There's a few what-if scenarios:

1) MM is continues his positive trajectory and either Dumo or Petts gets moved for a quality forward. Also, the Pens can use picks and prospects and bolster other areas.

2) MM nose dives and they need to use these assets to move him so they can free up the cap space to try and sign someone.

Regardless of this, the Pens obviously need to upgrade 4C/3C depending on if the Blueger line remains the 3rd line and I'd prefer they don't go rental on this either. Rentals do them no good right now.
- Rinosaur

Mikko Koivu out of retirement for 4C?

There's a few what-if scenarios:

1) MM is continues his positive trajectory and either Dumo or Petts gets moved for a quality forward. Also, the Pens can use picks and prospects and bolster other areas.

2) MM nose dives and they need to use these assets to move him so they can free up the cap space to try and sign someone.

Regardless of this, the Pens obviously need to upgrade 4C/3C depending on if the Blueger line remains the 3rd line and I'd prefer they don't go rental on this either. Rentals do them no good right now.
- Rinosaur

They don't have to get a center, they can snag a winger or 2 depending on if Zucker is out the rest of the year. Just depends on what is the best fit available. Blueger is a 3c, and if they could snag another 3c that would be great as we can make 2 3rd lines. Or they can have McCann center the line and also make another 3rd line. If Zucker is done for the year they may have to snag 1 rental forward and 1 forward under contract.

Mikko Koivu out of retirement for 4C?
- MattStrat

Haha duh

They don't have to get a center, they can snag a winger or 2 depending on if Zucker is out the rest of the year. Just depends on what is the best fit available. Blueger is a 3c, and if they could snag another 3c that would be great as we can make 2 3rd lines. Or they can have McCann center the line and also make another 3rd line. If Zucker is done for the year they may have to snag 1 rental forward and 1 forward under contract.
- 668710

I think McCann is best utilized at C IMO. I know others disagree, but if they're going to keep him, I say make the other center and build around him.

Marcus Foligno, Luke Glendening, Nikita Zadorov go get em!

Guentzel - Crosby - Kapanen
Foligno - Malkin - Rust
Zucker - Blueger - Tanev
ZAR - Glendening - Scevior

Petts - Letang
Matheson - Marino
POJ - Zadorov

Extras - Ceci, Rod, Riik

Trade Chips - Dumo, McCann

Marcus Foligno, Luke Glendening, Nikita Zadorov go get em!

Guentzel - Crosby - Kapanen
Foligno - Malkin - Rust
Zucker - Blueger - Tanev
ZAR - Glendening - Scevior

Petts - Letang
Matheson - Marino
POJ - Zadorov

Extras - Ceci, Rod, Riik

Trade Chips - Dumo, McCann
- pens4life-66

Think I'd rather have McCann and Dumo over those guys.

I think McCann is best utilized at C IMO. I know others disagree, but if they're going to keep him, I say make the other center and build around him.
- Rinosaur

I agree

Think I'd rather have McCann and Dumo over those guys.
- 668710

Yeah the only guy there I’m interested in is Foligno (honestly either or not sure which one he was talking about it). Zadorov is a plug and we already have Glendening with ZAR.

EDIT: reread and it’s Marcus. Marcus Foligno would be a solid pick up.

Yeah the only guy there I’m interested in is Foligno (honestly either or not sure which one he was talking about it). Zadorov is a plug and we already have Glendening with ZAR.

EDIT: reread and it’s Marcus. Marcus Foligno would be a solid pick up.
- Victoro311

Glendening would give you a RH C and he’s the best face off guy in the league.

Glendening would give you a RH C and he’s the best face off guy in the league.
- Feds91Stammer

I think he’s good at what he does, just not what I’m looking for. We need offense down the line up, especially now that Zucker is out. I don’t think going with a second shut down center/line is a great idea for us.

Glendening would give you a RH C and he’s the best face off guy in the league.
- Feds91Stammer

Yup. We have 4 left handed centres so adding a righty was the goal especially as you said he’s around 65% in faceoffs (best in the league) which isn’t huge but is very useful at certain times.
Definitely not a huge Zadorov fan as he kinda stinks but I think he could be useful especially for a team like the pens in a bottom pairing pk role with an obvious nasty streak.
Huge fan of Foligno (Marcus) for many reasons and plays both wings but is left handed. Pk, net front PP, hard forechecker, tough as fuuck, skates very well for being 235 pounds, can still put the puck in the net.

I think he’s good at what he does, just not what I’m looking for. We need offense down the line up, especially now that Zucker is out. I don’t think going with a second shut down center/line is a great idea for us.
- Victoro311

I personally really hope they don’t mortgage the future now or the rest of the season (more then it already is) especially not to just replace Zucker. If/When zucker is back zucker-blue-tanev should be able to be a really good third line and be able to score.

I personally really hope they don’t mortgage the future now or the rest of the season (more then it already is) especially not to just replace Zucker. If/When zucker is back zucker-blue-tanev should be able to be a really good third line and be able to score.
- pens4life-66

McCann wearing normal jersey in this morning optional
Skate so hopefully he will be back in the next few games. That should help with the zucker loss anyways.

I personally really hope they don’t mortgage the future now or the rest of the season (more then it already is) especially not to just replace Zucker. If/When zucker is back zucker-blue-tanev should be able to be a really good third line and be able to score.
- pens4life-66

Me neither. I’d like to see a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger under contract because we need one of those anyways even if we’re not going for it this season, and I want to see how McCann and Bellerieve look in a sheltered offensive role. If things look like they’re working out then start thinking about expending futures on rentals to round out the roster.

Not sure if it was mentioned, but Zucker out "longer term." No details though.

Not sure if it was mentioned, but Zucker out "longer term." No details though.
- Rinosaur

Longer term is actually promising. We all knew it was a long term injury when we saw it. I was expecting a pretty immediate “out for the season” diagnosis

Longer term is actually promising. We all knew it was a long term injury when we saw it. I was expecting a pretty immediate “out for the season” diagnosis
- Victoro311

Yeah, I guess that's a positive spin. Hopefully he'd be ready before or at least for the playoffs if the Pens make it.

Watch Geno go machino without being zuckered down....

In all seriousness though, losing Zucks sucks, but its not like we're losing the one that was really contributing last season. In his last 6 games he had 2 points in the same game and I really think he was bringing Geno down a bit. It just was not working well but I dont think Sully would of changed it.

Watch Geno go machino without being zuckered down....

In all seriousness though, losing Zucks sucks, but its not like we're losing the one that was really contributing last season. In his last 6 games he had 2 points in the same game and I really think he was bringing Geno down a bit. It just was not working well but I dont think Sully would of changed it.
- MattStrat

Geno is showing signs of returning to himself, so I don't think the absence of Zucker will help him, but it may appear that way because of the timing.

That said, as frustrating as Zucker has been, the Pens are still a far better team with him in the lineup than not due to the depth.

Yup. We have 4 left handed centres so adding a righty was the goal especially as you said he’s around 65% in faceoffs (best in the league) which isn’t huge but is very useful at certain times.
Definitely not a huge Zadorov fan as he kinda stinks but I think he could be useful especially for a team like the pens in a bottom pairing pk role with an obvious nasty streak.
Huge fan of Foligno (Marcus) for many reasons and plays both wings but is left handed. Pk, net front PP, hard forechecker, tough as fuuck, skates very well for being 235 pounds, can still put the puck in the net.
- pens4life-66

That's good an all but we still need McCann. Forget Zadorov. I'd take Foligno though. Glen,mehhh

Not sure if it was mentioned, but Zucker out "longer term." No details though.
- Rinosaur

Yea seems similar to the Rodrigues injury. So might be around that timetable? Just a guess.

Geno is showing signs of returning to himself, so I don't think the absence of Zucker will help him, but it may appear that way because of the timing.

That said, as frustrating as Zucker has been, the Pens are still a far better team with him in the lineup than not due to the depth.
- Rinosaur

Totally agree.

Me neither. I’d like to see a hockey trade that brings in a scoring winger under contract because we need one of those anyways even if we’re not going for it this season, and I want to see how McCann and Bellerieve look in a sheltered offensive role. If things look like they’re working out then start thinking about expending futures on rentals to round out the roster.
- Victoro311

Okay I will give you Glendening, Fabbri, and Ryan for Pettersson and some picks in 2022.

Then you can give McCann and a frenchy to Montreal for Tatar.

Jake - Sid - Kap
Tatar - Geno - Rust
Zucker - Fabbri - Ryan
ZAR - Blueger - Glendening
Tanev 13th forward

Geno is showing signs of returning to himself, so I don't think the absence of Zucker will help him, but it may appear that way because of the timing.

That said, as frustrating as Zucker has been, the Pens are still a far better team with him in the lineup than not due to the depth.
- Rinosaur

I definitely think the absence of Zucker will help him. Those 2 had negative chemistry when watching them.

Okay I will give you Glendening, Fabbri, and Ryan for Pettersson and some picks in 2022.

Then you can give McCann and a frenchy to Montreal for Tatar.

Jake - Sid - Kap
Tatar - Geno - Rust
Zucker - Fabbri - Ryan
ZAR - Blueger - Glendening
Tanev 13th forward
- Feds91Stammer

I actually think that group of forwards could be Cup caliber. Only thing that isn’t optimal is the left half wall on the PP.