I would like to look for a sizeable upgrade on 2LD. Hope for peterson to get better, but still feel like if JJ is on the team, we could use a D upgrade.

I like the tandem line idea, where the 3rd person is replaceable. Replaceable with specific other, not like "not good", so rust is replaeable with horny and simon and even mccann. So i don't mind our RW being "thin", but yet, i still see that as our second place of need behind LD.
- joecool2931

The Pens have committed to Pettersson in that role. His decision-making has room for growth and that's reasonable to expect with experience, but the good outweighs it and he plays well with Marino.

Your upgrade for JJ is POJ who should arrive if not at the start of the year at some point next season. He may even surpass Pettersson in time. But they probably won't block him, especially since they don't see JJ as a big problem.

Now on RD, they can use an upgrade. Schultz shouldn't return and there isn't a good prospect ready to challenge for a job.

Has Zucker ever played RW with any success?
- Rinosaur

He supposedly can play there, but is noticeably worse which is part of why Minnesota was willing to part with him as they needed to open up a LW spot for Kapriaov.

It's never good to have a weak PP.

Jokes aside, this is why I was hoping the Pens were going to also pick up Toffoli. He'd be a solid get at RW if they can figure stuff out financially this off-season.
- Rinosaur

Hard to pull that off with a flat cap for the next few years. Have to make sure they can pay Marino in a year.

Hard to pull that off with a flat cap for the next few years. Have to make sure they can pay Marino in a year.
- Tojo.

Did they officially announce a flat cap?

Did they officially announce a flat cap?
- Rinosaur

Yes. Won't increase unless revenues go up. So looking at 2 more years of 81.5M and then 2 of 82.5M I believe.

I long since admitted I was wrong about Rust, so I have no problem recalling my thinking at the time.

I thought he was a middle 6 forward worth his salary but nothing more and was acceptable as a salary dump so they could give cheaper guys like Kahin and McCann a shot. And I did and still do like Malkin and Hornqvist together.

I thought if Rust was going to break 20 he'd have done it by now ans would be a little over-valued in the trade market because of hia Cup experience.

I'm still worried this will be a career year like Tyler Kennedy's breakout, but I was wrong and wouldn't look to move him now. GMJR found a much better solution moving Gudbranson without taking salary back and having a cheap option nobody saw coming in Marino.

My preference was always JJ. I didn't throw Rust-JJ proposals out there because like Vic said I didn't find them realistic.
- Tojo.

All of this was my thinking as well, except I was throwing out Rust-JJ proposals that would take back something maybe less than desirable but relatively cheap and short. All of the Rust talk was due to the cap crunch, but JR worked his magic with the Guds deal which made this moot.

I just think dirty goals are going to be easier to come by. Plus The more zone time Hornqvist has with Price the better.
- Grinder47

Totally agree with this. If Price is on his game, standard goals will be hard to come by. Price can get preoccupied if there is someone in his face and like someone else mentioned, it will also preoccupy Weber. Poor Horny, the sacrificial punching bag.

I don't even want to consider Weber v. Sheary. Would probably be short-lived and end up like against Wilson with deer in the headlights and PTSD for the rest of the playoffs.

Totally agree with this. If Price is on his game, standard goals will be hard to come by. Price can get preoccupied if there is someone in his face and like someone else mentioned, it will also preoccupy Weber. Poor Horny, the sacrificial punching bag.

I don't even want to consider Weber v. Sheary. Would probably be short-lived and end up like against Wilson with deer in the headlights and PTSD for the rest of the playoffs.
- Hockey66

It’s funny that Weber’s name keeps coming up. With Subans considerable drop in play does that trade not look so poor on Montreal’s part? Even with his bullpoop Suban was a dynamic player(until Chris Kunitz jumped over the boards), but Weber’s going to speak softly and carry a big stick, and it’s not like he’s a bad hockey player by any means.

It’s funny that Weber’s name keeps coming up. With Subans considerable drop in play does that trade not look so poor on Montreal’s part? Even with his bullpoop Suban was a dynamic player(until Chris Kunitz jumped over the boards), but Weber’s going to speak softly and carry a big stick, and it’s not like he’s a bad hockey player by any means.
- Grinder47

Age and contract were big factors in analyzing that trade. Weber is about to turn 35 and still has 6 years left ( ) whereas Subban is only 31 and has just 2 years left. I'm surprised that Subban has fallen off as much as he has. Maybe it has something to do with playing on NJ? I don't know.

Age and contract were big factors in analyzing that trade. Weber is about to turn 35 and still has 6 years left ( ) whereas Subban is only 31 and has just 2 years left. I'm surprised that Subban has fallen off as much as he has. Maybe it has something to do with playing on NJ? I don't know.
- Hockey66

Probably doesn’t get as many instaface likes in New Jersey and it has him feeling down.

Age and contract were big factors in analyzing that trade. Weber is about to turn 35 and still has 6 years left ( ) whereas Subban is only 31 and has just 2 years left. I'm surprised that Subban has fallen off as much as he has. Maybe it has something to do with playing on NJ? I don't know.
- Hockey66

That trade worked better for Montreal than most expected as somehow Weber is better at their respective ages. And the contract is similar to Luongo's in that since so much bonus money was paid up front, if Weber retires early, Nashville is getting most of the dead space penalties.

Totally agree with this. If Price is on his game, standard goals will be hard to come by. Price can get preoccupied if there is someone in his face and like someone else mentioned, it will also preoccupy Weber. Poor Horny, the sacrificial punching bag.

I don't even want to consider Weber v. Sheary. Would probably be short-lived and end up like against Wilson with deer in the headlights and PTSD for the rest of the playoffs.
- Hockey66

I still have PTSD from trade deadline day when for some unknown reason Ruth brought Sheary back....FFS

Since we were talking Corona and statistics earlier. This is from the CDC. Deaths per week.

Date Deaths
5/2 │ 12,969
5/9 │ 10,949
5/16 │ 8,933
5/23 │ 6,932
5/30 │ 5,850
6/6 │ 4,617
6/13 │ 3,368
6/20 │ 2,783
6/27 │ 1,463
7/4 │ 522
7/11 │ 181

Looks like Florida isn't such a disaster after all. 33 testing labs reported 100% positive test when the real number was 9.4%. How is that possible?

Looks like Florida isn't such a disaster after all. 33 testing labs reported 100% positive test when the real number was 9.4%. How is that possible?
- madmike71

Where are you finding all of the info for your last 3 posts?

According to the Florida government there were 130+ covid relayed deaths there today alone...

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/

Where are you finding all of the info for your last 3 posts?
- MattStrat

Twitter. The first post about Sheary...that was pretty evident on trade deadline day.

Twitter.
- madmike71

Check my edit

Check my edit
- MattStrat

Those were CDC weekly numbers.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/...ss/vsrr/COVID19/index.htm

I have no idea what to believe about Florida. For that to happen with so many labs, something fraudulent is going on.

This is an honest question because I seriously have no clue, but out of curiosity, for which political party does the CDC benefit most from? Generally, which party supports/funds the CDC the most historically?

Those were CDC weekly numbers.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/...ss/vsrr/COVID19/index.htm

I have no idea what to believe about Florida. For that to happen with so many labs, something fraudulent is going on.
- madmike71

Can you give me a link for the lab stuff?

Can you give me a link for the lab stuff?
- MattStrat

https://www.fox35orlando....negative-covid-19-results

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fox-35-investigates-florida-department-of-health-says-some-labs-have-not-reported-negative-covid-19-results
- madmike71

Yeah they even say Florida had 132 deaths today. Some of the labs, not many, only reported the positive in Florida by the sounds of it but they were still positive cases they did report... It just F's up the infection positivity rate for the whole state.

While it's true this massive spike has mainly hit people in their 30's, and they will survive it much better, we still have to remember that deaths come about 3 to 5 weeks after first signs of symptoms. That CDC chart cuts off at 07/11..Today in Florida there were 132 deaths and Texas there's beem 129. That's just today. I will definitely be checking that CDC weekly death chart in the weeks that come to see how it looks.

This is an honest question because I seriously have no clue, but out of curiosity, for which political party does the CDC benefit most from? Generally, which party supports/funds the CDC the most historically?
- MattStrat

Generally, government workers tend to favor dems because (historically) dems grow government and repubs try to shrink it. However, for several decades now, both parties grow government. Dems just grow it a little faster.

I think I remember reading something like 80% government workers vote dem.

Beyond that.... The pandemic is literally drowning in politics down here. It's quite disgusting because it's having a HUGE psychological impact on EVERYONE. Economically it's pure tragedy. People are being ruined financially and decisions are being made on possibly wildly fictitious numbers.

I can honestly say the pandemic at least the first month in a half was the most relaxing time in my life. I was laid off and working for cash myself like 6 hrs a day, the government deposited money in my bank account for no good reason. I fished every morning and even took the dog for a walk before that. The good old days.

I can honestly say the pandemic at least the first month in a half was the most relaxing time in my life. I was laid off and working for cash myself like 6 hrs a day, the government deposited money in my bank account for no good reason. I fished every morning and even took the dog for a walk before that. The good old days.
- Grinder47

You do seem more lighthearted.