You are stating an opinion, not fact, so you can't be either right or wrong. You think Bjug is easily replaceable by Blueger at the 3C position and that Blueger is better than Bjug at the 3C. I don't think a 28 game sample size is enough to make that determination and I THINK (opinion) it would be both foolish and risky to assume that. But you are entitled to your opinion. Carry on.
- Hockey66

And Bjugstad has a big enough sample size for me to know he is not worth 4.1m to be a 3c.

And you were right.

The problem is the complete and utter lack of competent defensemen.
- BINGO!

Bones hasn’t been good on the Preds. The problem wasn’t letting Bones walk. We would absolutely hate that contract if it were here. The problem was that center depth was not addressed. Honestly I much preferred playing the waiting game and acquiring Sheahan than I did to the prospect of giving an aged out Bonino $4+ mil. There wasn’t a good answer to that situation but I think paying Bonino would have been the worst rout to take.

Simple. You sign Sheahan for 700k. Save 3.4m by trading Bjugstad which goes towards Petterson and the remainder is left for flexibility for trades later on.
- Feds91Stammer

Ok, that makes more sense (but I doubt Sheahan signs for the league minimum). However, we still have 5 RWs, 3 of which are overpriced.

Also, in my opinion, we now have two question marks at the center position. I remember people not being very happy with Sheahan toward the end of his run here, but I think he can be a cheap, serviceable 4C for the purpose of saving cap room.

But in this scenario, I would rather get rid of Rust and accomplish the same thing. Or, ideally, never have signed Tanev.

And Bjugstad has a big enough sample size for me to know he is not worth 4.1m to be a 3c.
- Feds91Stammer

Fair enough, but I'm still not comfortable handing the 3C reins to Blueger right now and we still have a lot of (too many) expensive, more expendable RWs.

Edit: Whether he is worth his contract is a different discussion than whether he fills a team need.

Ok, that makes more sense. However, we still have 5 RWs. Who is the 13th forward? Rust? Tanev? McCann? Kahun?

Also, in my opinion, we now have two question marks at the center position. I remember people not being very happy with Sheahan toward the end of his run here, but I think he can be a cheap, serviceable 4C for the purpose of saving cap room.

But in this scenario, I would rather get rid of Rust and accomplish the same thing. Or, ideally, never have signed Tanev.
- Hockey66

The end of Sheahans run that people were upset with was because he was being used on the wing with Cullen. He’s better at C with skilled wingers than on the wing with a washed up Cullen.

Fair enough, but I'm still not comfortable handing the 3C reins to Blueger right now and we still have a lot of (too many) expensive, more expendable RWs.
- Hockey66

We made it to the ECF with Lucas Wallmark playing 3C.

We had two lines made up almost entirely of AHL players by the end.

The end of Sheahans run that people were upset with was because he was being used on the wing with Cullen. He’s better at C with skilled wingers than on the wing with a washed up Cullen.
- j.boyd919

That's fine, I still don't want a Blueger / Sheahan tandem at 3C/4C until Blueger can prove he can play the 3C and I doubt Sheahan will accept the league minimum, so I think this scenario is highly flawed. Not to mention we still have 3 overpriced RWs and 5 total.

Blueger.
- Feds91Stammer

I agree with some of what you're saying about Bjugstad, though you're definitely cherry-picking to over-state your case.

But your argument falls apart when it relies on a guy who's about to turn 25, hasn't played a full season, and hasn't exactly put up strong numbers as a prospect.

We made it to the ECF with Lucas Wallmark playing 3C.

We had two lines made up almost entirely of AHL players by the end.
- BINGO!

Thanks for making my point. Imagine how far you could have gone with legit NHL players throughout the lineup.

I agree with some of what you're saying about Bjugstad, though you're definitely cherry-picking to over-state your case.

But your argument falls apart when it relies on a guy who's about to turn 25, hasn't played a full season, and hasn't exactly put up strong numbers as a prospect.
- Tojo.

It doesn’t though. You guys are vastly overrating the impact of one depth position.

Blueger definitely looks NHL ready to me. I’m just not sure of his abilities to man the 3C yet.
- Rinosaur

That's how I feel. If someone else shows they can handle 3C, I'm fine trading Bjugstad.

We made it to the ECF with Lucas Wallmark playing 3C.

We had two lines made up almost entirely of AHL players by the end.
- BINGO!

It’s almost like success heavily relies on your top 4 forwards, top 2 d men, and your goalie. Then a tiny remainder is dependent on the sum of your depth.

Thanks for making my point. Imagine how far you could have gone with legit NHL players throughout the lineup.
- Hockey66

Pens lost in round 1 with these so called legit nhl players...

Pens lost in round 1 with these so called legit nhl players...
- Feds91Stammer

Swept 4-0 if I recall.

Swept 4-0 if I recall.
- j.boyd919

3cs for the 2 cup teams

Bozak: WAR60: 0

Coyle: WAR60: 0.02

3cs for the 2 cup teams

Bozak: WAR60: 0

Coyle: WAR60: 0.02
- Feds91Stammer

My proposed bottom 6 centers

Blueger: WAR60: 0.11

Sheahan: WAR60: 0.01

It doesn’t though. You guys are vastly overrating the impact of one depth position.
- Feds91Stammer

Then why do you feel it's so much more important to keep Rust?

Then why do you feel it's so much more important to keep Rust?
- Tojo.

Brings equal or better impact at a lesser cap hit while being able to play both wings

Btw I would trade Galchenyuk over Bjugstad as well. Move Bjugstad to RW with malkin

Btw I would trade Galchenyuk over Bjugstad as well. Move Bjugstad to RW with malkin
- Feds91Stammer

Simon - Sid - Guentzel
Rust - Malkin - Bjugstad
Tanev - Blueger - Horny
McCann - Sheahan - Kahun
ZAR

3cs for the 2 cup teams

Bozak: WAR60: 0

Coyle: WAR60: 0.02
- Feds91Stammer

Doesn’t this completely negate your reliance on basing everything you think you know about hockey on numbers?

Simon - Sid - Guentzel
Rust - Malkin - Bjugstad
Tanev - Blueger - Horny
McCann - Sheahan - Kahun
ZAR
- Feds91Stammer

Did Simon crash his car yet? Or die in a spelunking accident?

Btw I would trade Galchenyuk over Bjugstad as well. Move Bjugstad to RW with malkin
- Feds91Stammer

I actually suggested something similar prior to the Phil trade. I thought maybe the Pens could target another 3C and move him to wing with Geno then have Phil tried out with Sid.

Jake-Sid-Phil
McCann-Geno-Bjugstad

We all know how that turned out though...

Brings equal or better impact at a lesser cap hit while being able to play both wings
- Feds91Stammer

Cap difference is negligible, and I think Rust is a bit over-rated himself. I'll take the C-RW flexibility. And I'd rather see what guys like Kahun, McCann, Simon, even Tanev can do in elevated roles than Blueger.

Btw I would trade Galchenyuk over Bjugstad as well. Move Bjugstad to RW with malkin
- Feds91Stammer

I probably wouldn't hate that, not a Galchenyuk fan and if they did have another 3C Bjugstad at wing is something I'd try. But for now, I'm sticking with Bjugstad/Blueger at 3C/4C.