With the way the old man is going he'd trade Guddy, miss the grit, then trade for Lucic.

He seems to be following a trend of dumping and then chasing toughness. The scary part is he's paying more and more for it.
- Thorny87

I think he might go after Ferland for toughness. But yes, he has been bad with chasing tough guys the last few seasons.

I think he might go after Ferland for toughness. But yes, he has been bad with chasing tough guys the last few seasons.
- burgh4life87

I hope he doesn’t. No interest in Ferland.

Cullen is washed up. You think he's still the same player? He was done two years ago. Should have rode off into the sunset a champion.

Crosby, Kessel, Malkin etc won the cups. Those bit players were along for the ride. Rowney is stealing NHL money.....might have the best agent in the league to get that contract from the Ducks.

I don't hate Kuhnhackl. I just don't want him on a line with two other Tom Kuhnhackl's.
- madmike71

I think Cullen not being with Rowney and Kuhnhackl is the biggest reason for the decline andno I don’t want Cullen back. Pens rolled 4 lines continuously through the cup runs everyone contributed. Go watch football with your Big Ben jersey.

I hope he doesn’t. No interest in Ferland.
- j.boyd919

Same, but there was plenty of smoke during the season about the two. I'm genuinely worried about his approach to this summer.

I think Cullen not being with Rowney and Kuhnhackl is the biggest reason for the decline andno I don’t want Cullen back. Pens rolled 4 lines continuously through the cup runs everyone contributed. Go watch football with your Big Ben jersey.
- Grinder47

EvErYoNe CoNtRiBuTeD.

You guys do realize if you trade Gudbranson you no longer have Gudbranson right? Geesh
- Grinder47

Well (frank), I never looked at it like that. I guess if they keep Gudbranson we don’t have to read a million posts from you about if only they had someone like Gudbranson.

Miletic put up a .7ppg season, same as lafferty and better than angelo, and is very disciplined. Not sure where it would be considered a bad year. Injury troubles maybe?
- burgh4life87

It seems I didn't check up at the end of the year. Angello tailed off.

Miletic exploded, actually had more points after March 1st (18) then he had the rest of the season combined including 13 his last 12 games. So you're right, we should definitely be watching Miletic.

With the way the old man is going he'd trade Guddy, miss the grit, then trade for Lucic.

He seems to be following a trend of dumping and then chasing toughness. The scary part is he's paying more and more for it.
- Thorny87

You're not wrong. Since I don't think they're dumping Gudbranson, I hope he maintains something like his level of play after the trade and ends the enforcer search. I can live with an enforcer who plays well even if the salary is a little high.

Here's the Dreger quote I was looking for yesterday. Seems more speculation based on GMJR's earlier comments than insider knowledge. Listening also isn't the same as shopping.

"There’s some speculation that veteran defenceman Kris Letang may potentially be in play. He’s got the modified no-trade clause, he’s got the no-move clause. He’s got three years remaining (in his contract) and a big cap hit of $7.25 million. So there could be interest in Letang. I would say this, with the exception of Sidney Crosby, Rutherford is willing to listen on just about everyone.”

Here's the Dreger quote I was looking for yesterday. Seems more speculation based on GMJR's earlier comments than insider knowledge. Listening also isn't the same as shopping.

"There’s some speculation that veteran defenceman Kris Letang may potentially be in play. He’s got the modified no-trade clause, he’s got the no-move clause. He’s got three years remaining (in his contract) and a big cap hit of $7.25 million. So there could be interest in Letang. I would say this, with the exception of Sidney Crosby, Rutherford is willing to listen on just about everyone.”
- Tojo.

7.25 mil for a top pairing defenseman isn't a big cap hit.

I think Cullen not being with Rowney and Kuhnhackl is the biggest reason for the decline andno I don’t want Cullen back. Pens rolled 4 lines continuously through the cup runs everyone contributed. Go watch football with your Big Ben jersey.
- Grinder47

7.25 mil for a top pairing defenseman isn't a big cap hit.
- j.boyd919

7.25 is now quite the deal for what Tanger brings.

Here's the Dreger quote I was looking for yesterday. Seems more speculation based on GMJR's earlier comments than insider knowledge. Listening also isn't the same as shopping.

"There’s some speculation that veteran defenceman Kris Letang may potentially be in play. He’s got the modified no-trade clause, he’s got the no-move clause. He’s got three years remaining (in his contract) and a big cap hit of $7.25 million. So there could be interest in Letang. I would say this, with the exception of Sidney Crosby, Rutherford is willing to listen on just about everyone.”
- Tojo.

Speculation?

Thanks Daren. Tell me about it when somebody says Rutherford has mentioned his name in trade talks.

If Rutherford moves Letang it's time to haul him off in a straitjacket.

I think Hornqvist is the forward to go. Seems like everyone has him pegged as a 3rd line player and his value may tank even more if he has a lousy season. Maybe the canucks would like Hornqvist as he meshed well with Elias Pettersson.

As for defense, Gudbransson wasn’t that bad and I think he could be traded for a minimal return. As for Johnson, he should be bought out. Sign a couple depth dmen, and let them and the prospects battle it out for the 6th/7th spots.

This was free up enough cap space to sign a couple depth players.

McCann-Sid-Guentzel
Rust-Malkin-Kessel
Blueger-Bjugstad-Simon
4th line can be a mixture of prospects/free agents

Dumo-letang
Pettersson-Schultz
Maatta-prospect/FA

7.25 mil for a top pairing defenseman isn't a big cap hit.
- j.boyd919

It's a steal, 2nd pair puck movers are getting close to that.

Botterill will take anyone off your hands you’d like. As long as it doesn’t make the Sabres any better.

Speculation?

Thanks Daren. Tell me about it when somebody says Rutherford has mentioned his name in trade talks.

If Rutherford moves Letang it's time to haul him off in a straitjacket.
- madmike71

I kinda agree. Speaking of speculation, my understanding is that Rutherford is gonna go hard at Trouba. Think its possible he tries to trade Letang for a top 6 winger and then get Trouba? Who knows what's on this guys mind

It's a steal, 2nd pair puck movers are getting close to that.
- Tojo.

Exactly. It's ridiculous. Schultz is going to get 7 on his next contract lol whos better? Schultz or Letang? Hmmmmmm

I kinda agree. Speaking of speculation, my understanding is that Rutherford is gonna go hard at Trouba. Think its possible he tries to trade Letang for a top 6 winger and then get Trouba? Who knows what's on this guys mind
- nateca44

I don't even understand that. I don't think Trouba is better than Letang.

I kinda agree. Speaking of speculation, my understanding is that Rutherford is gonna go hard at Trouba. Think its possible he tries to trade Letang for a top 6 winger and then get Trouba? Who knows what's on this guys mind
- nateca44

I'd love to get Trouba. I just don't think there's a fit with the assets we're selling. Other teams can do better. There's a good read about Trouba on The Athletic by the way.....he's going to be expensive.

I don't even understand that. I don't think Trouba is better than Letang.
- j.boyd919

Better? I wouldn't necessarily say that. I'd go with younger, healthier. I feel that's the way the Pens are heading outside of Crosby and Malkin.

I'd love to get Trouba. I just don't think there's a fit with the assets we're selling. Other teams can do better. There's a good read about Trouba on The Athletic by the way.....he's going to be expensive.
- madmike71

I dont have a subscription. You seem pretty knowledgeable about hockey so I'll take your word. It's just gonna be interesting off season.

Exactly. It's ridiculous. Schultz is going to get 7 on his next contract lol whos better? Schultz or Letang? Hmmmmmm
- j.boyd919

Jesse Marshall was just commenting on Twitter today about how all the people who think Schultz can step in for Letang are ignoring he hasn't been nearly as good the past two years as he was his last contract year. He had the team's best PDO by far 2 seasons ago that masked his possession numbers going from great to bad. This year he was a disaster though he was probably never healthy.

I have no idea what to expect from him year to year, but Letang always drives play.

Jesse Marshall was just commenting on Twitter today about how all the people who think Schultz can step in for Letang are ignoring he hasn't been nearly as good the past two years as he was his last contract year. He had the team's best PDO by far 2 seasons ago that masked his possession numbers going from great to bad. This year he was a disaster though he was probably never healthy.

I have no idea what to expect from him year to year, but Letang always drives play.
- Tojo.

Shultz is fine but if I were JR I would not give him anything north of 6. Somebody else will so I think the Pens will move him. I think its either Shultz or Maata that get moved. JJ can only get dealt unless you pack him up with Kessel.

Trouba would be an upgrade over Schultz. Problem is he wants to be paid like a #1, and he's not that. That and Winnipeg wants a ton for him.