I've been very back and forth with Sullivan, but he did a great job this year getting this team to the division win throughout all the injuries and nobody can take that away, but I think it's time for a new voice. He's been the coach for five years now which is a good stint for an NHL coach, but time for a fresh take on this team.

At some point you have to look at the team shooting the puck. Can't exactly do much on the play offs if you can't get past good goal-tending.
- Tojo.

I agree to a degree but are you looking at the team (Isles) shooting the puck or Jarry this series?

Fleury and Murray had absolutely unreal numbers in the 2017 run they basically split down the middle...we're just on the flip side of this the past few seasons...the universe is just evening things out haha

Agee entirely. How do you get them?
- madmike71

Trade something other teams value or draft it. Or pay an exorbitant price in UFA and hope they weren't just playing that way until they got paid or fall off a ledge like Lucic.

A GM can do some shopping with $10 million. Could get goalie, a power forward and a nice suit.
- NJPensfan

Someone name the last time clearing off cap space and signing multiple UFAs has worked.

Clearing off excess cap space sounds good in practice, but when you go the UFA route, chances are you're just getting another bad contract with more term.

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.
- Victoro311

I hoped it had would have worked out, but definitely wasn't comfortable gambling the season on Jarry. Didn't think it would go this spectacularly bad.

Agree on your games take. 1 and 6 are on Jarry. He cost then in the end of 5, but it never should have gotten that far. Have to give credit to Sorokin pulling off the classic goalie steals the game.

Someone name the last time clearing off cap space and signing multiple UFAs has worked.

Clearing off excess cap space sounds good in practice, but when you go the UFA route, chances are you're just getting another bad contract with more term.
- Tojo.

I agree and don't even really think the Pens need a bunch of changes but I just think they'll happen with a new GM and a team that is like 3-15 in their last so many playoff games.

Whatever they do the result will be the same if they expect Sid and Geno to carry their lines all year and in the playoffs.

Maybe try to re engineer the lines like Boston. Load Sid Geno and Jake and try to round out 3 more competent lines. I think there is enough depth to do so.

Whatever they do the result will be the same if they expect Sid and Geno to carry their lines all year and in the playoffs.

Maybe try to re engineer the lines like Boston. Load Sid Geno and Jake and try to round out 3 more competent lines. I think there is enough depth to do so.
- Thorny87

Not a bad theory and Sid looks ready to be moved to wing. But Carter and Blueger are nowhere near Krejci and Coyle.

Changes are going to made. In order to trade for good players you have to give up good players. Everyone was pissed about the Neal/Hornqvist swap buy it worked out well. I’d say we are going to see things like that. Rust and Guentzel are the obvious canadates. If Guentzel can’t hack it against a docile Islanders team he wasn’t doing poop against Boston or the Caps.

Plan 1:
Move Malkin to wing. From a defensive responsibilities perspective, this would do him some good. Of the team's 4 centers, he was a distant 4th in faceoffs. I think moving him to Crosby's wing on a permanent basis is an interesting idea that would not have made sense until recently.

Primary targets: 2nd line center, 1 bigger RWer with a scoring touch.

Forwards:
Malkin-Crosby-Target FA/Trade
Jake-Target FA/Trade-Kapanen
McCann-Carter-Target Poulin (not sure if either him or McCann can play RW)
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Guys moved/Released: Zucker/Rust/Gudreau/Rodrigues

Plan 2: Keep Malkin and Crosby seperated. Keep the status quo and keep your strength at center with Crosby-Malkin-Carter

Primary targets: 1 RWer (Line 1), 1 LWer (Line 2)


Jake-Crosby-Target
Target-Malkin-Kapanen
McCann-Carter-Poulin
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev



The other question is, can a guy like Poulin make McCann expandable?

In terms of targets, Zack Hyman, Brandon Saad, Blake Coleman, Bobby Ryan for FAs... some decent trade targets could be out there as well.

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).
- MacPatty

Someone might have pointed this out but he’s 27 and makes just over 6m. Those are both good. Gibson alone has prevented their true tanking ability by stealing games.

I agree and don't even really think the Pens need a bunch of changes but I just think they'll happen with a new GM and a team that is like 3-15 in their last so many playoff games.
- j.boyd919

3 of our last 4 losses were at the hands of Trotz. I don't think that's a coincidence. After Washington beat us in 18, Niskanen did an interview where he gave insight into finally getting over the hump.

Trotz told them "you're letting little guys like Sheary and Rust beat you". Went on to say the game plan was to knock the shyt out of them and keep them away from the net.

As everybody is discussing... They need to get bigger at wing. Need to play in front of the net more. Especially since Sid and Geno aren't really able to carry the play like they did in the past. 3-15 definitely indicates something with the current philosophy isn't working.

Edit... Obviously, the biggest fix is in net. Good lord it's been bad.

3 of our last 4 losses were at the hands of Trotz. I don't think that's a coincidence. After Washington beat us in 18, Niskanen did an interview where he gave insight into finally getting over the hump.

Trotz told them "you're letting little guys like Sheary and Rust beat you". Went on to say the game plan was to knock the shyt out of them and keep them away from the net.

As everybody is discussing... They need to get bigger at wing. Need to play in front of the net more. Especially since Sid and Geno aren't really able to carry the play like they did in the past. 3-15 definitely indicates something with the current philosophy isn't working.
- madmike71

I think this is the biggest hurdle.

It seems the coach and the players are still thinking that Sid and Geno can do this forever. Sid looked exhausted that game. He had 2 goals against where he couldn't keep up. Earlier in the series when he wasn't gassed he prevented 2 goals against.

A lot of people were complaining last year that Sully didn't put Jarry in last year when Murrary struggled. Was this year's performance proof that Sully had a reason not to?

And I too have fun with all these trade proposals, but like at the deadline, did anyone have Cater down on the board? Hex is going to do what Hex going to do....

And for whoever was asking if Crosby was asked on GM decisions, Crosby has gone on record amd said no; but in that Rutherford interview I posted a little while back, he said he did talk to Crosby... Who knows what was said and how much weight it carried. Maybe it was as simple as "Sid, do you have any issues playing with (x)?" Maybe it's more...

I agree and don't even really think the Pens need a bunch of changes but I just think they'll happen with a new GM and a team that is like 3-15 in their last so many playoff games.
- j.boyd919

I don't either, at least not yet. I'd like to sprinkle about 3 more guys through the line-up that play a more physical game but can still play. I think that's closer to how they won before when they were a speed team but still had guys like Hornqvist, Bonino, and Cole in key roles.

I'd like a top line wing because as nice as Sid and the kids was in 2017, that formula has worked about as well as HBK did post 2016 in the playoffs. Frankly as much as people talk about physical play taking Malkin and Letang off their games, it's even more successful against Jake and teams know that now.

A third line wing which I think we can try to use a prospect for and save money.

And one physical defenseman, preferably 2nd pair.

A lot of people were complaining last year that Sully didn't put Jarry in last year when Murrary struggled. Was this year's performance proof that Sully had a reason not to?

And I too have fun with all these trade proposals, but like at the deadline, did anyone have Cater down on the board? Hex is going to do what Hex going to do....

And for whoever was asking if Crosby was asked on GM decisions, Crosby has gone on record amd said no; but in that Rutherford interview I posted a little while back, he said he did talk to Crosby... Who knows what was said and how much weight it carried. Maybe it was as simple as "Sid, do you have any issues playing with (x)?" Maybe it's more...
- Beatnic57

I think Carter's name popped around this board before the trade happened.

Changes are going to made. In order to trade for good players you have to give up good players. Everyone was pissed about the Neal/Hornqvist swap buy it worked out well. I’d say we are going to see things like that. Rust and Guentzel are the obvious canadates. If Guentzel can’t hack it against a docile Islanders team he wasn’t doing poop against Boston or the Caps.
- Grinder47

That's sort of my thinking with potentially trading Guentzel. Not even really a stud goalie, but a guy who gives up a little scoring while adding a physical element who can play top line and PP.

Has to be the right match in a trade though and I don't know that that's out there.

I think Carter's name popped around this board before the trade happened.
- j.boyd919

I didn't see it. I saw a lot of people very surprised that the deal happened...

That's sort of my thinking with potentially trading Guentzel. Not even really a stud goalie, but a guy who gives up a little scoring while adding a physical element who can play top line and PP.

Has to be the right match in a trade though and I don't know that that's out there.
- Tojo.

List of wingers last 2 seasons that are within 75% of Jakes 5v5 g60 and p60, at least match his iHDCF60, and are 150%+ his hits per 60:

A. Svechnikov
Horny
M. Foligno
M. Tkachuk
Lee
Meier
Comtois
Kubalik
Ovechkin
Hintz

In all seriousness, why would anybody want Jarry after that performance? That kind of performance will be hard to forget for GM's.

Then again, Ott traded for Murray then resigned him for 4 f'n years at an absurd 6.25 mil.
- madmike71

Because Murray isnt anywhere near as bad as the Fleury Lovers in Pittsburgh make him out to be.

List of wingers last 2 seasons that are within 75% of Jakes 5v5 g60 and p60, at least match his iHDCF60, and are 150%+ his hits per 60:

A. Svechnikov
Horny
M. Foligno
M. Tkachuk
Lee
Meier
Comtois
Kubalik
Ovechkin
Hintz
- Feds91Stammer

Must of them you wont be able to get.

Because Murray isnt anywhere near as bad as the Fleury Lovers in Pittsburgh make him out to be.
- Amanion

Murray was the biggest factor in them losing to the Habs in August. He let in very soft goals at very bad times in 2 of the 4 games in a series you only needed 3 games to move on....and he was a dumpster fire this season. Without looking Id say he was the most pulled during a game goalie this season. He hasn't been near the same since the injuries and losing his Dad.

Must of them you wont be able to get.
- MattStrat

I’d go all in on a Hintz/Bishop package.

Must of them you wont be able to get.
- MattStrat

They got real close on Marcus Foligno...

I’d go all in on a Hintz/Bishop package.
- Feds91Stammer

Id agree but trading for one of the most injured goalies of the last decade for the Penguins of all teams seems like it could go south haha