I think the trade market will open up and benefit the Penguins. A lot of teams want Bedard and know they cant "tank" per say, but trading any of your NHL pieces and replacing them with AHL talent would be a good way to lower the competitive nature of your roster without making it obvious. I think the problem is Hextall needs to go out and get them. Good deals arent going to just walk right into his lap.

This organization has been way too comfortable for too long. I have no problem with them playing for their playoff lives early. The problem is with how old they are, can guys keep going into the dog days of March?

I think the trade market will open up and benefit the Penguins. A lot of teams want Bedard and know they cant "tank" per say, but trading any of your NHL pieces and replacing them with AHL talent would be a good way to lower the competitive nature of your roster without making it obvious. I think the problem is Hextall needs to go out and get them. Good deals arent going to just walk right into his lap.

This organization has been way too comfortable for too long. I have no problem with them playing for their playoff lives early. The problem is with how old they are, can guys keep going into the dog days of March?
- SuperHenderson13

That's the problem when you have one foot in the "contend" column and the other in the "build the prospect pool" column.

I think the trade market will open up and benefit the Penguins. A lot of teams want Bedard and know they cant "tank" per say, but trading any of your NHL pieces and replacing them with AHL talent would be a good way to lower the competitive nature of your roster without making it obvious. I think the problem is Hextall needs to go out and get them. Good deals arent going to just walk right into his lap.

This organization has been way too comfortable for too long. I have no problem with them playing for their playoff lives early. The problem is with how old they are, can guys keep going into the dog days of March?
- SuperHenderson13

I think its possible they could survive the dog days of March when they're pvssyin' around the cat days of January.

It's really not a bad thought, but I believe Hextall will need to make a move or two to get this team into contender status and I'm really concerned He won't do it. Letang and Petry will be back so I'm not too concerned about the D, but I hate that third line. Carter, Kap and Heinan won't cut it. They'll get caved.
- madmike71

Yeah he's not aggressive as a GM at all....there'd of been at least one shake up already this season, for better or worse, if we still had O'le Gunslinger Jim haha

Yeah he's not aggressive as a GM at all....there'd of been at least one shake up already this season, for better or worse, if we still had O'le Gunslinger Jim haha
- MattStrat

Looking at Vancouver, we are lucky Jim has no say in anything here. I have no doubt he pushed for that Miller contract because he wanted another shot at a Cup.

I've always loved Dumoulin as a player but it's time to move on. If it actually takes just a second round pick then they should make that deal today but i think Chicago will definitely want more than that for a solid top 4 Dman who is signed for two more years. Pens could pick up some salary. Even throw in a prospect.
- Sams_Dog

Agree usually costs a 2nd and another pick to get a top 4 D. If they are also picking up Dumo I think we add on that.

He is a more proven option and if you can keep POJ further down the lineup vs more favorable matchups he will be more effective. I think a few teams might be interested in McCabe, he's pretty steady and solid.
- MattStrat

Yes and that's why I'd look at it. But this doesn't help the long term cap situation as much and we'd create a logjam with Smith needing to be on the team next year. Still might do it, just stating those are consequences. You have to pull cap from somewhere else.

Looking at Vancouver, we are lucky Jim has no say in anything here. I have no doubt he pushed for that Miller contract because he wanted another shot at a Cup.
- SuperHenderson13

I'm glad JR is gone, but his vision was correct. It makes no sense for Hextall to hoard "futures" with the contracts he handed out last year. Letang, Geno, Rust and Rak are win now players. They should just go all in for two more years then faceplant spectacularly while they rebuild. There's no middle ground with this team with so much salary tied up in aging players.

I'm glad JR is gone, but his vision was correct. It makes no sense for Hextall to hoard "futures" with the contracts he handed out last year. Letang, Geno, Rust and Rak are win now players. They should just go all in for two more years then faceplant spectacularly while they rebuild. There's no middle ground with this team with so much salary tied up in aging players.
- madmike71

Let's say Hextall goes out and somehow fits in a player at the deadline, who's even available and what position are we going to add at?

Let's say Hextall goes out and somehow fits in a player at the deadline, who's even available and what position are we going to add at?
- j.boyd919

3rd line. Could actually go any spot, but think I'd prefer a C. Maybe even a better 3C gets more from Kap whose numbers aren't bad considering his usage even if he isn't particularly great.

A 2LD might be more impactful, but I feel we might have the candidates in-house more than this is a roster problem.

3rd line. Could actually go any spot, but think I'd prefer a C. Maybe even a better 3C gets more from Kap whose numbers aren't bad considering his usage even if he isn't particularly great.

A 2LD might be more impactful, but I feel we might have the candidates in-house more than this is a roster problem.
- Tojo.

That's what I see too, 3rd line is the big need IMO. I think our 2LDs are fine, if Sully would trust POJ as 2LD if they can get healthy and run something like:

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Dumo-Rutta

That's what I see too, 3rd line is the big need IMO. I think our 2LDs are fine, if Sully would trust POJ as 2LD if they can get healthy and run something like:

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Dumo-Rutta
- j.boyd919

Think there's a good style match too with POJ and Petry similar to Pettersson.

Still end up with Dumo-Ruuta. Third pair is better but that's where I start thinking Smith makes more sense to add a puck moving presence.

3rd line. Could actually go any spot, but think I'd prefer a C. Maybe even a better 3C gets more from Kap whose numbers aren't bad considering his usage even if he isn't particularly great.

A 2LD might be more impactful, but I feel we might have the candidates in-house more than this is a roster problem.
- Tojo.

I agree with this. Hextall should be willing to bear the cost of dumping salary and finding a 3C. I don't think he will, but I don't see the need to worry about getting young players that might or might not be playing with the big club 4 years from now. There's no way to rebuild on the fly with this team.

Think there's a good style match too with POJ and Petry similar to Pettersson.

Still end up with Dumo-Ruuta. Third pair is better but that's where I start thinking Smith makes more sense to add a puck moving presence.
- Tojo.

Oh I would love to have a smith-Rutta pairing but as long as Dumo is on the roster, it ain’t happening.

That's what I see too, 3rd line is the big need IMO. I think our 2LDs are fine, if Sully would trust POJ as 2LD if they can get healthy and run something like:

Petts-Letang
POJ-Petry
Dumo-Rutta
- j.boyd919

At this point I'd honestly prefer Smith or even Friedman over Dumo. It's nearly half a season and he shows zero sign of rebounding at all.

Agree that the 3rd line is the big need for improvement. Shame that Horvat is having a "Kreider" season, he'd have been a perfect rental for this year but he's priced himself out of reality lol

At this point I'd honestly prefer Smith or even Friedman over Dumo. It's nearly half a season and he shows zero sign of rebounding at all.

Agree that the 3rd line is the big need for improvement. Shame that Horvat is having a "Kreider" season, he'd have been a perfect rental for this year but he's priced himself out of reality lol
- Pags

I agree on Smith but Sully won’t.

At this point I'd honestly prefer Smith or even Friedman over Dumo. It's nearly half a season and he shows zero sign of rebounding at all.

Agree that the 3rd line is the big need for improvement. Shame that Horvat is having a "Kreider" season, he'd have been a perfect rental for this year but he's priced himself out of reality lol
- Pags

What would be the cost? Obviously a 1st. Probably a good NHL ready prospect....which we don't really have.

I never have a good grasp on trade values. Seems like we got Rak pretty cheap at the last minute.

What would be the cost? Obviously a 1st. Probably a good NHL ready prospect....which we don't really have.

I never have a good grasp on trade values. Seems like we got Rak pretty cheap at the last minute.
- madmike71

That and if you plan on playing Horgan as 3C, prepare for a dip in production.

What would be the cost? Obviously a 1st. Probably a good NHL ready prospect....which we don't really have.

I never have a good grasp on trade values. Seems like we got Rak pretty cheap at the last minute.
- madmike71

We definitely bought low on Rak. Smart move, so give Hextall credit there.

Oh I would love to have a smith-Rutta pairing but as long as Dumo is on the roster, it ain’t happening.
- j.boyd919

Sadly agree. Dumo might actually be ok as a third pair PK guy, but him and Ruuta both need someone to do the bulk of the breakout work.

What would be the cost? Obviously a 1st. Probably a good NHL ready prospect....which we don't really have.

I never have a good grasp on trade values. Seems like we got Rak pretty cheap at the last minute.
- madmike71

Never know with trade values, but he's tied with Ovi for 3rd in goals(and in 3 less games), a team captain, almost 57% in the circle and great on the PK and PP...each of which raises his value unfortunately. I'd assume they'd want at least 2 picks(one a first) and at least 1 A prospect plus ???, which counts us out as you said.

I agree on Smith but Sully won’t.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, I know unfortunately.

Just curious because I know it wont happen, but would anyone give up a 1st and an average prospect to the Rangers for Alexis Lafreniere? I remember when he was first in the dog house, several people reported the Rangers would need a 1st + a prospect.

Rangers would never trade him here, but I'd definitely take a chance on him.

Lmao...trap worked great there.

Lol Carter.