Rust out
Zucker out
Pettersson out

In

Vet goalie who can start (Jarry probably stays)
Big Body winger
Big Body winger x2
Big Body 3rd pairing Dman to play sheltered minutes with POJ
Poulin and Legare get long looks
- TheGame316

Nope. Some folks want dump and chase with tons of speed. Forget that teams still check and rough players up. We don't need grit. Just speed. Also, bring back Sheary type players. They work well.

Honest question. Does it matter to Crosby and Malkin who the next coach is? Would Babcock be the guy? Do franchise players get a voice?

We're going defense, the only guys safe are Letang and Dumoulin.

Sullivan will start the year but will be canned and we finish with an interim coach.

Honest question. Does it matter to Crosby and Malkin who the next coach is? Would Babcock be the guy? Do franchise players get a voice?
- nateca444

I know Crosby loved playing for Babcock with team Canada. Burke and Hextall both seem like open guys... not sure about Malkin but I'm sure they would get Crosbys opinion on coaches.

I think the only holdup keeping us from getting Babcock is that he is already owed $12.5M from the Leafs over the next 2 years. I think the Pens like to be cheap with their non player costs.

Babcock is a competitor though, so maybe he takes some short term sacrifice and the Pens pony up a bit more.

If you are goingbto keep the core together, I think he's the perfect coach for this team.

You still can’t look at xgf% for and just decide the rest of the team played good enough to win. The Islanders actually pay attention too and practice defense. They are fine with being hemmed in their zone for times, most of those “high danger chances” went off a stick or were rushed due to great d zone coverage. I also don’t solely blame the goalie for loosing 3-2 in overtime no matter how bad he (frank)s up. 2 goals is rarely good enough to win in the nhl.

I wonder if a Zucker for Kassian trade works for Edmonton?

Petts gets moved for picks?

Rust gets moved for a big body player?
- TheGame316

I have long been wanting to get Kassian on the Pens and I could see the Oilers being interested in Zucker, but they better be throwing in a first or Yamomoto if we are doing that deal.

Kass had a really bad year and has a significant cap hit and term on his contract. The Oilers are going to be paying to get rid of him. I'd rather a Jarry for Kass and a 3rd type of trade.

If he is available, Gibson should be the Pens #1 target, hands down.

Hard to deal with a rival but I'm talking to Columbus about Laine. The Pens need one big weapon on offence. I know he has major deficiencies but him one timing passes from Crosby would be beautiful. Something centered around Zucker perhaps?

If he is available, Gibson should be the Pens #1 target, hands down.

Hard to deal with a rival but I'm talking to Columbus about Laine. The Pens need one big weapon on offence. I know he has major deficiencies but him one timing passes from Crosby would be beautiful. Something centered around Zucker perhaps?
- MacPatty

JD getting that trade offer

Nah, if the Pens want Gibson they're going to have to pony up something like Jarry, McCann and a 1st and maybe even throw in one of Legare or Poulin.

Edit: Which I would think long and hard about.. if it was an option. I probably make that trade.
- j.boyd919

For Gibson, that's probably where the talks start. Jarry just saw his value nosedive, McCann is a middle-6 guy. For an elite goalie, need to do better than that.

I'm interested in seeing what the Pens can do to maximize assets around the expansion draft. Letang is the only D that we need to protect. In addition we have Marino who does not need to be protected... how can we weaponize that space specifically with teams that might be looking at the 4 d route?

Minnesota - Dumba is a pretty good upgrade over Marino and they would still have extra room for a forward. Marino and McCann for Dumba?

Anaheim - they are faced with losing either a really good forward or a really good D. I have no idea what direction the Ducks are going to go but Manson was mentioned in trade rumors and I'd really like him.

Hey Ryan both in 2019 and this season, you were gleeful to get to play the Islanders. Not surprisingly, you gave not one ounce of credit to the Islanders for beating your beloved Penguins either time. There’s always two sides to every story and you only see everything through black & gold colored glasses. It’s sure been enjoyable owning you guys in the playoffs, winning 5 of the 6 series all time. LET’S GO ISLANDERS!

I would love to see Mike Babcock as our new coach. While I thank Mike Sullivan for the back to back cups, NHL coaches do have a shelf life. Babcock has a proven track record and can match X’s and O’s with anybody. Also, his teams are nearly always well prepared and disciplined. I think he is the perfect fit with our core.
In addition to Babcock and a goalie coach (I sure miss Mike Bales) we have a few other needs. We should acquire a new goalie, and there should be plenty of free agents that can fill that need. We need a big, and hopefully hard hitting, LD who can replace Marcus Pettersson(I still respect the way Niklas Kronwall was deployed by Babcock). Number 28 is neither strong enough nor offensively talented to warrant his position. Finally, it would be nice to get a big winger that can park in front of the net (Ability to throw punches would be an added bonus).
- CAPensFan

Babcock lol

And how did he deploy Kronwall?

Rust out
Zucker out
Pettersson out

In

Vet goalie who can start (Jarry probably stays)
Big Body winger
Big Body winger x2
Big Body 3rd pairing Dman to play sheltered minutes with POJ
Poulin and Legare get long looks
- TheGame316

I think I'm going to be a little more open to who is out. Might need to make an impact trade for a goalie or a top line wing and that might mean moving someone we wouldn't otherwise. But I agree with most of where you're going.

I'm interested in seeing what the Pens can do to maximize assets around the expansion draft. Letang is the only D that we need to protect. In addition we have Marino who does not need to be protected... how can we weaponize that space specifically with teams that might be looking at the 4 d route?

Minnesota - Dumba is a pretty good upgrade over Marino and they would still have extra room for a forward. Marino and McCann for Dumba?

Anaheim - they are faced with losing either a really good forward or a really good D. I have no idea what direction the Ducks are going to go but Manson was mentioned in trade rumors and I'd really like him.
- MacPatty

Anaheim is not going to lose a good player at all.

Nah, if the Pens want Gibson they're going to have to pony up something like Jarry, McCann and a 1st and maybe even throw in one of Legare or Poulin.

Edit: Which I would think long and hard about.. if it was an option. I probably make that trade.
- j.boyd919

I have to think a Gibson trade starts with Jake or Rust, and goes from there.

We're going defense, the only guys safe are Letang and Dumoulin.

Sullivan will start the year but will be canned and we finish with an interim coach.
- Thunderbolt

Defense is tougher for me to figure out. POJ in definitely. Agree on Letang and Dumoulin. Would not mind a 3rd pair RD physical/pk type like Guddy at a better price

What to do with Matheson and Marino who make 2nd pair money but don't play well together? Does one of them have to go? Or can you find a 2nd pair RD partner for Matheson, preferably with some size, and still afford Marino on 3rd pair with POJ?

I have to think a Gibson trade starts with Jake or Rust, and goes from there.
- Rinosaur

Can't see Anaheim interested in Rust. 29 year old with one year left on a value contract, but then set up for a bad detention. The teams that want him would be contenders.

Jake sure. Another guy they would probably want is Marino because they have been looking for RHD for about 3 years.

Hey Ryan both in 2019 and this season, you were gleeful to get to play the Islanders. Not surprisingly, you gave not one ounce of credit to the Islanders for beating your beloved Penguins either time. There’s always two sides to every story and you only see everything through black & gold colored glasses. It’s sure been enjoyable owning you guys in the playoffs, winning 5 of the 6 series all time. LET’S GO ISLANDERS!
- mrniftee

You should head back to 1983, the last time the Islanders were truly great.

Nah, if the Pens want Gibson they're going to have to pony up something like Jarry, McCann and a 1st and maybe even throw in one of Legare or Poulin.

Edit: Which I would think long and hard about.. if it was an option. I probably make that trade.
- j.boyd919

I'd do that trade, even sweeten it with a 2nd haha.

When does free agency start this year? and when is the expansion draft? yes, I know, google, but I'd rather chat with you fine folks.

Honest question. Does it matter to Crosby and Malkin who the next coach is? Would Babcock be the guy? Do franchise players get a voice?
- nateca444

I'm pretty sure most if not all GMs will sit down with their core players in the offseason to have discussions about the team.

Can't see Anaheim interested in Rust. 29 year old with one year left on a value contract, but then set up for a bad detention. The teams that want him would be contenders.

Jake sure. Another guy they would probably want is Marino because they have been looking for RHD for about 3 years.
- Tojo.

Jake and Marino. I'd probably do that. Rask is 34, but he's an UFA. Playing tremendous hockey too.

I have to think a Gibson trade starts with Jake or Rust, and goes from there.
- Rinosaur

Rust will be a UFA after next season and 30, so that doesn't make sense, McCann will be an RFA, at the younger after of 24 and can be signed to a reasonable contract.

Jake and Marino. I'd probably do that. Rask is 34, but he's an UFA. Playing tremendous hockey too.
- madmike71

Despite Guentzel's recent playoff performances, there is no way I trade Jake. Dude had 21 points in 12 playoff games in 2018, he didn't just forget how to play hockey.

Jake and Marino. I'd probably do that. Rask is 34, but he's an UFA. Playing tremendous hockey too.
- madmike71

I'd be fine going with Rask if he leaves Boston and the Pens can get him, two huge ifs. I don't see a path forward longer-term and Rask is good for now. Probably prefer that then spending assets, but we obviously need to have other options.