutdown dman which isn't exactly what the Pens thrive on. The Pens thrive on skill and speed, not physically imposing their will on teams.

I'm not saying he isn't a good fit, I just DON'T KNOW if he is based on what made this team so successful.

I also think that Maatta's skating will improve.
- Rinosaur

You need someone to stop the other team from scoring and to win puck battles in the defensive zone. You need to kill penalties. Not saying others, including Maata, can't do this, just saying Trouba is better. But I know, shot differentials=talent gauge.

You need someone to stop the other team from scoring and to win puck battles in the defensive zone. You need to kill penalties. Not saying others, including Maata, can't do this, just saying Trouba is better. But I know, shot differentials=talent gauge.
- jmatchett383

How good is he at zone exits?

Precisely. Very good point!

My reasons for not wanting this trade:

I don't know that Trouba is a good fit for this team. Just because a player is a good player with a high ceiling doesn't mean he's a fit for any team.

Trouba clearly has some skill, but he's a physical shutdown dman which isn't exactly what the Pens thrive on. The Pens thrive on skill and speed, not physically imposing their will on teams.

I'm not saying he isn't a good fit, I just DON'T KNOW if he is based on what made this team so successful.

I also think that Maatta's skating will improve.
- Rinosaur

Trouba's offensive ability is probably better than Maatta's.. his skating is also superior to Maatta's... I would argue that Trouba is a better fit for the Pens system than Maatta.

Loved that he was good enough to make the Olympic squad for Team USA in 2014 but somehow isn't good enough for the World Cup team in 2016.
- BINGO!

Because we were trying to match up with Canada ... err ...

Because we were trying to match up with Canada ... err ...

- Oneonta Penguin

Lacks heart.

This is the type of trade that might look good in some arguments, but if you're the team that just won the Cup, why take the gamble?

I can talk myself into the fit. RHD are more valuable. We have a lot of defensemen that are below average pkers and get knocked around in front of their own net and that includes Oli. And it would be easier to get a LHD, and maybe they have one in Pouliot. Trouba is a nice blend of physical and puck moving so he'd be a nice addition.

And if Maatta is on the table, Winnipeg would listen. How many others in that age range play those minutes? That's the key piece they want. The rest could be worked out.

But do we want to trade for a bigger contract and asd another piece? It might not make sense to a team that doesn't need to shake things up.

This is the type of trade that might look good in some arguments, but if you're the team that just won the Cup, why take the gamble?

I can talk myself into the fit. RHD are more valuable. We have a lot of defensemen that are below average pkers and get knocked around in front of their own net and that includes Oli. And it would be easier to get a LHD, and maybe they have one in Pouliot. Trouba is a nice blend of physical and puck moving so he'd be a nice addition.

And if Maatta is on the table, Winnipeg would listen. How many others in that age range play those minutes? That's the key piece they want. The rest could be worked out.

But do we want to trade for a bigger contract and asd another piece? It might not make sense to a team that doesn't need to shake things up.
- Tojo.

It's not about shaking things up, it's about improving your team, getting better, and if it's a move that makes the team better, you do it. (IMO, it would.)

Whats a Maatta wit you huh? Heeeeeyyyyyyyyy........
- ChrisMS

we went 2 pages with out that pun

Ryan you are something else that is for sure. You have been preaching to us for years that those HERO charts are the be all and end all of player evaluation and yet the hero chart easily shows Maatta as the better player. Why would we give up the better player and pay the new, inferior player more money?!?!? Something isn't clicking here. And what a difference a year makes huh? Last training camp you were preaching about how Dumoulin would be lucky to make the team at all. How about this, Pouliot played on his off hand his entire junior career and played very well on the right side. Let's just keep things the way they are. I think Shultz is a bottom pairing right side solution and I think Bengsston belongs in the NHL ASAP AND we still have Cole to plug I there somewhere. Let's just role win what we got before we get burned trading Maatta.
On the other hand did you see the lineup we are sending to Detroit tomorrow? Desmith is starting and he sucks.

we went 2 pages with out that pun
- SRam19

1 page too many! Duh.

Ryan you are something else that is for sure. You have been preaching to us for years that those HERO charts are the be all and end all of player evaluation and yet the hero chart easily shows Maatta as the better player. Why would we give up the better player and pay the new, inferior player more money?!?!? Something isn't clicking here. And what a difference a year makes huh? Last training camp you were preaching about how Dumoulin would be lucky to make the team at all. How about this, Pouliot played on his off hand his entire junior career and played very well on the right side. Let's just keep things the way they are. I think Shultz is a bottom pairing right side solution and I think Bengsston belongs in the NHL ASAP AND we still have Cole to plug I there somewhere. Let's just role win what we got before we get burned trading Maatta.
On the other hand did you see the lineup we are sending to Detroit tomorrow? Desmith is starting and he sucks.
- Dcoms

it is a preseason game. so who cares. they are letting the kids play so they can see what they have. same reason that dp, schultz and cole is playing (to see what they have).

If Pouliot is such a 'potential' star, why wouldn't the Jets want him? If we are going to participate in this I would throw Trouba Pouliot at them to see if they bite? We don't need to trade so why put our blue chip player up first?? I could see Pouliot being an attractive option for them, only we would have to make cap space available with another trade?

I don't get all the 'move Fehr' comments either. Guy is a very good player with experience, but if people just want cap space because they think it's 'funky' to have, well I'd say you might reconsider your line of thinking. We have how many young guys skating around? We need some older heads that can run in a few different scenarios - Fehr can.

Lastly, what else could Maatta get us in a trade? People want to trade for a player that is basically telling his organisation to suck eggs, what happens if he decides he doesn't like the Burgh?? At least Drouin had a legitimate reason for his decisions, Trouba has very little reason to want out hockey wise. If he doesn't like Winnipeg then come out & say it! Imagine that, dreaming of being a pro hockey player & not considering he could end up anywhere???

I'll ask this here (I asked this in the Winnipeg thread the other day), when do you consider it ok for a RFA to request a trade?

I compared Trouba to Drouin & was told by most it was completely different (which is a load of malarkey ).

Pouliot being anywhere near the top 4 is inappropriate. And in this scenario, if it's not him the fall back option would be Cole.

This would also mess things up for this year. Letang/Trouba/Daley/Schultz gives them four right defensemen.

If Pouliot is such a 'potential' star, why wouldn't the Jets want him? If we are going to participate in this I would throw Trouba Pouliot at them to see if they bite? We don't need to trade so why put our blue chip player up first?? I could see Pouliot being an attractive option for them, only we would have to make cap space available with another trade?

I don't get all the 'move Fehr' comments either. Guy is a very good player with experience, but if people just want cap space because they think it's 'funky' to have, well I'd say you might reconsider your line of thinking. We have how many young guys skating around? We need some older heads that can run in a few different scenarios - Fehr can.

Lastly, what else could Maatta get us in a trade? People want to trade for a player that is basically telling his organisation to suck eggs, what happens if he decides he doesn't like the Burgh?? At least Drouin had a legitimate reason for his decisions, Trouba has very little reason to want out hockey wise. If he doesn't like Winnipeg then come out & say it! Imagine that, dreaming of being a pro hockey player & not considering he could end up anywhere???

I'll ask this here (I asked this in the Winnipeg thread the other day), when do you consider it ok for a RFA to request a trade?

I compared Trouba to Drouin & was told by most it was completely different (which is a load of malarkey ).
- Aussiepenguin

From what I heard trouba wants to leave because he feels like he has higher potential as a player elsewhere. Winnipeg has been mediocre since he's been there so it does make sense. Maybe he would take a little less (5 mil-ish) if he was on a good team playing with someone like letang, Keith, etc...

From what I heard trouba wants to leave because he feels like he has higher potential as a player elsewhere. Winnipeg has been mediocre since he's been there so it does make sense. Maybe he would take a little less (5 mil-ish) if he was on a good team playing with someone like letang, Keith, etc...
- drummer829

Firstly I support these RFA's in poop situations wanting out to develop & progress their career.

Winnipeg are going to be a really good team with the talent they have coming through - really good.

Trouba was just selected & played with NA wasn't he? Did he play right or left? He is getting big minutes (2nd to Buff I think around 22) per game. He will be playing with better players, & now this has happened probably sooner rather than later. Winnipeg can give him a raise with term but probably not the $ he 'thinks' he's worth of reports are correct. He has a very good reputation in the NHL for being really good so there's nothing hurting him hockey wise. I understand he wants to be on his natural right side & maybe that something that will happen with injuries etc. he has Buff & Myers ahead of him there so that is an issue but he's still getting top minutes. I don't believe that is the reason he is now refusing to continue with the team.

If a RFA doesn't like the town they're in is that a big enough reason to want out?

If Pouliot is such a 'potential' star, why wouldn't the Jets want him? If we are going to participate in this I would throw Trouba Pouliot at them to see if they bite? We don't need to trade so why put our blue chip player up first?? I could see Pouliot being an attractive option for them, only we would have to make cap space available with another trade?

I don't get all the 'move Fehr' comments either. Guy is a very good player with experience, but if people just want cap space because they think it's 'funky' to have, well I'd say you might reconsider your line of thinking. We have how many young guys skating around? We need some older heads that can run in a few different scenarios - Fehr can.

Lastly, what else could Maatta get us in a trade? People want to trade for a player that is basically telling his organisation to suck eggs, what happens if he decides he doesn't like the Burgh?? At least Drouin had a legitimate reason for his decisions, Trouba has very little reason to want out hockey wise. If he doesn't like Winnipeg then come out & say it! Imagine that, dreaming of being a pro hockey player & not considering he could end up anywhere???

I'll ask this here (I asked this in the Winnipeg thread the other day), when do you consider it ok for a RFA to request a trade?

I compared Trouba to Drouin & was told by most it was completely different (which is a load of malarkey ).
- Aussiepenguin

They would laugh at a Pouliot offer. I mean they could have had taylor hall for trouba.

No to this trade. I like Maata and with him over his injury he should be a better skater.

Their analytics are similar, and Trouba plays with weaker team mates, while Maatta gets to play with guys like Letang, Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, etc. Most of their score adjusted analytics are pretty close, and the idea is surrounding Trouba with higher talent will elevate his game above Maatta's. I'm not saying they have to do it, but I like the idea, but if they don't, I'm cool with it too.
- j.boyd919

Winnipeg has some pretty good players too, they are mostly young guys but Ehlers, Wheeler, Buff, Scheifle, Myers, Stafford. Those guys are hardly bums. The difference is marginal st best.

it is a preseason game. so who cares. they are letting the kids play so they can see what they have. same reason that dp, schultz and cole is playing (to see what they have).
- martox

The people who paid for tickets to the game will care

They would laugh at a Pouliot offer. I mean they could have had taylor hall for trouba.
- sditulli

Pretty sure Hall doesn't play LHD - I mean I could be wrong???

Trouba asked to be traded in May. When did Hall get traded? I think if Winnipeg wanted Hall they would have been negotiating but didn't. Pouliot fits their need, & as I said you throw Pouliot out there & see what happens. As you just mentioned what did Larsson bring Shero???

Alrighty yinz, it's crunch time. My son is hopping in my truck on the ninth and we'll be in Pitt on the 12th. I found a place to park and plan to Uber our way to downtown....and this is where I need assistance. (I drive from before dawn to after dusk, i cant get these answers over the phone because of our hours) It'll be myself, my 14 year old, and my dog.

Are there hotels downtown worth recommending? I've seen a few that think highly of themselves and I can't do them and go to the game.

Do the Pens offer tours of Consol before games? Tampa does and I think this would be awesome for my son.

Does anyone know the owner of Kennywood!?! Please ask him/her why the hell they are closed when it's above 80 degrees.

And lastly Cranberry....my hometown. If all else fails I found a place to park up there and rooms would be a lot cheaper. If it came down to staying there do the Pens at least practice in Cranberry the day of games. I'm ordering him a Crosby sweater and he's just about to start high school hockey so I value his seeing these guys go at it.

I'd appreciate the input a ton. Thanks.