So, who do you think would be a good trade for Duchene? Malkin? Crosby? Seriously, who?
- TaxMan22

Don't ask or you might hear Guentzel.

Holy cow, which member here is Sean Gentile? He took this same blog topic and posted it on the Post~Gazette this morning.

I would not give up Sprong for Duchene unless they needed a 2nd line center. A very likely, highly skilled future top 2 winger for a 3rd line center? I don't like it. If they can get him for Maatta alone (really through, what idiot GM would want him at his salary) and a 1st round pick, or even another possible future bottom 6 forward and a 2nd round ok, but not anymore than that. And it's not because Duchene isn't worth more, it's because the Pens don't need the luxury of him as their 3rd line center. Don't confuse building an All-Star team with a Cup Champion team.

I'd rather pay Bonino $4 million a year and keep Maatta and Sprong, versus paying Duchene $6 million and giving up those two players as well. Because remember, you trade Maatta and you have to spend to find a replacement for him (please don't say Pouliot) AND you just gave away a great offensive talent as well. Too much for a Penguins 3rd line center...don't care if it's Toews.

You better hope Sakic didn't watch Matta play during the playoffs, otherwise Pens won't get more than a slice a of apple pie for him.
Pens have nothing that could interrest COL imo.
- fidopro

Maatta was one of the better Pens dmen in the playoffs... but ok...

Larsson alone got Taylor hall, so maatta for duchene isn't as far fetched as some would think
- drummer829

^^^This.. is actually true lol

Pens don't need Duchene, not without moving Kessel or Hags.

No Joe Thornton either! Enough with the trade Horny crap also, I know RW would love a team full of analytic legend pacifists, but it's not the reality in the NHL!

- joker10277

I'm.. guessing you don't know how strong Hornqvist's analytics are...

Daley is in high demand right now. We'll need to find replacement for him and Hainsey. Brendan Smith had a bad playoffs. His value could be down. Nice 6th d-man to have.
- Barnaby36

Don't need a replacement for Hainsey, his name is Letang and he's already a Penguin.

Maatta was one of the better Pens dmen in the playoffs... but ok...
- j.boyd919

Yeah, its clearly obvious people didnt watch every Pens playoff game, or pretty much every Pens playoff game, like the rest of us around here.

He was solid and really gave me hope he'll rebound. I think he only played one regular season game after a few months layoff before the playoffs started...so basically he was thrown right in the fire and I was very pleased how handled himself April to June. Very.

People just remember the Bobby Ryan OT goal or the Preds PP goal (cant remember which player) where he got around Maatta and scored. He did so many little things great. He was very important in this run and I really have no probs at all keeping him. He's only 22 for gods sake...has 2 rings and was important in both.

I think im in the minority but I really want to keep Maatta. He's a top 4 d-man and only 22 years old. From a an organisational standpoint the Pens are rich in forwards and need D. Maatta is more important than having a Duchene right now IMO.

New #1MinuteTactics: Unappreciated in a shot differential-driven league, Thomas Vanek has become an underrated PP scorer in his late career pic.twitter.com/hxUeFEjtzD

— Jack Han (@ml_han) January 9, 2017

Interesting video analysis of Vanek^^

I think im in the minority but I really want to keep Maatta. He's a top 4 d-man and only 22 years old. From a an organisational standpoint the Pens are rich in forwards and need D. Maatta is more important than having a Duchene right now IMO.
- MattStrat

Depends.. if they acquire Dutchy and replace Maatta with Brendan Smith.. I don't think there's a big difference on the backend there.

Depends.. if they acquire Dutchy and replace Maatta with Brendan Smith.. I don't think there's a big difference on the backend there.
- j.boyd919

That's true...but a big if. What worries me is making trades with our currently signed D-men for forwards then perhaps not ending up singing anyone good to replace.

I think Smith will resign with Rags.

All I know is the author is way over rating duchenes value right now. Are we talking about the same matt duchene with a $6 million cap hit and 41 pts last year. Granted I think he's a bounce back candidate, but an offer of:

Maatta, hornqvist,+ 1st

Is an absolute ton of value. And I view Horn as just trade deadline capital for avalanche. Basically very easy to monetize for a 1st round pick. For a 2 year rental we are giving up a cost controll 22 year old functional 2nd pairing defenseman and atleast 2 1st round picks.

Hard pass.

Its more than we gave up for kessell whose a better player and cost controlled longer.

Buy low is no where close to the offer he's making. Its not a discount.

A discount is hornqvist + a 1st + a spare part.

All I know is the author is way over rating duchenes value right now. Are we talking about the same matt duchene with a $6 million cap hit and 41 pts last year. Granted I think he's a bounce back candidate, but an offer of:

Maatta, hornqvist,+ 1st

Is an absolute ton of value. And I view Horn as just trade deadline capital for avalanche. Basically very easy to monetize for a 1st round pick. For a 2 year rental we are giving up a cost controll 22 year old functional 2nd pairing defenseman and atleast 2 1st round picks.

Hard pass.

Its more than we gave up for kessell whose a better player and cost controlled longer.

Buy low is no where close to the offer he's making. Its not a discount.

A discount is hornqvist + a 1st + a spare part.
- sditulli

Horny isnt going anywhere. No way. People around here like to talk about him being traded often but he's staying put. He's super important not only on but off the ice. I'd bet a large sum of money on him being extended with the Pens too, whether its the right call by management, or not.

I think im in the minority but I really want to keep Maatta. He's a top 4 d-man and only 22 years old. From a an organisational standpoint the Pens are rich in forwards and need D. Maatta is more important than having a Duchene right now IMO.
- MattStrat

No, not really. I wouldn't mind keeping him either because he is only 22, we've seen him better before his injuries and cancer issues, so we know it's there, and the pressure he had to play under in being more relied on in helping the team win the cup last year can only strengthen his confidence (an area he was obviously lacking in last season). I'm expecting him to be better this season because of it and hopefully that will continue to the point where his contract looks reasonable if not a bargain.

Right now his contract looks bad for any GM to take on in a trade unless the Pens are throwing in some extras to take it, but I'm hoping that won't be the case after this season or after that.

If they were deep defensively, I might argue to try moving him to save his cap hit, but they need quality defensemen or at least ones with upside and potential, and he fits that later bill as of now more that the former. If they move him, that's just one more defensive hole to fill on a team that's probably forced to start Pouliot next season as it is.

Vic has a yuuuuuge agenda....................no Horny!

There's a song somewhere for that isn't there.......horny, horny horny horny horny!
- Aussiepenguin

My agenda is trade for a first line defenseman. Hornqvist happens to be our best trade chip who's expendable and a solid source of cap relief. If a team prefers Hagelin instead of Hornqvist, then I'm all for that as well. I do believe one of Hornqvist or Hagelin should be traded for a defenseman, and I'm running off the assumption more teams would be interested in Horny.

For the record, not that you were saying this, I'm not really pro-trading for Duchene. I think he's overkill at the 3C position and acquiring him would cost us the assets we need to acquire the defenseman I want. I actually would prefer overpaying Bonino (which I have been strongly against since we won the Cup last season), than selling the farm for two years of Duchene.

Horny isnt going anywhere. No way. People around here like to talk about him being traded often but he's staying put. He's super important not only on but off the ice. I'd bet a large sum of money on him being extended with the Pens too, whether its the right call by management, or not.
- MattStrat

Everyone likes to gut the fringe players that are "replaceable" after a season is over in favor of bringing in the fantasy popular names and stars, then when the poop hits the fan late in the year and they are losing games in the playoffs the: "If (insert gutted player here) was still here" and "we need a guy like (insert gutted player here)" talk starts and the lack of character depth/role players and chemistry excuses start.

There's nothing wrong with keeping Hornqvist. He played banged up last season and they still won. If they'd have lost then people can make arguments for getting rid of this guy or that but until that happens, or a player has hit the wall in his career (Horny's only 20), you dance with who brought you and who you were successful with unless there's no other option to keep them.

It's why I hate this time of year when everyone brings out their Xmas shopping lists and we end up with a expensive fancy but ultimately useless juicer, instead of a practical crock pot. Yeah, that's my analogy and I'm sticking with it.

Why no Hainsey FA Updates?

Everyone likes to gut the fringe players that are "replaceable" after a season is over in favor of bringing in the fantasy popular names and stars, then when the poop hits the fan late in the year and they are losing games in the playoffs the: "If (insert gutted player here) was still here" and "we need a guy like (insert gutted player here)" talk starts and the lack of character depth/role players and chemistry excuses start.

There's nothing wrong with keeping Hornqvist. He played banged up last season and they still won. If they'd have lost then people can make arguments for getting rid of this guy or that but until that happens, or a player has hit the wall in his career (Horny's only 20), you dance with who brought you and who you were successful with unless there's no other option to keep them.

It's why I hate this time of year when everyone brings out their Xmas shopping lists and we end up with a expensive fancy but ultimately useless juicer, instead of a practical crock pot. Yeah, that's my analogy and I'm sticking with it.
- NJPensfan

He's 30... and plays a wreckless style of hockey that usually causes career trajectories to travel downward quicker...

He's 30... and plays a wreckless style of hockey that usually causes career trajectories to travel downward quicker...
- j.boyd919

lol, Yeah I caught the typo as soon as you posted.

Still doesn't mean he's hit that point yet.

He's 30... and plays a wreckless style of hockey that usually causes career trajectories to travel downward quicker...
- j.boyd919

If we use someone like Tomas Holmstrom as an example, he played until he was 39 and at 35 was critical to their 2008 Cup Championship

No, not really. I wouldn't mind keeping him either because he is only 22, we've seen him better before his injuries and cancer issues, so we know it's there, and the pressure he had to play under in being more relied on in helping the team win the cup last year can only strengthen his confidence (an area he was obviously lacking in last season). I'm expecting him to be better this season because of it and hopefully that will continue to the point where his contract looks reasonable if not a bargain.

Right now his contract looks bad for any GM to take on in a trade unless the Pens are throwing in some extras to take it, but I'm hoping that won't be the case after this season or after that.

If they were deep defensively, I might argue to try moving him to save his cap hit, but they need quality defensemen or at least ones with upside and potential, and he fits that later bill as of now more that the former. If they move him, that's just one more defensive hole to fill on a team that's probably forced to start Pouliot next season as it is.
- NJPensfan

His contract really isn't that bad. Chicago gave up a hammer whose on a great contract for that murphy kid whose paid the same as Maatta and has accomplished 10% of what maatta has done (without dealing with extenuating circumstances). And anaheim paid depres similar money. Its a really common contract handed out to high potential young dmen who have handle 2nd pairing duties without getting crushed.

If we use someone like Tomas Holmstrom as an example, he played until he was 39 and at 35 was critical to their 2008 Cup Championship
- NJPensfan

Oh I agree, I like Hornqvist as a player. Just not sure if I see a spot for him since he's not playing with Sid or Geno and when he's away from those guys.. he's no really worth 4m+ per year.

The loss of Maatta would hurt, but not as bad as everybody is saying. The Penguins top 4 would remain unchanged. Letang-Dumo and Schultz-Cole is a solid top 4, and there are guys in UFA that are available who can be bottom pairing guys who can fill in in the top 4 in limited capacity. Having Duchene as your 3C would pretty much give the Pens 3 #1 lines.

His contract really isn't that bad. Chicago gave up a hammer whose on a great contract for that murphy kid whose paid the same as Maatta and has accomplished 10% of what maatta has done (without dealing with extenuating circumstances). And anaheim paid depres similar money. Its a really common contract handed out to high potential young dmen who have handle 2nd pairing duties without getting crushed.
- sditulli

Not to mention Maatta plays a position of EXTREME organizational weakness. If Maatta doesn't bounce back next season, he is certainly overpaid, but with our forward depth and cheapness, we can stand to overpay some guys, and I think we need to overpay our defense. That's why I want to move out one of the 4 mil a year forward contracts and why I want to trade from our forwards to acquire a defenseman.

Not to mention Maatta plays a position of EXTREME organizational weakness. If Maatta doesn't bounce back next season, he is certainly overpaid, but with our forward depth and cheapness, we can stand to overpay some guys, and I think we need to overpay our defense. That's why I want to move out one of the 4 mil a year forward contracts and why I want to trade from our forwards to acquire a defenseman.
- Victoro311

Left side Defensemen are the easiest to replace of the 2?