Puljurjvi isn't going anywhere. Better to trade Murray to the Oil for a couple of defensemen. they are moving on from a few guys since Bouchard will be coming up next season.

As a Red Wings fan I thought about this too. Wings have a interesting RFA of there own who they could move to the Pens in Madison Bowey.

Wimgs would clear a spot for Seider and get a Goalie to pair with Bernier for a couple years.

Pens fans will, and should, want more but I'm not sure they are gonna get it with the volume of solid options on the UFA market.
- Feury

Bowie is useless.

Trade Jarry and Bjustadt to the Leafs for Anderson and Kapenin or Kerfoot.

Trade Murray to Oilers for JP and a pick.

Sign a UFA backup.
- crawfordg

Trade Jarry and Bjugstadt to the Leafs for Anderson and Kapanen.

Trade Murray to Oilers for LD Nurse and either RD Benning/ Larsson. (they have Bouchard and Broberg waiting to push for spots...

Sign a UFA goaler.

I saw an interesting swap Marcus Johansson for Bjudstad in another forum. I think Johansson (even though he is a Left handed shot) would bring that Kunitz factor to our team.

Also Jake Virtanen is rumored to potentially be available this offseason. He was a 6th overall pick with Vancouver and he is more of a powerforward type. I wonder if we can get him and turn his career a jolt kinda like we did with Gudbranson. Gudbranson, who Vancouver saw as the worst player ever, played well on our bottom pairing.
- 123Kid

Trade McCann for Virtanen

Hahaha no it certainly didnt. Three of those guys plus Tanger were not themselves at all...and its hard to think it was natural age regression for 3 of the 4 them in just four or five months haha. Even still, with the 4 most important skaters on the team playing like that, I firmly believe if the coach made better decisions in game and with the lineup they would of took that series...and perhaps more.

I think Jake will get back to normal. A major part of his problem to my eyes seemed to be confidence with the puck. I remember him hesitating and passing up a good shot once, with a defender between him and Sid, and taking the puck on behind the Habs net and I yelled at him (TV screen) haha. Most of the shots he did have, he'd usually of hit the net with, he missed.
- MattStrat

Yeah I agree with pretty much everything you said. Better coaching decisions would have won that series. But without the stars playing better, they'd have been toast.

Jake displaying Simon's finishing touch isn't likely to continue. Really just hoping for better from all the guys you mentioned plus Dumoulin is reasonable and improves the team more than any additions they can make.

And at some point people have to admit the Habs were better than their record. Young players like Suzuki and JK improved a lot during the year and Kulak gave them a boost.

Some interesting college free agents out there...

I guess there's a chance Pavylev doesnt get an NHL contract and signs back with us. He's such a unique prospect I hate to lose him.

There was a good article on DKs site with some names:

Cam Morrison
Matt Filipe
Luke Martin

I'd be happy to get any of them, primarily Filipe or Martin. Drew O'Connor was an under the radar get last year with 2nd line potential.

If we signed Pietrangelo first then moved out Letang. Then yes I would take that trade. Too bad Toronto wouldn't lol.
- 123Kid

Replace JJ with Bjug? Or Murray?

Some interesting college free agents out there...

I guess there's a chance Pavylev doesnt get an NHL contract and signs back with us. He's such a unique prospect I hate to lose him.

There was a good article on DKs site with some names:

Cam Morrison
Matt Filipe
Luke Martin

I'd be happy to get any of them, primarily Filipe or Martin. Drew O'Connor was an under the radar get last year with 2nd line potential.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Boston signed Filipe (of course). He's a M@sshole.

From Molinari and I'm paraphrasing: JR isn't aggressively shopping the 1st because they like the players that could be available to them, but he's open to moving it.

Trade McCann for Virtanen
- MisterBrown

No thanks. McCann is better now and has higher upside, IMO. Plus, he can play center. Virtanen looks like a bust.

From DeFabo:

Per a source, Evgeni Malkin sustained the elbow injury prior to the qualifying round series against the Montreal Canadiens.

From Molinari and I'm paraphrasing: JR isn't aggressively shopping the 1st because they like the players that could be available to them, but he's open to moving it.
- Rinosaur

Knowing JR we can probably take this at face value because he always means what he says, but in general this is what the GM should be saying publicly even if he 100% intends to trade the pick.

Trade McCann for Virtanen
- MisterBrown

Not the worst idea, but as of now McCann is the Pens' best 3C option, so unless that changes it would leave the Pens in a weaker situation despite the need for a natural RW.

Trade Jarry and Bjugstadt to the Leafs for Anderson and Kapanen.

Trade Murray to Oilers for LD Nurse and either RD Benning/ Larsson. (they have Bouchard and Broberg waiting to push for spots...

Sign a UFA goaler.
- MisterBrown

I don't think TOR does that trade because Andersen is good enough and they could end up having dead cap space in Bjug which is probably the last team that could handle that. Also, I don't think EDM wants a goalie. Koskinen is better than Murray and has two years left at $4.5M.

Knowing JR we can probably take this at face value because he always means what he says, but in general this is what the GM should be saying publicly even if he 100% intends to trade the pick.
- Victoro311

Yup. The Pens should have a pretty interesting off-season. IMO this should be JR's most aggressive off-season of his tenure with the Pens. If it's not then we can just sit back and enjoy with no expectations.

No thanks. McCann is better now and has higher upside, IMO. Plus, he can play center. Virtanen looks like a bust.
- Hockey66

Virtanen checks off a lot of boxes for me. 18 goals and 36 points in 69 games with only 13 minutes of ice time. Right-handed right wing that plays a physical game. Had a little PP success with 6 PP goals. About break even on relative possession stats. Only 23. I wouldn't mind trying to get him.

I still like McCann. When I'm thinking of who to play with Hornqvist and Simon/Poulin, I want speed, youth, a 2 way game, a good shot to take advantage of the net front and Simon's possession game, and the ability to bump up to 2C with injuries. 1st half McCann was all those things. Perhaps he's just like Hornqvist last year who couldn't buy a goal 2nd half but was fine this year as a goal scorer. So I might want to trade someone else.

From DeFabo:

Per a source, Evgeni Malkin sustained the elbow injury prior to the qualifying round series against the Montreal Canadiens.
- Tojo.

Against Philly? In practice? At his home? Inquiring minds want to know...

Virtanen checks off a lot of boxes for me. 18 goals and 36 points in 69 games with only 13 minutes of ice time. Right-handed right wing that plays a physical game. Had a little PP success with 6 PP goals. About break even on relative possession stats. Only 23. I wouldn't mind trying to get him.

I still like McCann. When I'm thinking of who to play with Hornqvist and Simon/Poulin, I want speed, youth, a 2 way game, a good shot to take advantage of the net front and Simon's possession game, and the abili5to bump up to 2C with injuries. 1st half McCann was all those things. Perhaps he's just like Hornqvist last year who couldn't buy a goal 2nd half but was fine this year as a goal scorer. So I might want to trade someone else.
- Tojo.

Agreed here on how I feel about Virtanen and his production keeps going up. He might not be lighting the world on fire, but it's at an upward trajectory.

That said, McCann is still the best option for 3C and I think 3C is more crucial at this point than a RW. We've seen what this team looks like when it's weak at 3C and it isn't pretty.

Yeah I agree with pretty much everything you said. Better coaching decisions would have won that series. But without the stars playing better, they'd have been toast.

Jake displaying Simon's finishing touch isn't likely to continue. Really just hoping for better from all the guys you mentioned plus Dumoulin is reasonable and improves the team more than any additions they can make.

And at some point people have to admit the Habs were better than their record. Young players like Suzuki and JK improved a lot during the year and Kulak gave them a boost.
- Tojo.

I was the one that repeatedly said I had a bad feeling about the series and that the Habs, with a few key guys back from injury, were better than their record indicated. That Price was totally capable of being stellar for a 3 to 5 game period. That the Habs seem to start new seasons after long breaks, for whatever reason(s), well above .500

Its just made me think about the Pens structure in general and how that youthful hunger and drive is more important than other intangibles Rutherford has pursued...and as a result traded away a sh!t ton of assets...assets that could of been young, hungry and driven, spark plugs if you will. Trading for (or resigning) veteran leadership when your multiple time proven star core is in their 30's with 3 cup rings? hahaha.....Rutherford has to go.

From Molinari and I'm paraphrasing: JR isn't aggressively shopping the 1st because they like the players that could be available to them, but he's open to moving it.
- Rinosaur

That's what I'd do. That pick wouldn't be off-limits, but unless I find some perfect fit, I'd like to keep it and try to address my needs in more of a value trade.

Commenting on MTL...

We're seeing right now a more than a few teams on the cusp of first-round upsets and this confirms the dead horse I've been beating. Well IMO it does.

This was basically like starting a brand new season and we all know how new seasons start. Plenty of mediocre/average teams over-achieve for about the first 30 games and plenty of good teams struggle out of the gate. I firmly believe we are seeing this right now. I don't say this to take away from MTL. They beat the Pens straight up, but there's something to be said for timing.

Virtanen checks off a lot of boxes for me. 18 goals and 36 points in 69 games with only 13 minutes of ice time. Right-handed right wing that plays a physical game. Had a little PP success with 6 PP goals. About break even on relative possession stats. Only 23. I wouldn't mind trying to get him.

I still like McCann. When I'm thinking of who to play with Hornqvist and Simon/Poulin, I want speed, youth, a 2 way game, a good shot to take advantage of the net front and Simon's possession game, and the abili5to bump up to 2C with injuries. 1st half McCann was all those things. Perhaps he's just like Hornqvist last year who couldn't buy a goal 2nd half but was fine this year as a goal scorer. So I might want to trade someone else.
- Tojo.

Virtanen is 24 now (birthday today ) and maybe I'm being too harsh on him. But VAN is a good team now and he still seems to be struggling. Zero goals/assists in 6 playoff games so far for a team that is 5-2. Also a -1. Small sample, I know. But yeah, I would trade someone else for him. Ironically, VAN drafted McCann 24th overall.

I was the one that repeatedly said I had a bad feeling about the series and that the Habs, with a few key guys back from injury, were better than their record indicated. That Price was totally capable of being stellar for a 3 to 5 game period. That the Habs seem to start new seasons after long breaks, for whatever reason(s), well above .500

Its just made me think about the Pens structure in general and how that youthful hunger and drive is more important than other intangibles Rutherford has pursued...and as a result traded away a sh!t ton of assets...assets that could of been young, hungry and driven, spark plugs if you will. Trading for (or resigning) veteran leadership when your multiple time proven star core is in their 30's with 3 cup rings? hahaha.....Rutherford has to go.
- MattStrat

I was with you. I thought the Habs speed and structure combo would negate those edges for the Pens which they would have against a lot of teams. At that point it comes down to shooting and goal-tending. Habs got the better goal-tending and the normally elite Pens shooters weren't.

Virtanen is 24 now (birthday today ) and maybe I'm being too harsh on him. But VAN is a good team now and he still seems to be struggling. Zero goals/assists in 6 playoff games so far for a team that is 5-2. Also a -1. Small sample, I know. But yeah, I would trade someone else for him. Ironically, VAN drafted McCann 24th overall.
- Hockey66

yeah, I'm thinking a possible buy low/ change of scenery guy with Virtanen. I'll take the larger season sample over the playoffs. I'm not positive but he might have been pushed down the lineup after they got Toffoli.

Commenting on MTL...

We're seeing right now a more than a few teams on the cusp of first-round upsets and this confirms the dead horse I've been beating. Well IMO it does.

This was basically like starting a brand new season and we all know how new seasons start. Plenty of mediocre/average teams over-achieve for about the first 30 games and plenty of good teams struggle out of the gate. I firmly believe we are seeing this right now. I don't say this to take away from MTL. They beat the Pens straight up, but there's something to be said for timing.
- Rinosaur

You make a good point. A few other teams like Washington and St. Louis have also looked off. That's the last 4 Cup winners all possibly getting embarrassed in the first round. All 3 teams can't be suddenly this bad.