The Guentzel is a product of Sid is a tiring, but equally terrible argument too.
- j.boyd919

I think there is a point to it somewhat but it goes both ways. Both Sid and Jake would see a drop in numbers were they to be split up.

If Jake was the main offensive threat on a line and the D were mostly concentrating on him, I think his numbers would drop substantially.

He's an elite finisher but is he capable of carrying a line?

If he's going to a contender, that team most likely already has a strong 1st line. So if he was brought in to shore up a second line it's not crazy to think he's be playing with lesser players.

The pens are done being legit contenders.

I think there is a point to it somewhat but it goes both ways. Both Sid and Jake would see a drop in numbers were they to be split up.

If Jake was the main offensive threat on a line and the D were mostly concentrating on him, I think his numbers would drop substantially.

He's an elite finisher but is he capable of carrying a line?

If he's going to a contender, that team most likely already has a strong 1st line. So if he was brought in to shore up a second line it's not crazy to think he's be playing with lesser players.
- Thorny87

How many wingers are capable of carrying a line? 5? 10?
Kuch, Nylander, Pasta, Panarin, maybe Rantanan?

But the thing is... none of them "carry" a line. They all play with studs. You get studs, to play with studs.

I dunno, I feel like any team that signs Jake is going to want him playing with a star center because they are missing something on that LW.

What contender would he be the focal point on a 2nd line?

The pens are done being legit contenders.
- LFS

Who are you?

How many wingers are capable of carrying a line? 5? 10?
Kuch, Nylander, Pasta, Panarin, maybe Rantanan?

But the thing is... none of them "carry" a line. They all play with studs. You get studs, to play with studs.

I dunno, I feel like any team that signs Jake is going to want him playing with a star center because they are missing something on that LW.

What contender would he be the focal point on a 2nd line?
- j.boyd919

Only three examples I can really think of where the winger was the linchpin of the line was Kane during his time in Chicago when centered by guys like Shaw on the second line, triplets era Kuch, and HBK Kessel

The Guentzel is a product of Sid is a tiring, but equally terrible argument too.
- j.boyd919

While this is true, he owes it to Sid to just tell the team what his plans are so they can prepare themselves as best as possible. Sid has definitely helped, and he also watches Jakes back on the ice as ridiculous as that is. Hopefully at some point he just makes it clear to the team that he’s going to free agency or that he wants to stay. Be a man about it instead of a little female dog.

While this is true, he owes it to Sid to just tell the team what his plans are so they can prepare themselves as best as possible. Sid has definitely helped, and he also watches Jakes back on the ice as ridiculous as that is. Hopefully at some point he just makes it clear to the team that he’s going to free agency or that he wants to stay. Be a man about it instead of a little female dog.
- Grinder47

I actually agree with that as well. I do think the conversation should be had. Not necessarily that he owes it to Sid, but I just think athletes/negotiations like that should be more transparent -- if it's a good, work relationship with management.

The pens are done being legit contenders.
- LFS

Yeah, but they might be illegit contenders. Which is good enough at this point.

Hopefully Bedard's career goes more like Crosby's than McDavid's so far. Guess we'll see

I think the Pens will keep Jake and let things play out. With Sid playing like hart contender, you can't take away his best winger. Would be totally disrespectful. If the Pens fall out of the playoff, sure, you'd have to do it.

Pens have been playing pretty well and not making up too much ground. Lots of teams to jump over. Looking at that schedule from mid Feb thru April...yikes. Could be rough for an old team.

Listening to Bob Grove on the radio.....love that guy. The PP results should infuriate Dubas. Killing this team.

Agree. This looks like a team that can play a little spoiler, which is really the best we could expect. Now is not the time to pull the plug to get back the pick we traded for EK.
- Tojo.

While Jarry is having a pretty nice season, he is 2-6 in the playoffs with an .891 sv%. The Pens are at the stage where they need a goalie who can steal a series if they want to make a run. So I have a massive lack of confidence in the Pens ability to do anything in the playoffs, but hoping that Jarry can prove me wrong.

The Pens have a nice schedule heading into the trade deadline, so they should be able to position themselves well to get in. Good breaks between travel but they will be on the 4 game west coast trip leading right into it.

If they are looking solidly in a playoff spot and they arent going to trade Jake, they need to get some backup to take a run at it. Playoffs for the Pens will start April 1st...

NYR, NJ, Washington, Tampa, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Nashville, NYI. Pretty tough schedule where almost every game has playoff implications (at least as it stands now).

While Jarry is having a pretty nice season, he is 2-6 in the playoffs with an .891 sv%. The Pens are at the stage where they need a goalie who can steal a series if they want to make a run. So I have a massive lack of confidence in the Pens ability to do anything in the playoffs, but hoping that Jarry can prove me wrong.
- MacPatty

He played one of those games with a broken ankle... blood seen through sock after the game...a game 7 of a playoff series after missing months. He wasnt very good in the Isles series the season before, no doubt, but he also had just came back from a very long layoff two games before that series started. That's always been a knock on Jarry, not only his durability, but his ability to be in his top form when he returns or soon after he returns. It takes him a nice while to get going and back to form after long layoffs. Look at his numbers the past few Octobers compared to November and December the past few seasons... after a long summer layoff.

I think the Pens will keep Jake and let things play out. With Sid playing like hart contender, you can't take away his best winger. Would be totally disrespectful. If the Pens fall out of the playoff, sure, you'd have to do it.

Pens have been playing pretty well and not making up too much ground. Lots of teams to jump over. Looking at that schedule from mid Feb thru April...yikes. Could be rough for an old team.
- madmike71

They're 3 points out of a WC with 2 games in hand on DET and 3 games in hand on TBL.. they made up ground over the last few weeks.

The pens are done being legit contenders.
- LFS

No one here thinks they're top contenders Hahaha... Not a single person who comments around here does. Some think quite the polar opposite of that, actually...

This guy here (me) loves that they're even in the playoff mix at this stage of the cycle and the age of their core. Every single game is so important now. They are not comfortable at all and I like that. Comfortable and easy is overrated.

While this is true, he owes it to Sid to just tell the team what his plans are so they can prepare themselves as best as possible. Sid has definitely helped, and he also watches Jakes back on the ice as ridiculous as that is. Hopefully at some point he just makes it clear to the team that he’s going to free agency or that he wants to stay. Be a man about it instead of a little female dog.
- Grinder47

How do you know he hasn't made it clear to Dubas what he wants? They definitely talked over the summer about an extension (reported several places). Maybe Jake said he wants max term and $10M per year and Dubas said he wanted to see what direction this team is going in before making a huge investment like that ... or maybe both Jake and Dubas said they wanted to see what direction the team is going in before making a decision.

While Jarry is having a pretty nice season, he is 2-6 in the playoffs with an .891 sv%. The Pens are at the stage where they need a goalie who can steal a series if they want to make a run. So I have a massive lack of confidence in the Pens ability to do anything in the playoffs, but hoping that Jarry can prove me wrong.
- MacPatty

I agree about them needing top goaltending. As far as the playoff failures, small sample size and often playing hurt. No guarantees that he doesn't fall apart in playoffs, but he could just as well continue his strong play. Or Ned could step in. But I can understand your concerns, they were my biggest heading into the season, but hopefully at least one of the goalies is on their game.

While this is true, he owes it to Sid to just tell the team what his plans are so they can prepare themselves as best as possible. Sid has definitely helped, and he also watches Jakes back on the ice as ridiculous as that is. Hopefully at some point he just makes it clear to the team that he’s going to free agency or that he wants to stay. Be a man about it instead of a little female dog.
- Grinder47

Pretty sure hockey players are professional enough not to think their teammates owe them an explanation on free agency.

My read is Jake wants to stay, but is questioning how competitive the team can be. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to be stuck on a team in purgatory when he still has prime years left.

Pretty sure hockey players are professional enough not to think their teammates owe them an explanation on free agency.

My read is Jake wants to stay, but is questioning how competitive the team can be. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to be stuck on a team in purgatory when he still has prime years left.
- Tojo.

Jake's agent and Dubas have both given interviews recently and said exactly that. Both sides know that the situation is fluid and can change in the next 6 weeks before the trade deadline. Neither party should lock into anything yet.

Only three examples I can really think of where the winger was the linchpin of the line was Kane during his time in Chicago when centered by guys like Shaw on the second line, triplets era Kuch, and HBK Kessel
- Victoro311

Yeah it's really not that common. elite wingers are usually playing with elite talent for a reason. Even on contenders, the second line is going to have damn good hockey players on it, he won't be pulling around scrubs. In Pittsburgh we're so used to seeing 1-2 punch of Sid and Geno, but most teams in the league have solid 1-2 punches at center, especially contenders -- that's typically what makes them contenders lol

Didn’t realize the Pens are playing the knights tomorrow. I’m actually on my way to Vegas right now for a boys weekend. Finding a sick spot for the game shouldn’t be too hard.

Didn’t realize the Pens are playing the knights tomorrow. I’m actually on my way to Vegas right now for a boys weekend. Finding a sick spot for the game shouldn’t be too hard.
- Victoro311

It's in Vegas, why aren't you going to the game? haha

Just get tickets like 15 minutes before puck drop on stub hub or game pass or whatever. I get sick seats for dirt cheap here in Tampa doing that.

It's in Vegas, why aren't you going to the game? haha

Just get tickets like 15 minutes before puck drop on stub hub or game pass or whatever. I get sick seats for dirt cheap here in Tampa doing that.
- j.boyd919

Just probably doing other stuff. No one else on this trip is a pens fan.

We also have an all day Cabana reserved at Circa sports book to gamble away on NFL and college hoops so not even sure we’d be out in time to go to the game.

Just probably doing other stuff. No one else on this trip is a pens fan.

We also have an all day Cabana reserved at Circa sports book to gamble away on NFL and college hoops so not even sure we’d be out in time to go to the game.
- Victoro311

Well that sounds dangerous lol you got a “number” of fun money? I can’t see myself allowing myself to bet more than like $300 hahahaha I just can’t get into betting at all.

Well that sounds dangerous lol you got a “number” of fun money? I can’t see myself allowing myself to bet more than like $300 hahahaha I just can’t get into betting at all.
- j.boyd919

I’m up $1k on the year in sports betting. I’ll probably allow myself to lose $300 on sports wagering this weekend before I say no more but I highly doubt that will happen with the way that I play. Realistically I’m probably looking at max $200 in either losses or winnings over the course of the weekend. It all kind of depends on how stupid I get chasing live lines. If I were to predict it I’d probably say that at my peak I’ll be around $400 up and by the end of the weekend I’ll be pretty close to even.