If Benn is available I'd think they want a true #2 center coming back and probably either some defensive help or a good defensive prospect.

Here's what I'd offer Dallas if they feel Bjugstad could be a #2 Center for them:

TO DAL: Galchenyuk, Bjugstad, 1st in 2020 and Addison or POJ.
TO PIT: Jamie Benn

Secondary move:

TO ANA: Gudbranson + Kahun
TO PIT: Nick Ritchie

Healthy Pens lineup:

Simon-Sid-Jake
Benn-Geno-Tanev/Rust/Horn
Ritchie-McCann/Lafferty-Tanev/Rust/Horn
Lafferty/McCann-Blueger-Tanev/Rust/Horn
ZAR
- Rinosaur

That would be OK too. I just feel like BENN could be the piece we're looking for to give us a 3-4 extra good years as contenders. Perhaps longer!

PS. I'd give Adam Johnson a 12th-13th roster spot easily.

I will probably take heat for this, but my god we need to pump the breaks on the Kahun trade talk. It's 7 games in his 2nd NHL season and already with a new team. What he did last season wasn't a fluke and 30+ 5v5 points isn't chicken scratch. The past two games he has been much more comfortable in his game. I think he will be just fine here.

I will probably take heat for this, but my god we need to pump the breaks on the Kahun trade talk. It's 7 games in his 2nd NHL season and already with a new team. What he did last season wasn't a fluke and 30+ 5v5 points isn't chicken scratch. The past two games he has been much more comfortable in his game. I think he will be just fine here.
- burgh4life87

You have to give something good to get something that's why I'd add him to a potential Benn deal. Would you rather trade Rust, Simon or Kahun instead?

The way I see it, Aston-Reese and Kahun could be easily replaced by Lafferty and A.Johnson in the lineup so they'd be the likely sweetners on any deal for a big name.

I will probably take heat for this, but my god we need to pump the breaks on the Kahun trade talk. It's 7 games in his 2nd NHL season and already with a new team. What he did last season wasn't a fluke and 30+ 5v5 points isn't chicken scratch. The past two games he has been much more comfortable in his game. I think he will be just fine here.
- burgh4life87

I totally agree. I think despite not being on the scoreboard he's doing things right away from the puck...he hit a post in one of the last two games too

You have to give something good to get something that's why I'd add him to a potential Benn deal. Would you rather trade Rust, Simon or Kahun instead?
- Barnaby36

I don't think any of them are good enough to be part of a Benn deal. I think if we wanted Benn we would have had to trade them Kessel. I don't really see any combo that they absolutely won't turn down. Benn is just to high of a target to pull off with our current assets.

I don't think any of them are good enough to be part of a Benn deal. I think if we wanted Benn we would have had to trade them Kessel. I don't really see any combo that they absolutely won't turn down. Benn is just to high of a target to pull off with our current assets.
- burgh4life87

Oh they are good pieces to be added to a Benn deal. Young NHL guys is what they want. Keep in mind Galchenyuk and a high pick would be the main pieces on this deal.

The way I see it, Aston-Reese and Kahun could be easily replaced by Lafferty and A.Johnson in the lineup so they'd be the likely sweetners on any deal for a big name.
- Barnaby36

Yup

I don't understand why everyone wants to trade N.Bjustad....

Can we all please stop theoretically trading our 3rd line center. McCann hasn't proved worthy of that spot.

Thanks

I don't understand why everyone wants to trade N.Bjustad....

Can we all please stop theoretically trading our 3rd line center. McCann hasn't proved worthy of that spot.

Thanks
- IronCity

I want Bjugstad on this roster. He's responsible defensively and is a big C/RW. Rust would go before him IMO.

Oh they are good pieces to be added to a Benn deal. Young NHL guys is what they want. Keep in mind Galchenyuk and a high pick would be the main pieces on this deal.
- Barnaby36

Even if you do Galchenyuk and Rust, you will be adding 1.1million to the roster for next season. That means 65.3 million in cap. Giving us what? 18 million max to sign Murray, Schultz, Pettersson, Lafferty, Simon, McCann, Kahun, Jarry (unlikely). I don't know if that will work out. I would love to get Benn but I'm just trying to wrap my head around this.

I want Bjugstad on this roster. He's responsible defensively and is a big C/RW. Rust would go before him IMO.
- Barnaby36

I agree with you on this!

I don't see a lot of risk here. Galchenyuk/Gudbranson and Kahun is not a lot to give up (sure we'd have to add a high pick with it).

Jamie Benn is a damn good player and would make us much dangerous and hard to play against for the next 3-4 years easily. The window would be extended!
- Barnaby36

I don't see any risk in the players you're giving up (which may mean it's not enough). The risk is in aquirirng a 30 year old who plays a physical game at a massive cap hit. It might work, just not a risk I'd personally take. I'm kind of more about surrounding Sid, Malkin, and Letang with younger players.

I don't see any risk in the players you're giving up (which may mean it's not enough). The risk is in aquirirng a 30 year old who plays a physical game at a massive cap hit. It might work, just not a risk I'd personally take. I'm kind of more about surrounding Sid, Malkin, and Letang with younger players.
- Tojo.

Kick the tires and to the hell with it! A new 3rd/4th wheel (since Kessel left and Guentzel has been great) would be coming to Pittsburgh with thirst to get cups!

Based on his comments last night I think Zucker is looking for a ride out of town! Based on cost he would be the more realistic target to go after and would be a fantastic add.

If you get Honka the plan should be to trade Gud and use Marino and Honka in a bit of a timeshare (though I'm pretty sure that's why Honka wants out). Then again, what are the odds both Letang and Schultz will stay healthy...

I think I'd prefer bringing back Oleksiak for the bottom pair LD. I liked him and think he could mesh well with Marino.
- MacPatty

Thanks for the nugget on Zucker, I need to look that up.

I wouldn't mind Oleksiak back. Would be nice to have a bottom pair defenseman that pays either side as we work in our young defensemen. Might prefer someone more defensively aware to play with the young puck movers like Marino, POJ, and Addison, but it's a better fit than what we have.

I don't see any risk in the players you're giving up (which may mean it's not enough). The risk is in aquirirng a 30 year old who plays a physical game at a massive cap hit. It might work, just not a risk I'd personally take. I'm kind of more about surrounding Sid, Malkin, and Letang with younger players.
- Tojo.

I don’t care about age as much as I care about current hockey ability at this point. Crosby has appeared ageless these past three seasons, but Malkin and Letang even when fully healthy have definitely started to lose a step even though they’re still great, and you just never know how much longer Sid will remain ageless. Youth is nice, but given that we don’t know how much longer our stars will keep playing at such a high level, I’m going for the best possible hockey player available that I can add, regardless whether he’s 32 or 23.

I don't understand why everyone wants to trade N.Bjustad....

Can we all please stop theoretically trading our 3rd line center. McCann hasn't proved worthy of that spot.

Thanks
- IronCity

I don’t think it’s a matter of necessarily people wanting Bjugstad gone. This team will have to make some moves at some point for financial reasons and he seems like a possibility.

Now, I proposed him in the Benn deal because well, it’s Jamie Benn.

I don’t care about age as much as I care about current hockey ability at this point. Crosby has appeared ageless these past three seasons, but Malkin and Letang even when fully healthy have definitely started to lose a step even though they’re still great, and you just never know how much longer Sid will remain ageless. Youth is nice, but given that we don’t know how much longer our stars will keep playing at such a high level, I’m going for the best possible hockey player available that I can add, regardless whether he’s 32 or 23.
- Victoro311

Good take and a nice one considering the age of our core players.

I don't understand why everyone wants to trade N.Bjustad....

Can we all please stop theoretically trading our 3rd line center. McCann hasn't proved worthy of that spot.

Thanks
- IronCity

Agree, I can name 4 other guys I'd dump for space first. People forget he scored 19/49 in 17-18 as a wing. How many other RWs do we have who can approach 20g and 50 pts? And that's if he isn't the 3C. 4M is good for that versatility.

Agree, I can name 4 other guys I'd dump for space first. People forget he scored 19/49 in 17-18 as a wing. How many other RWs do we have who can approach 20g and 50 pts? And that's if he isn't the 3C. 4M is good for that versatility.
- Tojo.

My priority list in people to move amongst who’s been rumored at some point this year:

JJ
Guds
Rust
Bjugstad

My preference added to that list to move in priority order:

JJ
Hornqvist
Gudbranson
Rust
Bjugstad

I do personally have confidence now that McCann can be effective as a 3C.

I agree Kahun can bounce back, but he needs to show something soon. I've got him 14th on my depth chart.

A. Johnson would be 15th. I know he's got speed, but to this point I just see more of a tweener. Would be ok with him at 13, ideally 14, but top 12 is more faith than I have in him.

Pens could easily subtract a forward or combine to into a better player and still have strong depth.

I don’t care about age as much as I care about current hockey ability at this point. Crosby has appeared ageless these past three seasons, but Malkin and Letang even when fully healthy have definitely started to lose a step even though they’re still great, and you just never know how much longer Sid will remain ageless. Youth is nice, but given that we don’t know how much longer our stars will keep playing at such a high level, I’m going for the best possible hockey player available that I can add, regardless whether he’s 32 or 23.
- Victoro311

I just believe a team can only have so many older players in key roles an succeed. It's becoming a young man's game. Look around at the contenders and most only rely on 3-4 older players.

If the cap hit was different, maybe I'd roll the dice on Benn. But he's paid like about a point per game player an I'm not sure he still is. With the cap issues we have this off-season, I'm just not comfortable with it. JMO

The Jamie Benn trade scenarios have made my morning, I thank you all.

My priority list in people to move amongst who’s been rumored at some point this year:

JJ
Guds
Rust
Bjugstad

My preference added to that list to move in priority order:

JJ
Hornqvist
Gudbranson
Rust
Bjugstad

I do personally have confidence now that McCann can be effective as a 3C.
- Rinosaur

I pretty much agree with your list. I'd like to keep the cut line from taking Bjugstad, but it's a complicated puzzle for next year. JJ, Gudbranson, Rust, Hornqvist, I could move with no sweat though I agree I don't see Hornqvist going. Hoping some young guys look ready for spots.

From Marshall: Zach-Aston Reese has an xGF% of +9.78% relative to the rest of the team. The highest positive margin of any Penguin player, O or D, so far this season.

xGF rel is probably my favorite adanced stat. I don't know if he continues this, hasn't shown it before but play driving often improves the second year, but ZAR definitely trending up for me. Otherwise he would have been the guy I'd scratch for Lafferty if all are healthy.