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

Yeah I dont think Marino was a 4 million dollar player for the most part this year and Friedman, while limited time seen in his role, is a righty and could be totally fine on the 3rd pair, maybe even 2nd, but that could be pushing it, for much less cap space.

Marino had to be sheltered a lot in this series, Petts too. Those two guys are 8.5 mill when you could have similar, or better, results from PO Joe and Friedman at under 2 mill.

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.
- j.boyd919

I’m a fan of McCann, but Gibson is a top tender. They’re going to want a top roster player in return IMO, so maybe not Rust, but they will want Jake level, or as Tojo pointed out, maybe someone like Marino since he’s a young promising RD.

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.
- j.boyd919

He was unfairly sh!t on....he had so many chances.

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.
- j.boyd919

I'm willing to explore a big deal for Guentzel. That top line needs a new look because for whatever chances they've created, they have been shutdown 3 straight years. They could do that with Jake, but they might need to trade a guy of his caliber to get a physical wing that can actually play with Sid. Or a stud goalie. Or a defenseman who gives them hope for a top pairing as Letang and Dumoulin fade.

Jake is ultimately not the problem, but a shake up usually means someone good goes out for someone else good.

Overall, I'm not against blowing up this team while obviously retaining Sid, Geno and Letang. As long as it's handled right I'm not against an extreme makeover.

To me you can move someone like Jake as long as their scoring is properly replaced.

Here's how I look at it as far as the forwards go. You keep the following:

Sid
Geno
Letang
Kap
McCann
Carter
Blue
ZAR
Tanev

I like that "core" and do what you need to do to build around them. We know Hex will at least attempt to bring on one brute to play the top six and one on the back end.

I'm willing to explore a big deal for Guentzel. That top line needs a new look because for whatever chances they've created, they have been shutdown 3 straight years. They could do that with Jake, but they might need to trade a guy of his caliber to get a physical wing that can actually play with Sid. Or a stud goalie. Or a defenseman who gives them hope for a top pairing as Letang and Dumoulin fade.

Jake is ultimately not the problem, but a shake up usually means someone good goes out for someone else good.
- Tojo.

I don't want to trade him either, but when you're shopping for other top tier players (like Gibson), you pay a top tier price. I think they can "paper" over the loss of Jake. They clearly can't paper over crap goal tending.

Although... I noticed Gibson's numbers aren't so hot the last couple. I'm sure that teams decline is most of the story.

I don't want to trade him either, but when you're shopping for other top tier players (like Gibson), you pay a top tier price. I think they can "paper" over the loss of Jake. They clearly can't paper over crap goal tending.

Although... I noticed Gibson's numbers aren't so hot the last couple. I'm sure that teams decline is most of the story.
- madmike71

100%

Well Tojo I still think that it wasn’t practical to sign a goalie given that we got capped out just signing vet min guys, but you were definitely right that it wasn’t going to work out.

While goal tending has been the theme of the last three playoffs, I feel like this year more than the previous years it was clearly obvious that we lost because of goaltending. I think we saw the Penguins skaters put in the best performance they have since 2017 during this series but Jarry stole the Isles games 1 and 6. I think Sorokin more so stole them game 5, but a Jarry gaffe directly lead to the loss.

I hope the brass see that and don’t something outrageous like trading Guentzel or Letang. That said, I want Hextall to put his mark on this team in the offseason. I think he has to because as well as I thought the regular season went and how generally pleased I was with how the skaters played in the playoffs, there’s a good deal of room for improvement. Zucker’s cap space can be used more efficiently, we can trim cap on the left side of the blue line, and as good as they were, Gaudreau/Rodrigues need to be upgraded in the top 9.

Last night on the broadcast they brought it up featuring a nice graphic to show how good the goalies the Pens have faced the last 4 series losses have been. Insane numbers from them.

5 on 5 numbers:

Holtby: .945 SV% and 1.40 GAA

Lehner: .964 SV% and 1.27 GAA

Price: .954 SV% and 1.23 GAA

Sorokin: .958 SV% and 1.49 GAA

Overall, I'm not against blowing up this team while obviously retaining Sid, Geno and Letang. As long as it's handled right I'm not against an extreme makeover.

To me you can move someone like Jake as long as their scoring is properly replaced.

Here's how I look at it as far as the forwards go. You keep the following:

Sid
Geno
Letang
Kap
McCann
Carter
Blue
ZAR
Tanev

I like that "core" and do what you need to do to build around them. We know Hex will at least attempt to bring on one brute to play the top six and one on the back end.
- Rinosaur

It’s going to be near impossible to replace Jake Guentzel’s cap efficiency. The amount of offense he puts up is way disproportional to his $5.5 mil cap hit. Trading Guentzel is the exact overreaction to bad goal tending that Hextall needs to avoid.

Players I keep...

Sid, Geno, Letang, Dumo, Carter

Players I'd like to keep...

Ceci. For the right price. Mostly because Matheson is stuck to us like glue and they seemed to be an effective pairing.
Freddie. He'll be cheap.

Everybody else falls in the "give to get" category. I like most of them. Jake especially, but I think he's the asset most teams would want if we're bringing back another impact player.

It’s going to be near impossible to replace Jake Guentzel’s cap efficiency. The amount of offense he puts up is way disproportional to his $5.5 mil cap hit. Trading Guentzel is the exact overreaction to bad goal tending that Hextall needs to avoid.
- Victoro311

yup.

I'd probably move on from those guys to free up some cap space and open some spots on the roster:

Pettersson
Zucker
Jankowski
Rodrigues
Jarry OR DeSmith
McCann (IF the return is very good, not that I dislike him or anything).

I'd try to bring Poulin AND/OR Legare and give a chance to Zohorna/Angello/Miletic.

It’s going to be near impossible to replace Jake Guentzel’s cap efficiency. The amount of offense he puts up is way disproportional to his $5.5 mil cap hit. Trading Guentzel is the exact overreaction to bad goal tending that Hextall needs to avoid.
- Victoro311

I'm not FOR it. I'm just not against it if handled the right away. Yeah, you may have to pay more for Jake's production, but if it's for a player who's dynamic might change the team in a good way then I think it's worth at least exploring. That's all I'm saying.

There are always angles that we as fans don't necessarily see that a good GM will.

It’s going to be near impossible to replace Jake Guentzel’s cap efficiency. The amount of offense he puts up is way disproportional to his $5.5 mil cap hit. Trading Guentzel is the exact overreaction to bad goal tending that Hextall needs to avoid.
- Victoro311

Agreed

Last night on the broadcast they brought it up featuring a nice graphic to show how good the goalies the Pens have faced the last 4 series losses have been. Insane numbers from them.

5 on 5 numbers:

Holtby: .945 SV% and 1.40 GAA

Lehner: .964 SV% and 1.27 GAA

Price: .954 SV% and 1.23 GAA

Sorokin: .958 SV% and 1.49 GAA
- MattStrat

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.
- Feds91Stammer

Yes

I do agree.
This is a difficult loss to take.
Jarry was horrendous. They need to upgrade their goalie.
Gibson might be available?
Rust and Jarry and a 2nd might do it
- [email protected]

I would consider trading JG…not for that though.

We don’t need a goalie back …Stoli for a yr & then Dostal got us covered.

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.
- Feds91Stammer

No doubt. I'm hoping we add a couple guys like that in the offseason.

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.
- Feds91Stammer

Agee entirely. How do you get them?

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah a banger or two wouldn't go astray, no doubt. Kunitz and Horny were like that.

I recall quite clearly that around mid season quite a few of you here thought next season had more potential than this one...why was that?

Jake is absolutely not the problem. He has been awesome for the Pens and is on an awesome contract. That said, in the right deal he is definitely our best trade chip.

I'm not sure the Ducks are the right fit (what is their strategy moving forward?) but something around Jake for Gibson would be interesting. Everyone needs to understand though, Gibson comes with risk... He has a big contract with a ton of term left. Not all goalies hold up later in their career as well as Fleury has. If we are talking Jake for Gibson, it is Anaheim that needs to sweeten the package not the other way around.

Id be interested in:

Jake & Jarry for Gibson & Terry (we would likely need to add for Terry, Delauriers would also be a less desirable option but one I might still pull the trigger on).

Jake, Jarry, Marino for Gibson, Manson & Milano (cap).

Need a couple top 9 wingers that regularly score the “ugly” goals.
- Feds91Stammer

Like Hornqvist? Hahahaah

Like Hornqvist? Hahahaah
- j.boyd919

hahhaa it is actually funny...I laughed out load when I read this. Oh my Jimmy Ruth