I agree with overpaying for Kapanen. That was a huge mistake when GMs knew the cap wasnt moving and lots of teams needed to offload contracts. Instead of sending a 1st for Kapanen, you trade for Tyler Johnson with 2 mil retained and a 2nd round pick for an AHL player.

Im ok with the Hornqvist trade as taking Matheson was probably the only way to move Hornqvist. There’s also no way of knowing which free agents genuinely had interest in coming to Pittsburgh. JR could had called Smith, Fast, and Namestikov moments after FA started and they simply said they didn’t want to come here.

You’re fixating on arbitrary examples I gave, so just look passed those.

And you know what, if they missed out on Kapanen because someone gave less then good! JR doesn’t overpay and they can more properly use those assets.

You’re acting like other options weren’t possible and Kapanen was the only one. I’m totally fine if Kap is not a Penguin right now.

The fact is there are possibilities you and I can’t think of that could have been there, or at the end of the day JR makes the same exact moves. He was impatient.
- Rinosaur

I still don't see how JR overpaid for Kapanen. Maybe the 1st was a little high, but 15th overall is a toss up at best. Also, its not like they had a 2nd this year to give up and they don't have a 1st, 3rd, or 4th next year, so giving up the 2021 2nd wouldn't be wise. The Pens ended up getting a potential top 6 winger, got ERod back in free agency and the others are fringe/AHL players. I don't share the infatuation so many folks seem to have with Hallander. His ceiling is what, middle six forward at best I'd think. The Pens have enough 3rd and 4th liners.

You’re really dense.
- Rinosaur

You haven’t said what moves you would make, and why you are sure they would work

Try, I’m going to be the Agent for the Free Agents or Other teams GMs that you call

You be JR

Submit your proposals

Go

I would include Geno in that as well. That guy has been playing “second fiddle” his entire career (at least from a media perspective) and has not complained or asked out once (that we know of). Always takes accountability and just wants to win too.
- j.boyd919

He's going to Chicago to be "The Man" and show the Blackhawks fans what a true top 100 center looks like.

Cause I'm sure Chicago wants another player entering their mid 30s.

Cause I'm sure Chicago wants another player entering their mid 30s.
- 5on1Powerplay

That’s an old Hockeybuzz joke

Cause I'm sure Chicago wants another player entering their mid 30s.
- 5on1Powerplay

Yea big time joke lol, you must be new here haha

Ryan Wilson=Dmitri Petrovich

Yeah, don't disagree with your larger point. I think they could have squeezed in one more player at about 3M, so to answer your earlier point I would have signed Fast. I get there will be a sacrifice the next year and accept it.

Honestly 3LD was the spot they were primed to do that with POJ and Riikola, but then they added Matheson. I also would have gone small salary at one 3rd line spot, so I mostly agree with what you are saying.

My prediction is a LD goes in the off-season to pay for raises. They will juggle for one year and then a bunch of contracts will expire.
- Tojo.

There's also the expansion draft to consider. Not sure if we'll be able to shed any salary there, but here's what it looks like now:

1. Crosby
2. Malkin
3. Guentzel
4. Zucker
5. Rust
6. Kapanen
7. McCann
------------
Tanev
Lafferty

1. Letang
2. Dumo
3. Petts / Matheson
------------
Petts / Matheson
Riikola
Ruh

DeSmith

JR could had called Smith, Fast, and Namestikov moments after FA started and they simply said they didn’t want to come here.
- drummer829

This is why I can’t stand Monday Morning Quarterbacking free agency. We have no idea what went on behind the scenes or where free agents want to go. Pens don’t have the right of first refusal for them.

Yea big time joke lol, you must be new here haha
- 668710

Hahaha yeah I got it. I thought it was Nashville this year? Chicago last year? Hahaha Geno wants to be the man somewhere new every year.

JR has actually done a nice job of setting up the cap situation in 2022 with his moves so far, and if the following things happen:

- Move Petterson or Matheson in the expansion draft
- Get Marino and Bluegar at reasonable prices (Under $7M Combined)
- Young guys (POJ, Poulin, Legare) are ready to go
- Willing/able to move McCann or Tanev

He can go big game hunting with $7-8 million in cap space. Next season (2021) was always going to be a crapshoot and I really think 2022 is their last good shot, so I'd rather go all out then vs. now. After that, so many contracts expire that 70% of the current roster may not be here in the Fall of 2022.
- abasin

Agree with your general point, but Tanev has negative trade value and it will only get worse as time goes on and I think 2022 will be too late for the big 3. I could be wrong and I hope I am.

This is why I can’t stand Monday Morning Quarterbacking free agency. We have no idea what went on behind the scenes or where free agents want to go. Pens don’t have the right of first refusal for them.
- mdub71

Generally no but the Pens could have offered each of those guys a 50% premium and it still would have been fair value.

Generally no but the Pens could have offered each of those guys a 50% premium and it still would have been fair value.
- MacPatty

Once again, that assumes that every free agent wanted to come here and all it would take was the highest offer. We don’t know that.

Hahaha yeah I got it. I thought it was Nashville this year? Chicago last year? Hahaha Geno wants to be the man somewhere new every year.
- j.boyd919

Yea lol pretty much, LA was in there too. I had to use Chicago so I could throw in the Top 100 NHL players jab

Stamkos and a conditional 2nd for a 1st (Conditional on him being able to actually play more than 20% of any playoff games)
- TheGame316

So 1 game?

I'll get blasted for this, but I also got blasted for suggesting the Pens trade Kessel after the 2nd cup while he still had value...

Pens should trade Dumo now. I love the guy and he is on a fair contract but his perceived value is that of a borderline top pair and he is due for regression.

Send him to the Jets with Sceivour for Roslovic, Niku and a pick. This opens up another $2M in cap space. Sign Hoffman or Dadonov with that.

Jake-Sid-Kap
Hoffman-Malkin-Rust
McCann-Roslovic-Zucker
Erod-Blueger-Jank

Petts-Letang
Mattheson-Marino
Niku-Ruh/Rik

I only suggest this because they currently aren't close to a winning team. I'd rather take a gamble than flame out again.

Agree with your general point, but Tanev has negative trade value and it will only get worse as time goes on and I think 2022 will be too late for the big 3. I could be wrong and I hope I am.
- Hockey66

I'm still holding hope for the extremely unlikely scenario Sid convinces MacKinnon to come to the Pens in 2023 to take a few more runs at a cup. Winning Gold at the Olympics together and continued playoff failure/bad luck could make it a non-zero chance.

Once again, that assumes that every free agent wanted to come here and all it would take was the highest offer. We don’t know that.
- mdub71

I agree with you to a point but it's starting to sound like a cop-out for how atrociously the Pens have fared in FA. I can't think of the last good FA we've gotten in the last 10 years. JR way overpaid for Tanev and he is bottom six.

He obviously chose them for a reason. Unlikely they were his only offer

GMJR can offer 1 year deals. Show me the comparable 1 year deals that GMJR should have had that you can confidently say the player would have chosen HERE over where they signed

You can't use a guy like Pat Maroon signing in TB for 800k. That was clearly the price for that specific team
- TheGame316

Anderson is from Ontario. Close to home for him. Same with Ennis, I’m pretty sure he is from Edmonton. Murray is from Ontario so he prob didn’t ask for 8m to screw that contract up like he did Chicago (just guessing on the $$ request)

That's obviously not GMJR's strategy with Marino (and Blueger) to sign for next year with no money coming off the books

He probably could have fit in Fast, assuming of course that Fast would choose the Penguins over the Canes for the same money. What if he cost 2.5 Million x 3 years for the Penguins? still a good deal?

Who else?

Can you imagine the uproar if he gave someone a multi year deal and then was forced to trade another (possibly more valuable) piece next year to make capspace for Marino? or if he had to add in a sweetener to make room?

Maybe ERod and Jank were the absolute best players they could sign for 700k. Keep in mind those players and their 700k can be easily wiped out, so you can't even say GMJR wasted capspace on them. The cap is still there, all you have to do is waive these guys and "poof" it's gone
- TheGame316

I think we need to start drafting g 1st rounders and good college FA’s and hope to build a half decent team to be competitive that way so we are totally screwed after they leave. Have a new up and coming core. Guentz, Marino, maybe Poulin or some others.

I think we need to start drafting g 1st rounders and good college FA’s and hope to build a half decent team to be competitive that way so we are totally screwed after they leave. Have a new up and coming core. Guentz, Marino, maybe Poulin or some others.
- 10inchTerror

Makes more sense to have a scorched earth approach, mid-late first-rounders and college FA's are unlikely to net true difference makers. Rather spend a few years hurting than being stuck in mediocrity. Far from a sure bet at producing another contender again though.

Is there any news that Montreal will make moves? Out of cap space with 22 guys signed...Denault would look really good in the 3c spot. I know he mentioned being frustrated in that role with them, but could be because he was being passed up by unproven 20 year olds vs. being behind the two best centers of this genertion.

I'll get blasted for this, but I also got blasted for suggesting the Pens trade Kessel after the 2nd cup while he still had value...

Pens should trade Dumo now. I love the guy and he is on a fair contract but his perceived value is that of a borderline top pair and he is due for regression.

Send him to the Jets with Sceivour for Roslovic, Niku and a pick. This opens up another $2M in cap space. Sign Hoffman or Dadonov with that.

Jake-Sid-Kap
Hoffman-Malkin-Rust
McCann-Roslovic-Zucker
Erod-Blueger-Jank

Petts-Letang
Mattheson-Marino
Niku-Ruh/Rik

I only suggest this because they currently aren't close to a winning team. I'd rather take a gamble than flame out again.
- MacPatty

I have no problem trading Dumo but the defense you list is extremely sketchy. We would need to at least Vatanen instead of a winger after getting Ros. Not that he's anything great, but our defense would be a trainwreck. If they want Petts+ for Ros, ok then. Also, I think Ros is more of a winger.

I trade Dumo for whatever if it means getting Schmidt for a 2nd or 3rd or signing Krug for $6.5 x 7.

I agree with you to a point but it's starting to sound like a cop-out for how atrociously the Pens have fared in FA. I can't think of the last good FA we've gotten in the last 10 years. JR way overpaid for Tanev and he is bottom six.
- Hockey66

Honestly, in the Sid/Geno era. Gonchar is probably the only big free agent to sign here. And that was like in 2005.