I don't bring him up out of want. I bring him up because he seems like the Hextall type of dman. I think ultimately either Risto or Zadorov are Penguins by the start of next season.
- Rinosaur

I'm not sure about that. I don't think Hextall has any infatuation with big, pluggish players. Burke maybe does, but he's not doing the personnel.

I think forward is where they'll try to add some size. Frankly, that's where they could use it (wing).

I'm not sure about that. I don't think Hextall has any infatuation with big, pluggish players. Burke maybe does, but he's not doing the personnel.

I think forward is where they'll try to add some size. Frankly, that's where they could use it (wing).
- madmike71

On more than a few occasions Hextall has said he'd like to add size and strength.

I'm not sure about that. I don't think Hextall has any infatuation with big, pluggish players. Burke maybe does, but he's not doing the personnel.

I think forward is where they'll try to add some size. Frankly, that's where they could use it (wing).
- madmike71

I think he will add in both areas but Defence is where they need to add some muscle. They have the easiest D group to play against. Nobody plays the body and no one clears the front of the net.

On more than a few occasions Hextall has said he'd like to add size and strength.
- Rinosaur

He didn't get very specific. Never does. Burke flat out said they'd like to add size but insisted those players also be good at hockey.

If these guys are evaluating why this team lost in the playoffs, they'll look for size at wing and find a new goalie.

He didn't get very specific. Never does. Burke flat out said they'd like to add size but insisted those players also be good at hockey.

If these guys are evaluating why this team lost in the playoffs, they'll look for size at wing and find a new goalie.
- madmike71

The only thing he wasn't specific about is whether that size or strength will come in the form of a forward or defenseman, but he was specific prior to the deadline about adding a forward who can play both C and W which he ultimately did in Carter, so I believe that he tries to add size and strength.

I think he will add in both areas but Defence is where they need to add some muscle. They have the easiest D group to play against. Nobody plays the body and no one clears the front of the net.
- MacPatty

I don't necessarily see it that way. They won the division. Lost in the playoffs because they had a sh!tty goalie. A net front guy would have helped too.

I think he'd be a good fit for the Pens. He doesn't fit the long pants mold, but he does fit C/W mold that Hextall also mentioned he likes to have. Getting someone like him would allow McCann to play next to Geno.

Did they mention what the return would look like?
- Rinosaur

They did not state a return for him. Mostly discussed that Nashville seems open to listening for offers on most if not all players at this point. Then it stated Jarnkrok and Ekholm could potentially be moved and they listed us as a potential trade partner for Jarnkrok.

I don't bring him up out of want. I bring him up because he seems like the Hextall type of dman. I think ultimately either Risto or Zadorov are Penguins by the start of next season.
- Rinosaur

Did Hextall have a track record of bringing in poopty players on bad contracts in Philly? I don’t recall that he did. Feel like if we need to worry about anyone in that department it’s Burke and i get the sense he’s more high level strategy than day to day player evaluation and micro level team building decisions

If I'm stuck with Matheson (we are), I'm trying to keep Ceci. I thought Ceci did a nice job of covering for MM when he did something dumb.

I think Marino will have a bounce back. In my general opinion, Marino was trying to do to much last year......maybe because his GM said he is a #1 type D (he clearly is not).
- madmike71

I think he will add in both areas but Defence is where they need to add some muscle. They have the easiest D group to play against. Nobody plays the body and no one clears the front of the net.
- MacPatty

Throwing these together because I'm stuck between both your opinions.

I agree we are probably stuck with Matheson and if POJ or someone similarly inexperienced like Friedman or Riikola is the other LHD he'll probably start on the second pair. If so, it really makes sense to bring back the partner he thrived with and pair Marino with an inexperienced LHD on the 3rd.

But I also agree they could use that one defenseman who is good at competing in front of his own net like we see other teams do to us. Especially on the PK.

Really hard to do both unless they instead subtract Matheson and then have more flexibility to add a physical guy at 2 LD or 3 RD.

Did Hextall have a track record of bringing in poopty players on bad contracts in Philly? I don’t recall that he did. Feel like if we need to worry about anyone in that department it’s Burke and i get the sense he’s more high level strategy than day to day player evaluation and micro level team building decisions
- Victoro311

Risto isn't on a bad contract considering he in the last year of his contract. He's just a bad player making too much money for one year. I'm not going to pretend to have a strong knowledge of Hextall's trade/signing history, but when we look at players available that meet with the size/strength capabilities the list isn't huge.

I think people overestimate what BUF's return will be for Risto. He's far removed from the shine of being a top ten pick. Seven seasons in and everyone around the league see exactly what he is and he's on the fast track to JJ Land. I'll be shocked if he gets anything more than a third rounder in return.

Marino is not vanilla. He may not be flashy, but that doesn't mean he's vanilla and despite a dip in offense this year he focused on being solid in his own end. I think this coming season we will see exactly what he's made of and I believe his production will increase now that he's figuring it all out.
- Rinosaur

dude is the pirate reincarnation of JJ. That or he looks like he's in a band like Nickelback. Both of which suck ass.

dude is the reincarnation of pirate JJ.


- j.boyd919

Give him a chance!

Did Hextall have a track record of bringing in poopty players on bad contracts in Philly? I don’t recall that he did. Feel like if we need to worry about anyone in that department it’s Burke and i get the sense he’s more high level strategy than day to day player evaluation and micro level team building decisions
- Victoro311

His JVR, Ghost, and Voracek contracts aren’t great but at least they are or were good players.

I think Hextall just ended up being too patient for ownerships liking.

I think people overestimate what BUF's return will be for Risto. He's far removed from the shine of being a top ten pick. Seven seasons in and everyone around the league see exactly what he is and he's on the fast track to JJ Land. I'll be shocked if he gets anything more than a third rounder in return.

Marino is not vanilla. He may not be flashy, but that doesn't mean he's vanilla and despite a dip in offense this year he focused on being solid in his own end. I think this coming season we will see exactly what he's made of and I believe his production will increase now that he's figuring it all out.
- Rinosaur

I agree about your assessment of Risto and I think most fans do. But he still seems to get talked up around the league because of his tools which are impressive even if he isn't as an actual hockey player. So I think he'll get a better return then he should.

Did Hextall have a track record of bringing in poopty players on bad contracts in Philly? I don’t recall that he did. Feel like if we need to worry about anyone in that department it’s Burke and i get the sense he’s more high level strategy than day to day player evaluation and micro level team building decisions
- Victoro311

Hex seems like he's pretty conservative in style. I think a lot of us have trauma from JR that makes us tend to think every GM is going to bring in sh!t players on sh!tty contracts haha.

Hex seems like he's pretty conservative in style. I think a lot of us have trauma from JR that makes us tend to think every GM is going to bring in sh!t players on sh!tty contracts haha.
- MattStrat

This could be very true lol

I'm kind of expecting the worst until Hextall proves otherwise.

I agree about your assessment of Risto and I think most fans do. But he still seems to get talked up around the league because of his tools which are impressive even if he isn't as an actual hockey player. So I think he'll get a better return then he should.
- Tojo.

I think Suter is a good target to go after if they can dump one of Matheson or Petts. Suter might make a good partner for Marino.

Hex seems like he's pretty conservative in style. I think a lot of us have trauma from JR that makes us tend to think every GM is going to bring in sh!t players on sh!tty contracts haha.
- MattStrat

Depends on how deep Burke has his strings into Hextall behind the scenes.

Depends on how deep Burke has his strings into Hextall behind the scenes.
- j.boyd919

This is part of why I'm expecting the worst until we really see how the dynamic unfolds. Now that the season is over, they now have time and a better idea of what THEY envision for this team, but we have yet to see how they go about making that vision happen.

Throwing these together because I'm stuck between both your opinions.

I agree we are probably stuck with Matheson and if POJ or someone similarly inexperienced like Friedman or Riikola is the other LHD he'll probably start on the second pair. If so, it really makes sense to bring back the partner he thrived with and pair Marino with an inexperienced LHD on the 3rd.

But I also agree they could use that one defenseman who is good at competing in front of his own net like we see other teams do to us. Especially on the PK.

Really hard to do both unless they instead subtract Matheson and then have more flexibility to add a physical guy at 2 LD or 3 RD.
- Tojo.

I'm not saying they couldn't use that element. I just don't believe the Pens lost against the Isle because of it.

It absolutely would be nice to have a big tough D who can also play. Those guys being mentioned aren't that. They're JJ's with a little more nasty.

I'm not saying they couldn't use that element. I just don't believe the Pens lost against the Isle because of it.

It absolutely would be nice to have a big tough D who can also play. Those guys being mentioned aren't that. They're JJ's with a little more nasty.
- madmike71

Suter is decent but I still think McCabe from BUF is the target to go for.

Did Hextall have a track record of bringing in poopty players on bad contracts in Philly? I don’t recall that he did. Feel like if we need to worry about anyone in that department it’s Burke and i get the sense he’s more high level strategy than day to day player evaluation and micro level team building decisions
- Victoro311

If I remember correctly, Hexy was the reason the Flyers got away from the big, physical plug mindset.

Burke has said multiple times, Hextall will make the personnel decisions. I don't think Burke will force Hexy's hands on players he doesn't want.

Hex seems like he's pretty conservative in style. I think a lot of us have trauma from JR that makes us tend to think every GM is going to bring in sh!t players on sh!tty contracts haha.
- MattStrat

I hate the fact that JR is viewed this way, but the last few years are hard to defend. You're not wrong.

Suter is decent but I still think McCabe from BUF is the target to go for.
- j.boyd919

I still think it's ridiculous to bring anyone else in and still baffled by the handling of Riikola. He checks off so many boxes. He's not huge, but he's physical, fast and plays solid in all ends of the ice.

If I remember correctly, Hexy was the reason the Flyers got away from the big, physical plug mindset.

Burke has said multiple times, Hextall will make the personnel decisions. I don't think Burke will force Hexy's hands on players he doesn't want.
- madmike71

Yeah this is my sense. I'm cautiously optimistic that a conservative GM is what we need right now, and from interviews it seems like Burke has grown a bit himself. He'll always be an old school hockey guy and will never be mistaken for progressive, but he also seems to have come around a bit from the drunk with a lampost comments five or so years back.

If Burke is just a vision guy in the FO and Hextall has full control over actual moves, that might actually be a solid combination.