Apparently the Sabres are giving Skinner $9MM AAV for 8 years. I would say the price tags for Laine, Mikko, Ktachuk, and even the middle guys like Hayes and Zucc and even Panik and Dzingel keep going up

But is the price to upgrade to Kadri and take on his baggage worth it? I don’t think so and I don’t think bringing in hayes at 6.5 is good value at 3C either unless he plays with Malkin and covers at C from time to time

What about Blueger? Remember when we were rolling in March without Geno? I thought Blueger and Bjugstad both played well and as long as they have strong wingers they should be able to plug a hole for a bit. No matter how I slice it we need a top 6 LW. I’m really fine with any of the names we’ve discussed as long as the price is right. I’m also not going to cry about Ferland without seeing how he slots in
- WSCTeton17

It's not a need and truthfully I doubt we have what they'd want. He'd be a really nice on ice fit and they can use Bjugstad elsewhere so that's not blocked. 4.5M for a guy with 2 30 goal seasons who plays well against and annoys scoring lines and unlike Brassard has shown he can be either a 2 or 3C.

Nice fit, but hard to see a trade and he is a loose cannon. Don't see it happening but wouldn't throw it out.

But is the price to upgrade to Kadri and take on his baggage worth it? I don’t think so and I don’t think bringing in hayes at 6.5 is good value at 3C either unless he plays with Malkin and covers at C from time to time

What about Blueger? Remember when we were rolling in March without Geno? I thought Blueger and Bjugstad both played well and as long as they have strong wingers they should be able to plug a hole for a bit. No matter how I slice it we need a top 6 LW. I’m really fine with any of the names we’ve discussed as long as the price is right. I’m also not going to cry about Ferland without seeing how he slots in
- WSCTeton17

I really like Blueger but if he is the best the Pens have for a 3C at the start of the season they are in big trouble. Even Bjugstad, I like him and thought it was a really nice trade getting him but I'm not sure he is much more than a Bonino type player.

I don't think Kadri has baggage. He has made a few questionable plays over the course of his career but has always brought it and played hard.

Apparently the Sabres are giving Skinner $9MM AAV for 8 years. I would say the price tags for Laine, Mikko, Ktachuk, and even the middle guys like Hayes and Zucc and even Panik and Dzingel keep going up
- WSCTeton17

Wow, guess they felt they needed to do that to keep him off the market!

Those middle guys that used to be 4M are all getting 5M+, maybe 6M in FA.

Apparently the Sabres are giving Skinner $9MM AAV for 8 years. I would say the price tags for Laine, Mikko, Ktachuk, and even the middle guys like Hayes and Zucc and even Panik and Dzingel keep going up
- WSCTeton17

That is nonsense to give him a contract like that. He had a REALLY good year, but he has never even sniffed being a PPG player and has 1 time in his career had a + rating. $9M is nuts for AAV and 8 years is a long time to bear that cap hit.

I really like Blueger but if he is the best the Pens have for a 3C at the start of the season they are in big trouble. Even Bjugstad, I like him and thought it was a really nice trade getting him but I'm not sure he is much more than a Bonino type player.

I don't think Kadri has baggage. He has made a few questionable plays over the course of his career but has always brought it and played hard.
- MacPatty

People need to chill out on Bleuger. Yes, he’s looked good, but under 30 regular season games is a VERY small sample size, especially for player who’s projection was relatively low.

If he turns out to be a high-end 4th line center the Pens have made out very well.

Roenick says the Coyotes are the team Phil wants to be traded to... obviously the Pens have more options with the 8 team but I think they are a greatly preferred partner.

Chychryn, Crouse, Hayton, Merkely, Grabner, Dvorak, goligoski, a top 15 1st round pick, cap space... there are lots of assets the Pens could get in trading Kessel there. Only concern (as always) is ownership situation.

So many combinations you could put together, possibly including eating JJs contract.

It would be outstanding to get Hayton or Merkely. I'd really like a bull on the forecheck like Crouse. Grabner would be nice if they need to send back a player with salary. Dvorak or Chuchryn could be nice young adds. And Gogo could be an option if you are sending JJ or Maata along for the ride to get the Pens a legit top 4 LD.

I've long thought JR has wanted to get a deal done during the cup finals, would love to see the Kessel situation resolved!

That is nonsense to give him a contract like that. He had a REALLY good year, but he has never even sniffed being a PPG player and has 1 time in his career had a + rating. $9M is nuts for AAV and 8 years is a long time to bear that cap hit.
- MacPatty

Actually this is pretty good. If the costs of these players goes up that much, moving someone like Hornqvist just got a lot easier.

Roenick says the Coyotes are the team Phil wants to be traded to... obviously the Pens have more options with the 8 team but I think they are a greatly preferred partner.
- MacPatty

Interesting. I think AZ might be a situation where they can shed cap space by trading for futures and then sign a big fish.

I guess it depends on what you’re all looking for out of a 3C. In my mind if you get a 3C in the 2.5-4.5 range and they play a strong 2-Way game and give you 35-40 points I think that’s good value. If they’re meshing well with Phil Kessel then sure you would expect more. Coyle put up 34 points. Kadri had 44 but he gets some solid PP time which he wouldn’t get here and he got bumped up when Matthews went down, etc

Roenick says the Coyotes are the team Phil wants to be traded to... obviously the Pens have more options with the 8 team but I think they are a greatly preferred partner.

Chychryn, Crouse, Hayton, Merkely, Grabner, Dvorak, goligoski, a top 15 1st round pick, cap space... there are lots of assets the Pens could get in trading Kessel there. Only concern (as always) is ownership situation.

So many combinations you could put together, possibly including eating JJs contract.

It would be outstanding to get Hayton or Merkely. I'd really like a bull on the forecheck like Crouse. Grabner would be nice if they need to send back a player with salary. Dvorak or Chuchryn could be nice young adds. And Gogo could be an option if you are sending JJ or Maata along for the ride to get the Pens a legit top 4 LD.

I've long thought JR has wanted to get a deal done during the cup finals, would love to see the Kessel situation resolved!
- MacPatty

You have missed the biggest incentive of an Arizona trade with JJ included...

Imagine Tanner, having to blog about Jack Johnson every game. Itll be worse than RW.

Roenick says the Coyotes are the team Phil wants to be traded to... obviously the Pens have more options with the 8 team but I think they are a greatly preferred partner.

Chychryn, Crouse, Hayton, Merkely, Grabner, Dvorak, goligoski, a top 15 1st round pick, cap space... there are lots of assets the Pens could get in trading Kessel there. Only concern (as always) is ownership situation.

So many combinations you could put together, possibly including eating JJs contract.

It would be outstanding to get Hayton or Merkely. I'd really like a bull on the forecheck like Crouse. Grabner would be nice if they need to send back a player with salary. Dvorak or Chuchryn could be nice young adds. And Gogo could be an option if you are sending JJ or Maata along for the ride to get the Pens a legit top 4 LD.

I've long thought JR has wanted to get a deal done during the cup finals, would love to see the Kessel situation resolved!
- MacPatty

Ugh saw that. I'm really not impressed by anything AZ would offer so I'm hoping not. Best case there is some futures and they take JJ.

I hope Phil isn't set on playing there and planning to block everywhere else. Nashville still makes the most sense to me. Something around Subban/Smith for Kessel/Schultz would be amazing. Both teams upgrade a position of need while getting a rental to fill the spot they opened. Salary is close (we add 900k.)

You have missed the biggest incentive of an Arizona trade with JJ included...

Imagine Tanner, having to blog about Jack Johnson every game. Itll be worse than RW.
- Guile

That would bring me joy. Although I somehow feel like RW won't be able to let JJ go...

Ugh saw that. I'm really not impressed by anything AZ would offer so I'm hoping not. Best case there is some futures and they take JJ.

I hope Phil isn't set on playing there and planning to block everywhere else. Nashville still makes the most sense to me. Something around Subban/Smith for Kessel/Schultz would be amazing. Both teams upgrade a position of need while getting a rental to fill the spot they opened. Salary is close (we add 900k.)
- Tojo.

I get wanting to bring in a big fish like Subban , what you propose makes sense but I prefer going the younger depth route.

If you can get Merkely, who is NHL ready now and projects as a really good 2c, Grabner who brings some speed and PK and Crouse to play on Genos LW I'd be ecstatic.

Heck, give me Merkrly and this years first with no salary coming back and I'd also jump for joy.

Actually this is pretty good. If the costs of these players goes up that much, moving someone like Hornqvist just got a lot easier.
- Rinosaur

Good for the Pens, that's for sure. I'd take Guentzel over Skinner any day and look at the difference in cap hit.

It also makes Kessel that much more valuable in a trade. His 6.8m looks like a bargain in comparison.

I just met with one of the Coyotes coaches yesterday. They say Hayton may very well join the top 6 this season. He’s basically untouchable at this point

Your points on Hornqvist and Kessel’s cap hits looking that much better are extremely valid but that also is the same for guys like JT Miller, Tyler Johnson, etc. This offseason is going to be something special

Arizona might be the best bet. Teams that are already contenders won’t want to give up pieces for Phil and Phil won’t go to teams that can’t compete. Arizona’s on the brink and has a terrible GM so seems like a fit.

I just met with one of the Coyotes coaches yesterday. They say Hayton may very well join the top 6 this season. He’s basically untouchable at this point

Your points on Hornqvist and Kessel’s cap hits looking that much better are extremely valid but that also is the same for guys like JT Miller, Tyler Johnson, etc. This offseason is going to be something special
- WSCTeton17

Figured Hayton would be... what about someone like Merkely?

Teams with ample cap space are going to feast. Colorado having a great team and a ton of cap space going to be able to load up on really good players being dumped for cap space.

Figured Hayton would be... what about someone like Merkely?

Teams with ample cap space are going to feast. Colorado having a great team and a ton of cap space going to be able to load up on really good players being dumped for cap space.
- MacPatty

We didn’t go through the pipeline of guys we just discussed a couple of the guys and where they’re at, mostly existing clients and clients I’m trying to get meetings with (hai Schmaltz )

Colorado certainly is going to have room to grow but I don’t think they’re going to go crazy. They need a top 6 forward so they be in on a guy like Miller but aside from that they’ll be in on middle 6 and bottom 6 guys. If they were to add Panik and trade for Miller with kids/futures I think they’d be thrilled

I get wanting to bring in a big fish like Subban , what you propose makes sense but I prefer going the younger depth route.

If you can get Merkely, who is NHL ready now and projects as a really good 2c, Grabner who brings some speed and PK and Crouse to play on Genos LW I'd be ecstatic.

Heck, give me Merkrly and this years first with no salary coming back and I'd also jump for joy.
- MacPatty

We want to go different routes because I'd like to get one proven piece for Phil and don't see anyone on AZ that I think they'd trade. Not a Grabber guy. If Galchenyuk had term.

But, I can respect just disagreeing on route and wanting to add some needed cheap depth with upside even if it's not what I would do.

Both Merkley and Crouse have some intrigue, but both have question marks. Merkley plays a good style, but hasn't built on the numbers he had in his draft year and even went backwards last year in the AHL, which usually means more likely a bust than a top 6. Crouse has an intriquing skill set with size, skating, PK, and a decent ES scoring total for his ice time and 21, but his possession stats were horrid. That can improve, just neither is a guy I'd center a Kessel trade around.

Arizona might be the best bet. Teams that are already contenders won’t want to give up pieces for Phil and Phil won’t go to teams that can’t compete. Arizona’s on the brink and has a terrible GM so seems like a fit.
- Grinder47

Terrible GM? If referring to the Schmaltz for Strome trade that’s more on Tocchet than Chayka. You can’t blame the GM because the coach refuses to play his best player. All Chayka then did was go “ok. If you’re never going to use this guy and I’m stuck with you then I’ll trade two players you barely use for someone I think you’ll use.” What other trades / signings have been bad that gives him the rep of terrible?

Arizona might be the best bet. Teams that are already contenders won’t want to give up pieces for Phil and Phil won’t go to teams that can’t compete. Arizona’s on the brink and has a terrible GM so seems like a fit.
- Grinder47

He’s not only not very good, but he’s also cheap. I still think there’s a way to shed salary by tacking on JJ.

He’s not only not very good, but he’s also cheap. I still think there’s a way to shed salary by tacking on JJ.
- Rinosaur

Arizona would need to deal Hossa to a team like Ottawa. Could be done separately or maybe a 3-way

Pens re-sign Riikola, 1yr/1way/$850K. Looks like a couple of dmen should be going bye-bye.

Dumo/Letang
Maatta/Schultz
Pett/Gudbranson
Johnson/Ruhwedel
Riikola

9 dmen. We should see two get moved out.

EDIT:
I know he’s not an analytics darling and I think part of that has to do with adjusting to NA hockey.

I don’t have high expectations from him, but he reminded me of a more physical version of Daley. If he tightens his game up I think he can be effective.

Pens re-sign Riikola, 1yr/1way/$850K. Looks like a couple of dmen should be going bye-bye.

Dumo/Letang
Maatta/Schultz
Pett/Gudbranson
Johnson/Ruhwedel
Riikola

9 dmen. We should see two get moved out.
- Rinosaur

I feel like Rikky could improve with more playing time but not sure how he's going to get that with a one way contract 🤔