Yeah, it's a gamble for sure, but the benefit of a kick-ass 3C or top 6 winger outweight it, IMO. It's not like Petts is anything more than an average 4D anyway. Maybe he improves, maybe not, but he is definitely tradeable at a position where we have way too many players. I just think we need the extra $4M to go up a class/tier in forward and he is the easiest to move. The overall difference between Petts and Matheson is probably not much. More offfense with Matheson, better defense with Petts.
- Hockey66

See I don't think that gamble is worth it. I'll agree Pettersson is just an average 4D though I think it's still possible he improves, but there's a big gap between him and the guys below him on the depth chart.

Matheson only has 6 more points over the past 2 years than Pettersson and just 4 at ES. He has more goals, but he doesn't really provide that much more offense. And anyone who wants to trade Pettersson because of his mental mistakes is going to hate Matheson.

You'd get a return for Pettersson, though a top 6 or strong 3C would surprise me.

Like I said, if Matheson impresses and grabs 2LD, sure I'd trade Pettersson. But you can do that later in the season if he proves he isn't the disaster many of us fear. Opening day roster is not the play-off roster.

Thank you. All I was looking for. If thats the case, why are so many penning him in on the 3rd line?
- nateca44

I don't really know other than there aren't many options. With ZAR out and Simon's return questionable they're pretty short on forwards. He'd be a 13th forward to me and probably in ZAR's spot but with Tanev switching wings. I can't really say who I'd put on the 3rd line given the lack of options.

Yeah, I like it when it's just a free-flowing story in the background and not hit-you-over-the-head, as in, ok here's a joke...and here's a joke. I usually utter a "heh" about 3 times per movie and that's it. But I find generally them tiresome and boring. I consider John Waters movies and Napoleon Dynamite camp, and I love those.
- Hockey66

I think Napoleon Dynamite is more absurdism than camp.

Taking away the presumptive top six, there aren't any players better than them remaining. They are the guys who are going to have to step up.

Quite frankly there isn't any money or assets left to improve the offence either.
- Thunderbolt

Just like that as an example. We have Petts who is tradeable and would free up $4M. We could attach a draft pick to JJ and free up another $3.25M. There will be FA forwards that can be had for $7.3M that will definitely improve this team. The Pens probably won't miss any of those assets. We have a 1st and 2 2nds in the next 3 years. We have Murray that someone might overpay or at least get a 3rd that we can flip as a part of a larger trade potentially.

Taking away the presumptive top six, there aren't any players better than them remaining. They are the guys who are going to have to step up.

Quite frankly there isn't any money or assets left to improve the offence either.
- Thunderbolt

You make a good point. With ZAR out and Simon's return doubtful, McCann, Blueger, and Tanev are clearly the best 3 bottom six players. Unless a top prospect like Poulin or O'Connor makes it.

See I don't think that gamble is worth it. I'll agree Pettersson is just an average 4D though I think it's still possible he improves, but there's a big gap between him and the guys below him on the depth chart.

Matheson only has 6 more points over the past 2 years than Pettersson and just 4 at ES. He has more goals, but he doesn't really provide that much more offense. And anyone who wants to trade Pettersson because of his mental mistakes is going to hate Matheson.

You'd get a return for Pettersson, though a top 6 or strong 3C would surprise me.

Like I said, if Matheson impresses and grabs 2LD, sure I'd trade Pettersson. But you can do that later in the season if he proves he isn't the disaster many of us fear. Opening day roster is not the play-off roster.
- Tojo.

Well, I question how big the the gap is between Petts and Matheson and Riikola. They all seem average-ish to below average for a 2nd pairing role. Maybe I'm off the mark with this.

I'm not saying trade Petts for a top 6 or 3C, I'm saying trade him for a 2nd round draft pick or something (that we can later flip) and use the $4M combined with JJ's $3.25M to get a top 6 or 3C easily for $7.3. Heck, we could even use the 2nd we get for Petts to unload JJ.

You make a good point. With ZAR out and Simon's return doubtful, McCann, Blueger, and Tanev are clearly the best 3 bottom six players. Unless a top prospect like Poulin or O'Connor makes it.
- Tojo.

I get the feeling JR is already locked in on having Poulin up here.

You make a good point. With ZAR out and Simon's return doubtful, McCann, Blueger, and Tanev are clearly the best 3 bottom six players. Unless a top prospect like Poulin or O'Connor makes it.
- Tojo.

I'd say right now things are looking like this:

Poulin - McCann - Tanev
ZAR/Lafferty - Blueger - Sceviour

Obviously that's a lot of question marks at bottom 6 LW.

Interestingly, there are a lot more good FA RWs than LWs.

I get the feeling JR is already locked in on having Poulin up here.
- Rinosaur

There’s a lot worse things he could do

Just like that as an example. We have Petts who is tradeable and would free up $4M. We could attach a draft pick to JJ and free up another $3.25M. There will be FA forwards that can be had for $7.3M that will definitely improve this team. The Pens probably won't miss any of those assets. We have a 1st and 2 2nds in the next 3 years. We have Murray that someone might overpay or at least get a 3rd that we can flip as a part of a larger trade potentially.
- Hockey66

Per the Madden-Rutherford talk on Friday, Petterson isn't on the block. He should be paired with Marino. Assuming the pairings go one offensive dman with a stay at home dman.

Johnson and Murray aren't getting much in return. But I guess we can dream. I just don't see teams knocking down our door for Johnson. Murray is netting us a draft pick.

The high draft picks are it and they need to be part of a bigger deal. So I am not holding my breathe, just trying to make sense of what has already transpired.

I'd say right now things are looking like this:

Poulin - McCann - Tanev
ZAR/Lafferty - Blueger - Sceviour

Obviously that's a lot of question marks at bottom 6 LW.

Interestingly, there are a lot more good FA RWs than LWs.
- Hockey66

I have no confidence in that bottom 6 scoring a goal 5v5

It took you longer to write that masterpiece than for me to care what you're opinion is. Ill take him over Ashton Reese any day of the week. Thanks.
- nateca44

The fact that you'd take him over ZAR, shows your opinion on hockey players sucks. Good day Sir.

Simon is probably as good as gone and I wouldn't count on ZAR for anything this year - he is a marginal NHLer coming off a major injury. I'm not sure why JR felt the need to give him 2 years instead of 1, but here we are.
- Hockey66

Marginal NHLer that was driving the bus behind the NHL's best shutdown line.

Are we re-signing Sheary and Simon? I keep thinking Guentz-Sid-Sheary on the 1st line and dropping Kapanen to the 3rd line with McCann and Simon.

For the bottom pairing so Matheson can get acquainted, I’d pair him with Riikola
- Barnaby36

Sheary is way gone I believe. If they are on the fence with Simon I'd say Shears is a gonner.

Per the Madden-Rutherford talk on Friday, Petterson isn't on the block. He should be paired with Marino. Assuming the pairings go one offensive dman with a stay at home dman.

Johnson and Murray aren't getting much in return. But I guess we can dream. I just don't see teams knocking down our door for Johnson. Murray is netting us a draft pick.

The high draft picks are it and they need to be part of a bigger deal. So I am not holding my breathe, just trying to make sense of what has already transpired.
- Thunderbolt

He isn't going to come out and say Petts is on the block. As for Johnson and Murray, I know, like I said, it probably takes a 2nd to move JJ and hopefully we get a 2nd or a 3rd back for Murray. We also have some prospects so we do have assets.

Marginal NHLer that was driving the bus behind the NHL's best shutdown line.
- j.boyd919

...who is injured all the time and has yet to hit double digit goals or assists. More like parking the bus (to borrow a soccer term).

I get the feeling JR is already locked in on having Poulin up here.
- Rinosaur

Me too, which isn't terrible. There's time to fix the bottom 6 during the season.

There’s a lot worse things he could do
- 10inchTerror

Lol, got that right.

- Feds91Stammer

Looks delicious

Marginal NHLer that was driving the bus behind the NHL's best shutdown line.
- j.boyd919

Only problem I have with ZAR is that he's like always injured haha

I have no confidence in that bottom 6 scoring a goal 5v5
- TheGame316

I'd rather try O'Conner in that ZAR/Lafferty spot.

He isn't going to come out and say Petts is on the block. As for Johnson and Murray, I know, like I said, it probably takes a 2nd to move JJ and hopefully we get a 2nd or a 3rd back for Murray. We also have some prospects so we do have assets.
- Hockey66

Rutherford is honest to a fault. When asked if either Dumo or Petts were available, Ruth firmly said "NO". You could tell he thought the question was ridiculous. I think Petts is average at best and I have little doubt Rutherford was telling the truth.

Some way/some how JJ gonna be gone.

Rutherford is honest to a fault. When asked if either Dumo or Petts were available, Ruth firmly said "NO". You could tell he thought the question was ridiculous. I think Petts is average at best and I have little doubt Rutherford was telling the truth.

Some way/some how JJ gonna be gone.
- madmike71

Honestly it's crazy how many people he's acquired only to get rid of a year or two later.

Honestly it's crazy how many people he's acquired only to get rid of a year or two later.
- j.boyd919

Do what you have to do in the last year or two of the window. I don't care if he was acquired yesterday.