Botterill was hired to closely examine the roster and then get rid of the Pu.
- hardnosed

Lol

I wouldn't have wanted Skinner either, but I really thought he'd have gone for more on the market. The Karlsson deal supposedly isn't enough for Ottawa either. With the returns I'm seeing, it certainly makes me think Rutherford could make some moves. However I'm happy with the roster we have, just kind of anxious on how it'll be used.
- Thrill81

I'm not a big Skinner fan either, but wouldn't have hated him here if the deal was right. We definitely could use a LW. Just want the season to start already, after back to back cups we aren't use to waiting this damn long lol

Well the BIG E3 rumor states OTT would flip him to Vegas.
- Rinosaur

Interesting, I'm sure this would also convince Jagr to go back to the pens now that we've moved a RW. #JagrWatch2019

I'm not a big Skinner fan either, but wouldn't have hated him here if the deal was right. We definitely could use a LW. Just want the season to start already, after back to back cups we aren't use to waiting this damn long lol
- 668710

I know man, although I'm sure the players are glad to finally have some rest.

TO OTT: Phil Kessel + 1st + Simon
TO PENS: Erik Karlsson

TO BUF: Olli Maatta
TO PENS: Jeff Skinner

Boom.
- Rinosaur

Lol what was that guy's name?

5 players for Jagr and Bobby Ryan and BOOM. Cup

I know man, although I'm sure the players are glad to finally have some rest.
- Thrill81

Yea they definitely needed the rest, that's one of the reasons I'm not worried about this team. Sid will have them going at the right time for sure.

Lol what was that guy's name?

5 players for Jagr and Bobby Ryan and BOOM. Cup
- Barnaby36

Palmer was his name. The correct way it was went like this:
crosby jagr ryan wow

Palmer was his name. The correct way it was went like this:
crosby jagr ryan wow
- 668710

Hahah I thought you missed the Boom 💥 @ the end

Exactly we don't NEED to take that risk. We could use a skilled LW but not at that price for a UFA.
- 668710

that price? Buffalo just stole Skinner for a low level prospect and throwaway picks. That was a (frank)ing awesome pickup for the Sabres. That would have been like the Pens trading away JS Dea or Blueger and a some mid round picks for Skinner. I would do that in a heart beat.

Agreed. The Pens shouldn't add another player that can walk for nothing. We're already gonna lose Brassard after this season. Plus, the obvious prospect would have been Sprong.

Buffalo has to extend him for this to make sense for them 'cause they're not contenders this season.
- madmike71

lol no way. Cliff Pu is a long shot to make the NHL. The Sabres stole Skinner lol

that price? Buffalo just stole Skinner for a low level prospect and throwaway picks. That was a (frank)ing awesome pickup for the Sabres. That would have been like the Pens trading away JS Dea or Blueger and a some mid round picks for Skinner. I would do that in a heart beat.
- j.boyd919

Gotcha I didn't know the prospect and just went off of what the one person said about it being Sprong. Basically I didn't dig into it. Thing is we couldn't have made that exact deal anyways because we would've had to move a player or two depending on which player(s) we moved. Seemed like Carolina was trying to dump off a high priced player.

Gotcha I didn't know the prospect and just went off of what the one person said about it being Sprong. Basically I didn't dig into it. Thing is we couldn't have made that exact deal anyways because we would've had to move a player or two depending on which player(s) we moved. Seemed like Carolina was trying to dump off a high priced player.
- 668710

Oh for sure. Pens would have had to make cap space definitely but imo the Sabres basically got Skinner for a low level prospect and a bunch of lottery tickets which is basically free.

Oh for sure. Pens would have had to make cap space definitely but imo the Sabres basically got Skinner for a low level prospect and a bunch of lottery tickets which is basically free.
- j.boyd919

Yea good grab for them for sure.

lThe Sabres stole Skinner lol
- j.boyd919

This is what happens when you fire people who know about running hockey teams. Maybe the Canes wanted the caps space to do something we don't see yet, but I'm sure there are plenty of playoff-bound teams that would have given at least a 1st and other pics/prospects.

It's a head-scratcher for both teams. Unless Buffalo pre-negotiated this makes little sense for them.

Why do people here think the Pens are obligated to go after every player on the trade block? The Sabres could make this trade because they have lots of draft choices, the Pens don't, that's the reason to me, trading for a guy like Skinner or Patches is dumb if you only get him for one year then he's gone.

Why do people here think the Pens are obligated to go after every player on the trade block? The Sabres could make this trade because they have lots of draft choices, the Pens don't, that's the reason to me, trading for a guy like Skinner or Patches is dumb if you only get him for one year then he's gone.
- stevens87

Well for this one the Pens are weak at LW and Skinner would have been a good fix for that price.

I don't think JR is done we have like 8 C's at this point. If JJ doesn't step up here its not going to look good. There were other holes to address

Why do people here think the Pens are obligated to go after every player on the trade block? The Sabres could make this trade because they have lots of draft choices, the Pens don't, that's the reason to me, trading for a guy like Skinner or Patches is dumb if you only get him for one year then he's gone.
- stevens87

The prospect is whatvever, and the picks are lottery tickets, trading those for 1 year of a top 6 LW talent is worth it because that prospect can be replaced by utilizing UFAs correctly given his ceiling is middle six and some are calling him a long shot to make the NHL. Could the Pens have made the move? No because they signed Johnson to a poop contract, but was the price steep? Not really. Not for a bonafide top 6 LW, for 1 year or not.

The prospect is whatvever, and the picks are lottery tickets, trading those for 1 year of a top 6 LW talent is worth it because that prospect can be replaced by utilizing UFAs correctly given his ceiling is middle six and some are calling him a long shot to make the NHL. Could the Pens have made the move? No because they signed Johnson to a poop contract, but was the price steep? Not really. Not for a bonafide top 6 LW, for 1 year or not.
- j.boyd919

So if the Pens made that trade they would(most likely) not have Sprong and in next June's draft have no 2nd, 3rd or 6th (will have extra 4th and 7th) and in 2021 have no 2nd(trade to Vegas) 3rd and 6th for a guy who is a UFA at the end of the year and has had many concussion issues.

So if the Pens made that trade they would(most likely) not have Sprong and in next June's draft have no 2nd, 3rd or 6th (will have extra 4th and 7th) and in 2021 have no 2nd(trade to Vegas) 3rd and 6th for a guy who is a UFA at the end of the year and has had many concussion issues.
- stevens87

Pu is not Sorong. It would have been more like JS Dea or Blueger.

Those picks aren’t poop.

Who cares if he’s a UFA, Pens are in win now mode every season and the assets given up aren’t going to be worth a damn for 5-6 years not to mention there’s a tiny likelihood that they even make the NHL.

His concussion issues were years ago. He’s played 70+ games for 4 years now. That’s a tired argument.

Palmer was his name. The correct way it was went like this:
crosby jagr ryan wow
- 668710

Every time right?

It didn't matter who was going to other way he was determined to bring Jagr and Ryan to the Pens.

Pu is not Sorong. It would have been more like JS Dea or Blueger.

Those picks aren’t poop.

Who cares if he’s a UFA, Pens are in win now mode every season and the assets given up aren’t going to be worth a damn for 5-6 years not to mention there’s a tiny likelihood that they even make the NHL.

His concussion issues were years ago. He’s played 70+ games for 4 years now. That’s a tired argument.
- j.boyd919

My whole thing is at some point, you have to believe in the players you have and quit sacrificing everything in the future. This is good team, if stays healthy, will have 3 productive lines, so why not just go with what you have and hope they get it done?

My whole thing is at some point, you have to believe in the players you have and quit sacrificing everything in the future. This is good team, if stays healthy, will have 3 productive lines, so why not just go with what you have and hope they get it done?
- stevens87

Because you currently have a duo of Crosby and Malkin that you will likely never see again once they are done.

My whole thing is at some point, you have to believe in the players you have and quit sacrificing everything in the future. This is good team, if stays healthy, will have 3 productive lines, so why not just go with what you have and hope they get it done?
- stevens87

What? I don’t understand this post.

You’re not sacrificing anything. You’re improving the roster at the cost of players that are highly unlikely to make the show for an already bonafide top 6 winger that is 5th in the NHL in goals at 5v5 over the last year or so. An area where the Pens struggled was at 5v5.

Acquiring Skinner for pennies is not sacrificing anything. It’s maximizing the time left having Sid, Geno, Letang, Kessel all near their peaks before they inevitably decline from top tier players. Surround them with as much talent as you can year in and year out. Deal with the dark times after they retire.

I honestly don’t see how people don’t understand that. Two generational talents on this team. They deserve maximized rosters every year IMO.

What? I don’t understand this post.

You’re not sacrificing anything. You’re improving the roster at the cost of players that are highly unlikely to make the show for an already bonafide top 6 winger that is 5th in the NHL in goals at 5v5 over the last year or so. An area where the Pens struggled was at 5v5.

Acquiring Skinner for pennies is not sacrificing anything. It’s maximizing the time left having Sid, Geno, Letang, Kessel all near their peaks before they inevitably decline from top tier players. Surround them with as much talent as you can year in and year out. Deal with the dark times after they retire.

I honestly don’t see how people don’t understand that. Two generational talents on this team. They deserve maximized rosters every year IMO.
- j.boyd919

So to you there is nothing you wouldn't give up for let's say Patches? If Montreal says will trade him for their 1st and 2nd this year and 1st and 3rd next year(this way in back to back years their 1st pick will be in the 100's) that is good for the organization?

So to you there is nothing you wouldn't give up for let's say Patches? If Montreal says will trade him for their 1st and 2nd this year and 1st and 3rd next year(this way in back to back years their 1st pick will be in the 100's) that is good for the organization?
- stevens87

No. I would not give up 2 firsts for Pacioretty. I would give up 1 first for him this year because getting rid of the first next year reduces the bargaining chips that GMJR has next year. I'd maximize the roster on a year to year basis.

I would give up a 1st and 2nd this year for Patches this year and a 1st and 3rd next year for say Taylor Hall (will be UFA after next season) or Granlund or Kreider (other notable UFAs, just examples really, not saying that they're possible) to maximize the roster that way. Then just keep dipping into the College pool for free assets.