So does anyone else think Tarasenko being made available affects Seattle taking Zucker? I don't know that Seattle is looking to bring too many higher contract players.
- Rinosaur

I dont think Francis is going to overthink it.

Zucker exposed would be the best player on our team who is exposed. If he has the ability to take a top 6 guy... he will take him over one of our 4th liners.

Seattle's ownership said they can spend to the cap, so I believe they will have plenty of money to spend like Vegas. The difference is Seattle wont have the assets to trade for big named players like Vegas did.

I dont like the trade because protecting McCann was always the way to go IMO. I get the organization wanting to protect Blueger, especially with this new contract, but I still dont love it.

Lots of people have said good things about Hallander. He is the big body type that we have been talking about (not sure how much of a hitter he is). If Hallander can make the NHL lineup this year... I think this trade is fine.

At worst, we cleared some salary. Hopefully Hextall is planning on taking advantage of the winger-friendly UFA class.

I dont think Francis is going to overthink it.

Zucker exposed would be the best player on our team who is exposed. If he has the ability to take a top 6 guy... he will take him over one of our 4th liners.

Seattle's ownership said they can spend to the cap, so I believe they will have plenty of money to spend like Vegas. The difference is Seattle wont have the assets to trade for big named players like Vegas did.
- SuperHenderson13

If trading McCann makes it so Zucker is the guy Seattle takes then Hextall just cleared 8.5 million off the books with 1 trade and no takebacks

If McCann is left to get selected then perhaps a Zucker trade would mean taking back a piece we don't want that ends up being a negative

*also it's likely a Zucker trade wouldn't be made till after free agency to a team that struck out, and if FA's over, then what's the point of freeing up the capspace?*

Had we protected McCann and Seattle had taken Blueger, we'd pretty much be stuck with running it back, no capspace and a hole in what has been an awesome 4th line

I think there are some different thoughts on this. I think Hextall wants Hyman and this deal potentially would solidify him from coming back to Toronto (even though there are multiple reports he isn't going back to Toronto). This could be a motive for the move. Or he has his eye on someone for 3 million to replace McCann.

I think there is some different thoughts on this. I think Hextall wants Hyman and this deal potentially would solidify him from coming back to Toronto (even though there are multiple reports he isn't going back to Toronto). This could be a motive for the move. Or he has his eye on someone for 3 million to replace McCann.
- 123Kid

I think if they clear all of that salary, there has to be a plan to bring in someone like a Hyman.

But where I have the problem is that if you lose Zucker... you lost two quality LWers and all you got is Hallander. So essentially here is the Penguins for the past 2 offseasons:

Penguins Trade:
2020 1st
2021 1st
McCann
Addison

for

Hallander
Kapanen

I mean... yikes.

I think if they clear all of that salary, there has to be a plan to bring in someone like a Hyman.

But where I have the problem is that if you lose Zucker... you lost two quality LWers and all you got is Hallander. So essentially here is the Penguins for the past 2 offseasons:

Penguins Trade:
2020 1st
2021 1st
McCann
Addison

for

Hallander
Kapanen

I mean... yikes.
- SuperHenderson13

This is what happens when you get in new management with a new vision

I mean, if they use the $$ to sign 2 new guys than you can kinda add them to the bottom part of the ledger

In a way it's better than a guy like GMJR staying married to Zucker because he gave up a lot for him while Sully continues to jam that square peg in to a round hole

This is what happens when you get in new management with a new vision

I mean, if they use the $$ to sign 2 new guys than you can kinda add them to the bottom part of the ledger

In a way it's better than a guy like GMJR staying married to Zucker because he gave up a lot for him while Sully continues to jam that square peg in to a round hole
- TheGame316

Rutherfords teams haven't won a playoff series in 4 years. Might not be a bad idea to try a new vision.

Rutherfords teams haven't won a playoff series in 4 years. Might not be a bad idea to try a new vision.
- madmike71

Agreed

McCann is kind of the epitome of the Pens team

Roster (player) looks good on paper and wins a lot (puts up points) in the regular season

Then craps the bed and does F all in the playoffs

Definitely seen this coming. Just surprised it happened so quickly. Obviously Hextall didn't value McCann much.

Definitely seen this coming. Just surprised it happened so quickly. Obviously Hextall didn't value McCann much.
- Thunderbolt

That's the thing too

If McCann was so great and had so much inherent value, shouldn't there have been more teams making better offers for his services?

There are plenty of teams with debatable 7th forwards being protected that should have given up more if he was worth it

The general consensus is Zucker is taken by Seattle. What if McCann was taken inside? The bigger concern is that if the franchise had any depth we wouldn’t be crying over losing McCann. You get something as in a draft pick. We barely have have any impactful picks this summer

GMRW’s constant Richard sucking of McCann’s analytics and possession and Corsi and whatever nobody gives a damn about will continue well into the season and he will have a new whipping boy in his replacement. Buckle up.

Freddy is more than capable of taking over for McCann. Hexy sold while he could and isn’t exactly a moron. The cap space is the big get for Pittsburgh- that’s well established. And it could only increase if Seattle takes Zucker. That too is established. This money could go to Ceci, whom I’d rather have than McCann at this point. Could the return have been greater? Yeah, maybe. But the offseason can get weird. I’m sure there is a plan I’m mind. McCann isn’t suddenly gonna pull a rabbit out of a hat and become a 70+ point player.

Not that this is reliable, but TIOPS is saying Carter has been protected. So... If true it's down to Bluegs or Tanev for the final spot.

It wouldn't surprise me. Sounds like Hexy had to coax Carter to coming here. Probably gave him his word he would protect him from the expansion draft.

That's the thing too

If McCann was so great and had so much inherent value, shouldn't there have been more teams making better offers for his services?

There are plenty of teams with debatable 7th forwards being protected that should have given up more if he was worth it
- TheGame316

Outside of Pittsburgh, McCann isn't seen as anything other than a decent 3rd liner. Put up good numbers the last 2 years, but he's not a commodity in high demand.

First off. Tanev is incredibly underrated. He is alot more valuable than a 4th liner. One of the most consistent players on the team and a heart and soul guy. You need to protect him imo. But why blueger over McCann? That doesn't make any sense to me. In my opinion, you protect McCann over Blueger any day. That makes zero sense to me. Nobody even talks about that either. Carter should be exposed because he is older and who knows if he only has 1 year left or not. But I agree alot with what RW says here other than the fact he seems to think tanev is replaceable which is just not true.

If he was a real team leader he would wave his clause and let it be known even though he’s exposed he will not go to the kraken. Not that they would pick him anyway.
- Grinder47

You do realize that if the Kraken pick him regardless of what he says we still lose him. They may just do that to screw us over and not get a player. So never gonna happen.

Not that this is reliable, but TIOPS is saying Carter has been protected. So... If true it's down to Bluegs or Tanev for the final spot.

It wouldn't surprise me. Sounds like Hexy had to coax Carter to coming here. Probably gave him his word he would protect him from the expansion draft.
- madmike71

Carter as the 3C (nevermind he'll be 2C when filling in for Geno) at a 2.6 million cap hit probably fills a bigger need than Rust in the 2021 lineup all things considered

Not that this is reliable, but TIOPS is saying Carter has been protected. So... If true it's down to Bluegs or Tanev for the final spot.

It wouldn't surprise me. Sounds like Hexy had to coax Carter to coming here. Probably gave him his word he would protect him from the expansion draft.
- madmike71

Good. We need him. Chance are probably remote he would have been the choice but still not worth it to risk it. Protect Teddy. We’ll lose ZAR and move on with our lives.

First off. Tanev is incredibly underrated. He is alot more valuable than a 4th liner. One of the most consistent players on the team and a heart and soul guy. You need to protect him imo. But why blueger over McCann? That doesn't make any sense to me. In my opinion, you protect McCann over Blueger any day. That makes zero sense to me. Nobody even talks about that either. Carter should be exposed because he is older and who knows if he only has 1 year left or not. But I agree alot with what RW says here other than the fact he seems to think tanev is replaceable which is just not true.
- cc1244987

RW's whole premise is wrong

If you keep McCann and protect him its

Sid
Geno
Jake
McCann
Rust
Kapanen

And you can protect 1 of Zucker or Carter

So, it isn't "just any 4th liner" that would be the one lost. It's a top 6 player in Zucker or your 3rd line center in Carter

Carter as the 3C (nevermind he'll be 2C when filling in for Geno) at a 2.6 million cap hit probably fills a bigger need than Rust in the 2021 lineup all things considered
- TheGame316

Other than Crosby or Letang, I don't think there's a more important player heading into the season. We may not see Malkin until Feb or later.

Not that this is reliable, but TIOPS is saying Carter has been protected. So... If true it's down to Bluegs or Tanev for the final spot.

It wouldn't surprise me. Sounds like Hexy had to coax Carter to coming here. Probably gave him his word he would protect him from the expansion draft.
- madmike71

I'm hoping Carter is protected.

Carter as the 3C (nevermind he'll be 2C when filling in for Geno) at a 2.6 million cap hit probably fills a bigger need than Rust in the 2021 lineup all things considered
- TheGame316

Why even bring up Rust? He's not going to Seattle either.

Why even bring up Rust? He's not going to Seattle either.
- 668710

I'm saying it shouldn't be surprising that Carter is being protected

Both players have 1 year left on their deal and Carter is the more important piece of the two

According to Capfriendly his salary is just $1,000,000 in 2021.
- stevens87

I did not realize that. I retract my argument

Few more drinks in, don’t give a poop. I just want fun hockey for the rest of Sid and Geno’s stay here. Last year was fun hockey. More of that.