If you remove Zucker's cap hit for a moment, he's been playing a very good 200ft game this year. His speed and tenacity were highly on display and was a positive player in terms of helping to generate scoring chances, so unlike Kapanen, he does help the Pens when he's on the ice.

That said, I have no expectations of any significant production when he returns, but he will at least make the Pens harder to play against.
- Rinosaur

Problem is is I don't think he'll have all of that speed and tenacity coming back from this surgery, the only way he can help us coming back this year is scoring goals.

Problem is is I don't think he'll have all of that speed and tenacity coming back from this surgery, the only way he can help us coming back this year is scoring goals.
- 668710

I’m not expecting anything from Zucker when he comes back. He shouldn’t even be a consideration for Hexy in the scoring department.

I’m not expecting anything from Zucker when he comes back. He shouldn’t even be a consideration for Hexy in the scoring department.
- madmike71

Oh I'm with you, I've been voicing that I don't think Zucker will help this year. The only chance that he really has is playing left-wing on the third line with Carter as his center and he somehow starts scoring some goals. But I doubt it.

We don’t even think about that one haha.
- Victoro311

Nothing would be more poetic than watching Crosby win his fourth Cup with the help of Hexy, Carter and Giroux. Maybe Mark Friedman scores the CWG.

Doesn't solve the Penguins secondary scoring woes.

Poulin and Legarre are definitely not coveted. They are overrated in Pittsburgh if you ask me lol.
- j.boyd919

Are they even overrated here anymore? They've had such poor seasons that it's hard to ignore. You can go ahead and add Hallander to that list too.

Are they even overrated here anymore? They've had such poor seasons that it's hard to ignore.
- Victoro311

They suck

Nothing would be more poetic than watching Crosby win his fourth Cup with the help of Hexy, Carter and Giroux. Maybe Mark Friedman scores the CWG.



- Tomahawk

Poetic? IDC who's on this team, if we win we win lol

Are they even overrated here anymore? They've had such poor seasons that it's hard to ignore. You can go ahead and add Hallander to that list too.
- Victoro311

I dunno, good point but I figure the success of the Pens this season has kept people from talking about the minor leaguers lol

I think the team speed of Florida made the game look way more 1 sided than it actually was. The lack of scoring depth is troubling, but not as troubling as Kapanen tanking scoring opportunities left and right. It's time to move on.

They suck
- 668710

I approve this message.

Read that Canucks insider Rick Dhakiwal reported a Canucks scout was at the pens game last night looking at Kap/Marino/E Rod and said “thinks something is cooking” …. Gave a smirk when asked if there was smoke around a Marino/Boeser deal

Read that Canucks insider Rick Dhakiwal reported a Canucks scout was at the pens game last night looking at Kap/Marino/E Rod and said “thinks something is cooking” …. Gave a smirk when asked if there was smoke around a Marino/Boeser deal
- kfinl170

I’d be concerned about giving up our 2RD but I’m not super sold on Marino as a good value contract. That said, pretty huge gamble to bet on Friedman or Ruhwedel being able to step into a 2RD role and could totally break the defense even if one isn’t enamored with Marino.

I’d be concerned about giving up our 2RD but I’m not super sold on Marino as a good value contract. That said, pretty huge gamble to bet on Friedman or Ruhwedel being able to step into a 2RD role and could totally break the defense even if one isn’t enamored with Marino.
- Victoro311

Completely agree. Wonder if they manipulate Kap into deal to free up space to acquire a RD. Personally I think Boeser would be a great fit, but have same concerns if deal is centered around Marino.

Read that Canucks insider Rick Dhakiwal reported a Canucks scout was at the pens game last night looking at Kap/Marino/E Rod and said “thinks something is cooking” …. Gave a smirk when asked if there was smoke around a Marino/Boeser deal
- kfinl170

https://twitter.com/Donni...&t=spu7Ke7aKY7ixm9iYAr8iw
Here is the link. ERod and Marino are the main pieces. Speculation regarding Boeser.

Completely agree. Wonder if they manipulate Kap into deal to free up space to acquire a RD. Personally I think Boeser would be a great fit, but have same concerns if deal is centered around Marino.
- kfinl170

(frank) it. Marino and E-Rod for Boeser. Kapanen (don't even want him in a third line role anymore) for an undervalued bottom 2 RD candidate. Call up Nylander and see what we have.

Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Heinan-Malkin-Boeser
Simon(Zucker when he gets back)-Carter-Nylander
ZAR-Blueger-McGinn

Dumoulin-Letang
Petterson-New Guy
Mathison-Ruhwedel

Lots of questions here and we could be worse, but more upside than our team currently has. If we want to get real wild if Zucker is IR'ed until the playoffs and don't even want to play the Nylander game, send out a third for a Kessel rental.

https://twitter.com/DonnieandDhali/status/1501636125651202050?s=20&t=spu7Ke7aKY7ixm9iYAr8iw
Here is the link. ERod and Marino are the main pieces. Speculation regarding Boeser.
- burgh4life87

Haha I was just about to post this. VAN fans on the CF boards have been relentlessly trading for Marino while sending us back Poolman as his replacement.

It makes ZERO sense, at least for this season unless Hextall has a secondary move lined up to replace Marino, but no way in hell is Friedman or Ruhwedel fit to take the reigns if Letang goes down.

If there was an easy replacement for Marino, VAN would be going after that guy.

Haha I was just about to post this. VAN fans on the CF boards have been relentlessly trading for Marino while sending us back Poolman as his replacement.

It makes ZERO sense, at least for this season unless Hextall has a secondary move lined up to replace Marino, but no way in hell is Friedman or Ruhwedel fit to take the reigns if Letang goes down.

If there was an easy replacement for Marino, VAN would be going after that guy.
- Rinosaur

I will say this. The old regime loved Marino and felt he could be a true #1. I think they value him enough to trade a lot for him. I'm sure Hextall could find something they are comfortable with on the back end if it means adding quality scoring forwards.

I will say this. The old regime loved Marino and felt he could be a true #1. I think they value him enough to trade a lot for him. I'm sure Hextall could find something they are comfortable with on the back end if it means adding quality scoring forwards.
- burgh4life87

I'm really not trying to be a Richard here, but these statements are always puzzling to me. If teams can just up and find what they need so easily, every team would have everything they need.

True #1 RHDs are probably, at least IMO, the hardest thing in the NHL to acquire via trade or in free agency. Finding quality #2 RHD's capable of big minutes when your #1 goes down is not as hard as the #1, but it's still pretty damn hard.

Whatever we want to criticize about this team and for any time Dumo or Letang has bad game, or Marino goes on a streak of some rough games, this defense has been a major area of strength for the Pens this year. Messing with that in the middle of a season is a major risk IMO.

If we're giving up our best assets to pick up someone like Boeser or Garland from VAN, that doesn't leave a whole lot left over to pick up a suitable replacement for Marino.

I will say this. The old regime loved Marino and felt he could be a true #1. I think they value him enough to trade a lot for him. I'm sure Hextall could find something they are comfortable with on the back end if it means adding quality scoring forwards.
- burgh4life87

Ultimately I think Boeser is a more valuable piece than Marino. If a near one for one trade is on the table we pretty much have to consider it even if we don't really have a plan at 2RD post-trade. Can we get Boeser on a value contract moving forward becomes a pretty big question mark, but I'm pretty positive at this point that Marino is a neutral value contract at best so it may just end up washing from a value standpoint and we come out ahead with a better player.

(frank) it. Marino and E-Rod for Boeser. Kapanen (don't even want him in a third line role anymore) for an undervalued bottom 2 RD candidate. Call up Nylander and see what we have.

- Victoro311

I'm not trying to be overdramatic here, but I don't know that Kapanen can get us much of anything right now.

I'm really not trying to be a Richard here, but these statements are always puzzling to me. If teams can just up and find what they need so easily, every team would have everything they need.

True #1 RHDs are probably, at least IMO, the hardest thing in the NHL to acquire via trade or in free agency. Finding quality #2 RHD's capable of big minutes when your #1 goes down is not as hard as the #1, but it's still pretty damn hard.

Whatever we want to criticize about this team and for any time Dumo or Letang has bad game, or Marino goes on a streak of some rough games, this defense has been a major area of strength for the Pens this year. Messing with that in the middle of a season is a major risk IMO.

If we're giving up our best assets to pick up someone like Boeser or Garland from VAN, that doesn't leave a whole lot left over to pick up a suitable replacement for Marino.
- Rinosaur

Because you are misreading what I have said. A player they are comfortable with in a 2nd pair role is not the same as a true replacement for Marino. It's someone they are fine deploying there because they have used Marino to sure up the scoring depth.
Basically, our biggest need is scoring depth. Would you downgrade the D slightly to sure it up? That is the question being asked.

https://twitter.com/DonnieandDhali/status/1501636125651202050?s=20&t=spu7Ke7aKY7ixm9iYAr8iw
Here is the link. ERod and Marino are the main pieces. Speculation regarding Boeser.
- burgh4life87

Gave me Bob and Doug McKenzie flashbacks.

Because you are misreading what I have said. A player they are comfortable with in a 2nd pair role is not the same as a true replacement for Marino. It's someone they are fine deploying there because they have used Marino to sure up the scoring depth.
Basically, our biggest need is scoring depth. Would you downgrade the D slightly to sure it up? That is the question being asked.
- burgh4life87

It's not like we're looking for a 3rd pairing dman. Acquiring a capable/comfortable 2nd pairing RHD is not that easy. I'm not trying to jinx this season, but it's only a matter of time before we lose Letang for a stretch.

I'm not trying to be overdramatic here, but I don't know that Kapanen can get us much of anything right now.
- Rinosaur

I agree with you 100%. It'd have to be a moon shot on a guy that isn’t dressing regularly that we think could be a second pairing defenseman for whatever reason. Basically how we got Marino the first time. It’s a massive gamble and he may not exist.

It's not like we're looking for a 3rd pairing dman. Acquiring a capable/comfortable 2nd pairing RHD is not that easy. I'm not trying to jinx this season, but it's only a matter of time before we lose Letang for a stretch.
- Rinosaur

We’re (frank)ed when that happens anyways. The days of trying to find Letang insurance are long gone. Only way we could have done that was to draft him at some point and that ship clearly sailed. I don't view Marino as Letang insurance anymore than I viewed Schultz as that, and I think Schultz might have been a higher end player at his peak here than Marino is now.