If there were to be any truth to this I wonder if signing Gardiner impacts Pettersson or Schultz. Logically you'd think Schultz would be the one to go because he's a pending UFA looking for a raise, but a Gardiner/Schultz pairing >>>>>> Pettersson anywhere in the lineup even if it's for one year.
- Rinosaur

Malkin, Galchenyuk, Gardiner, and Schultz all on the ice together doesn't sound like something Sully would be comfortable with.

My buddy said if gardiner took that offer he thinks JJ was definitely gone but doesn’t know anything about what it was for. I doubt Tanev would have got signed if it happened and they would have went with letang, dumo, gardiner, Shultz, petersson, gudbranson
- pens4life-66

They have to move out one salary already, so it would probably take 3 now unless it was a more significant one like Schultz or Galchenyuk.

I'd love to get Gardiner. I definitely like him more than Schultz and seems like his contract may end up reasonable. Concern is the back obviously.

Getting Gardiner at a good price and flipping Schultz for an asset is a net gain to me, but it would be putting a lot of faith in Gudbranson's play after the trade being somewhat sustainable.
- Tojo.

This is why I question whether or not Schultz would get moved. The Pens have absolutely no RHDs capable of 2nd pairing minutes.

Let’s put it this way, if the current plan w/out Gardiner is to have Pettersson as the 2nd pair LD, then picking up Gardiner negates the need for Pettersson unless the Pens can get a Pettersson on a two-year bridge deal right around the $1.75 - $2.25 mark to stay on the 3rd pair.

So yeah, I think the Pens signing Gardiner affects Pettersson more than it would Schultz’ future.

They have to move out one salary already, so it would probably take 3 now unless it was a more significant one like Schultz or Galchenyuk.
- Tojo.

If gardiner signed at 5 and JJ was gone and Tanev didn’t sign that would possibly be +1.75 million.

This is why I question whether or not Schultz would get moved. The Pens have absolutely no RHDs capable of 2nd pairing minutes.

Let’s put it this way, if the current plans w/out Gardiner is to have Pettersson as the 2nd pair LD, then picking up Gardiner negates the need for Pettersson unless the Pens can get a Pettersson on a two-year bridge deal right around the $1.75 - $2.25 mark to stay on the 3rd pair.

So yeah, I think the Pens signing Gardiner affects Pettersson more than it would Schultz’ future.
- Rinosaur

I think they could still pivot to a bridge deal with Pettersson to keep him 3rd pair. The talk of 3M seemed more based on a longer deal. If it's Pettersson, JJ, or Riikola, this should be an easy choice.

I also can't see Sully pairing Schultz and Gardiner, especially if they're going to pair them with Malkin and Galchenyuk. At that point, you're either trying Gudbranson or making a late trade. In theory I they're all there I think you go:

Gardiner-Gudbranson
Pettersson-Schultz

But someone probably gets traded unless it's JJ, Rust, and Bjugstad all leaving.

If gardiner signed at 5 and JJ was gone and Tanev didn’t sign that would possibly be +1.75 million.
- pens4life-66

Yeah, this is where the Tanev deal really hurts. There are still ways to do it, but it unnecessarily complicates things.

I think Schultz would be the move. Though maybe if they do a 1 year deal on Pettersson they can make it work by dealing just JJ and one of Rust, Bjugstad. Possibly at least close enough that dealing ZAR and/or DeSmith makes it fit.

Gardiner makes a ton of sense. The only question is making the cap work for this season. After this year, you have Gally, Gudbranson, and Schultz coming off of the books (probably resigning Gally) and Murray, Kahun, and McCann need new deals.

Lets say you sign Gardiner at 5M per. You have about $850k free in salary now per CapFriendly with still Pettersson and a lesser extent Aston Reese to resign. At the very least, 2 of Gudbranson, Johnson, Rust, & Bjugstad have to go... probably 3 of them to actually make it work.

I think you could find a deal for all 3 of those guys except Johnson. Johnson you will have to get creative to move.

I hope we find a way to make it work. Gardiner is a guy who is a solid player but was ripped by the Toronto media. For the right price and the right fit, he would be a great find for whatever team gets him.

I think they could still pivot to a bridge deal with Pettersson to keep him 3rd pair. The talk of 3M seemed more based on a longer deal. If it's Pettersson, JJ, or Riikola, this should be an easy choice.

I also can't see Sully pairing Schultz and Gardiner, especially if they're going to pair them with Malkin and Galchenyuk. At that point, you're either trying Gudbranson or making a late trade. In theory I they're all there I think you go:

Gardiner-Gudbranson
Pettersson-Schultz

But someone probably gets traded unless it's JJ, Rust, and Bjugstad all leaving.
- Tojo.

Bjugstad leaving is a major problem. I know some people around here are very meh on him, but he's as good of a 3C the Pens have had since Bones and the Simon-Bjug-Horn line was pretty awesome. Blueger has a small yet impressive sample-size, but I don't know that he's ready for 3C and McCann showed to not be very effective in the 3C role.

Unless JR can make some magic happen and get an effective 3C for half the price of Bjugstad, moving him is a mistake.

I've been playing around with capfriendly, but there's really no way of making this work unless Pettersson or Schultz is gone. I definitely want Gardiner in a Pens jersey, but not at the expense of having a quality 3C.

Bjugstad leaving is a major problem. I know some people around here are very meh on him, but he's as good of a 3C the Pens have had since Bones and the Simon-Bjug-Horn line was pretty awesome. Blueger has a small yet impressive sample-size, but I don't know that he's ready for 3C and McCann showed to not be very effective in the 3C role.

Unless JR can make some magic happen and get an effective 3C for half the price of Bjugstad, moving him is a mistake.

I've been playing around with capfriendly, but there's really no way of making this work unless Pettersson or Schultz is gone. I definitely want Gardiner in a Pens jersey, but not at the expense of having a quality 3C.
- Rinosaur

I agree with you on Bjugstad, not ready to move him.

Signing Gardiner means they wouldn't be extending Schultz, so he's going before Pettersson. If you really wanted to keep Schultz, just do one year with Pettersson, keep it cheap, and take care of a longer-term next year.

I really don't see Pettersson moved. JJ, Rust, Schultz, Bjugstad, Gudbranson would be the ones to look at, all have bigger salaries than Pettersson.

I agree with you on Bjugstad, not ready to move him.

Signing Gardiner means they wouldn't be extending Schultz, so he's going before Pettersson. If you really wanted to keep Schultz, just do one year with Pettersson, keep it cheap, and take care of a longer-term next year.

I really don't see Pettersson moved. JJ, Rust, Schultz, Bjugstad, Gudbranson would be the ones to look at, all have bigger salaries than Pettersson.
- Tojo.

I don't see Pettersson moved either, but moving Schultz creates a bigger problem. Having Gardiner on the 2nd pair means you don't need a high-level RHD on the 2nd pair, but you still need one solid enough in their own end, can skate well and log minutes which is definitely not easy to find, especially at half the price of Schultz.

I don't see Pettersson moved either, but moving Schultz creates a bigger problem. Having Gardiner on the 2nd pair means you don't need a high-level RHD on the 2nd pair, but you still need one solid enough in their own end, can skate well and log minutes which is definitely not easy to find, especially at half the price of Schultz.
- Rinosaur

Agree. Schultz isn't really that guy either though, he's not good in his own end. On the current roster, you'd have to use Gudbranson an hope he doesn't go back to previous form.

That's not ideal which is why I don't see it, but I like Gardiner enough to consider it. Eye test or stats, Gudbranson just looked capable, which was weird.

Agree. Schultz isn't really that guy either though, he's not good in his own end. On the current roster, you'd have to use Gudbranson an hope he doesn't go back to previous form.

That's not ideal which is why I don't see it, but I like Gardiner enough to consider it. Eye test or stats, Gudbranson just looked capable, which was weird.
- Tojo.

Gudbranson was also quite sheltered. Moving him to a 2nd line pairing is a scary gamble IMO because if it doesn't work JR's struggle now becomes attempting to trade for a RHD which is what most teams would like to grab at the deadline. If the Pens can get someone like Trevor Van Riemsdyk to replace Schultz they'd be in good shape.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/1341903

Played around a little bit with Gardiner on the Pens. A lot of moving parts in this.

If the Pens got Gardiner at 5M, Pettersson at 1.5M for one year, traded JJ and Rust, and recalled Adam Johnson, they'd have 12F, 8D and about 1.1M in cap space before signing ZAR. I'd like to add a forward and still leave 700-800k for a call-up.

So from here I could make it work with little moves like trading ZAR and\or DeSmith or going with 7D or just being to waive a D to call up a forward if needed. So I'd say it's possible, but probably too many moving parts.

Gudbranson was also quite sheltered. Moving him to a 2nd line pairing is a scary gamble IMO because if it doesn't work JR's struggle now becomes attempting to trade for a RHD which is what most teams would like to grab at the deadline. If the Pens can get someone like Trevor Van Riemsdyk to replace Schultz they'd be in good shape.
- Rinosaur

I agree on Gudbranson being a gamble. I'd only even consider it because I think Gardiner is significantly better than Schultz and seemingly may come at a cheaper price. But it could totally blow up and I'd agree with you they should look for a safety net.

It was too small stretch, but Gudbranson wasn't sheltered here and did well. I certainly like Gardiner-Gudbranson over JJ-Schultz.

I agree on Gudbranson being a gamble. I'd only even consider it because I think Gardiner is significantly better than Schultz and seemingly may come at a cheaper price. But it could totally blow up and I'd agree with you they should look for a safety net.

It was too small stretch, but Gudbranson wasn't sheltered here and did well. I certainly like Gardiner-Gudbranson over JJ-Schultz.
- Tojo.

Troy Stecher could be a great get to anchor a 2nd line with Gardiner. He's almost the RHD version of Pettersson, but with a better transition game.

If the Pens got Gardiner at 5M, Pettersson at 1.5M for one year, traded JJ and Rust, and recalled Adam Johnson, they'd have 12F, 8D and about 1.1M in cap space before signing ZAR. I'd like to add a forward and still leave 700-800k for a call-up.

So from here I could make it work with little moves like trading ZAR and\or DeSmith or going with 7D or just being to waive a D to call up a forward if needed. So I'd say it's possible, but probably too many moving parts.
- Tojo.

Here's what that partial roster I described above looks like though w/ 1.1M cap space:

Guentzel-Crosby-Kahun
McCann-Malkin-Galchenyuk
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
Johnson-Blueger-Tanev

Dumoulin-Letang
Gardiner-Gudbranson
Pettersson-Schultz
Riikola-Ruhwedel

Murray-DeSmith

Troy Stecher could be a great get to anchor a 2nd line with Gardiner. He's almost the RHD version of Pettersson, but with a better transition game.
- Rinosaur

I just made it work keeping Schultz an trading JJ/Rust so you can find space for cheaper replacement while trading Schultz.

I just made it work keeping Schultz an trading JJ/Rust so you can find space for cheaper replacement while trading Schultz.
- Tojo.

I'd really like to hold on to Rust if at all possible. Not sure if you checked out my armchair listed above, but basically it's Schultz, Bjugstad and JJ gone with Lowry taking over as 3C.

If the Pens move Schultz I think WPG is the most ideal trading partner as a stop-gap to replacing Trouba.

Has anyone legit linked us to Gardiner or is it just Ek drible? If we found a way to get Gardiner without having to move Shultz I’d be a big fan of the way our defense would look.

Has anyone legit linked us to Gardiner or is it just Ek drible? If we found a way to get Gardiner without having to move Shultz I’d be a big fan of the way our defense would look.
- Victoro311

Absolutely not. This is all EK dribble.

The Pens would have to make far too many moves to make it happen where Gardiner and Schultz on the same roster.

Absolutely not. This is all EK dribble.

The Pens would have to make far too many moves to make it happen where Gardiner and Schultz on the same roster.
- Rinosaur

Too many moves? Not sure about that. Technically it just involves moving two players but those two are big asks.

Too many moves? Not sure about that. Technically it just involves moving two players but those two are big asks.
- Victoro311

I was playing around with this one capfriendly.

Regardless of anything else right now, the Pens still have to move guys out just to make room for Petts and ZAR. Right now they need to free up about $3.5M which could obviously be done by moving out JJ or Rust.

The issue becomes having to clear out another $5Mish depending on what Gardiner is looking at.

Pionk just signed 2yrs/$3M. I wonder if this will affect the Pettersson contract.

Has anyone legit linked us to Gardiner or is it just Ek drible? If we found a way to get Gardiner without having to move Shultz I’d be a big fan of the way our defense would look.
- Victoro311

I don't think I've seen Gardiner legit linked anywhere. It's weird.