I’m kinda shocked I would have assumed that the decision not to resign was his. If he wanted to stay and the best piece we get back for him ends up being Hoglander that’s a big whiff
- Victoro311

There was a rumor we made him an offer that was substantially lower than he expected. Also... Yohe said earlier that there was no talks at all. Seems like Dubas pretty much made the decision early on that Jake isn't a priority.

There was a rumor we made him an offer that was substantially lower than he expected. Also... Yohe said earlier that there was no talks at all. Seems like Dubas pretty much made the decision early on that Jake isn't a priority.
- madmike71

Because the plan was to tear it all down. Always has been.

Guentzel hasn't played RW as a pro. Couldn't tell you if he did when he was younger.
- Thunderbolt

Thanks. Not sure it makes sense for the Rangers then, but we’ll see.

There was a rumor we made him an offer that was substantially lower than he expected. Also... Yohe said earlier that there was no talks at all. Seems like Dubas pretty much made the decision early on that Jake isn't a priority.
- madmike71

I think Dubas was just waiting for this time of the year. If you resigned him at an 8x8 contract, it might have been more difficult to do a trade. Not to mention he’d most likely have some sort of NTC/NMC, which would hurt his value as well. If the pens were top 3 in the metro or were cemented as a wild card team, I think an extension would get done before the season is over

Avs have done their wheeling. Im kind of surprised they let Byram go. I'd have loved to get him in a deal for Jake.

Wait for it... Dubas is going to announce we have resigned Jake for 8/$96M any minute now....
- MacPatty

JR is in vancouver.

Madden saying the Penguins havent made much of an attempt to resign Jake isnt shocking to me. They've never gave the impression they wanted him here. If they want to get yonger, Jake signed to a long term contract when he's 30 by next season doesnt really do that.

If they explored trading him but now see resigning him is the best course, I'm 100% fine with that. I'm not okay with just trading him for the sake of trading him.

Rangers getting Wennberg hurts a bit

Pens4life are you hearing anything about the Pens?

Madden saying the Penguins havent made much of an attempt to resign Jake isnt shocking to me. They've never gave the impression they wanted him here. If they want to get yonger, Jake signed to a long term contract when he's 30 by next season doesnt really do that.

If they explored trading him but now see resigning him is the best course, I'm 100% fine with that. I'm not okay with just trading him for the sake of trading him.
- SuperHenderson13

I just don't think you can afford to sacrifice one of the best goal scorers in the league for the sake of getting younger. There are tons of older vets on this team that are easier to replace than Jake. Obviously Smith, Rakell as well, and as much as it pains me to say it, Rust are all guys that maybe you can benefit from exchanging for youth even if raw production dips. But a 30-40 goal scorer who hasn't really slowed down? If you want to build one last competitive team around Crosby, you don't just get rid of him.

Makes no sense they didn't try to resign him. This whole thing made way more sense to me when I thought it was Guentzel's decision to not be signed yet. Now I'm just scratching my head.

Pens4life are you hearing anything about the Pens?
- 123Kid

Not really. Preds are talking about Smith but that’s it.
Just was my guess but I thought panthers or rangers would get Jake. Rangers were the first team with serious interest but like I said before I think they were the ones that said the price was “ridiculous”.

I just don't think you can afford to sacrifice one of the best goal scorers in the league for the sake of getting younger. There are tons of older vets on this team that are easier to replace than Jake. Obviously Smith, Rakell as well, and as much as it pains me to say it, Rust are all guys that maybe you can benefit from exchanging for youth even if raw production dips. But a 30-40 goal scorer who hasn't really slowed down? If you want to build one last competitive team around Crosby, you don't just get rid of him.

Makes no sense they didn't try to resign him. This whole thing made way more sense to me when I thought it was Guentzel's decision to not be signed yet. Now I'm just scratching my head.
- Victoro311

All rumors at this point and we still don’t know what his contract demands are / will be. I’m for passing on him if his AAV is above $10M.

It's the reality are the Pens a better team with Jake? No doubt. Is this a playoff team? No. Jake is the best asset we have to get some young cheaper talent which can save us tons of cap space going into free agency (and potentially not just this year). When Dubas came on board. I think he was sold on us being a playoff team and the top 2 lines being able to hold everything up. Unfortunately this team needs some more done to it. If we are able to sell some cap space off with Jake and Smith deals (maybe even a Graves trade this offseason). We could potentially resign Jake or sign Reinhart or others and have some youth in the line up which we have been lacking.

It's the reality are the Pens a better team with Jake? No doubt. Is this a playoff team? No. Jake is the best asset we have to get some young cheaper talent which can save us tons of cap space going into free agency (and potentially not just this year). When Dubas came on board. I think he was sold on us being a playoff team and the top 2 lines being able to hold everything up. Unfortunately this team needs some more done to it. If we are able to sell some cap space off with Jake and Smith deals (maybe even a Graves trade this offseason). We could potentially resign Jake or sign Reinhart or others and have some youth in the line up which we have been lacking.
- 123Kid

Not disagreeing in theory, but in practice, a deadline rental isn't going to return young cheaper talent that's worth losing Guentzel's production over. If he had some term and this were the offseason, there might be a hockey trade to be had where I agree with you, but the reason to trade Guentzel this deadline is because he's expiring, doesn't want to resign, and losing him for nothing is a disaster. But if he wanted to resign, that changes everything about the situation.

A friend of mine who used to work for the Pens still has some former co-workers there. He texted me this afternoon "not to be shocked if an extension is announced instead of a trade"

Not really. Preds are talking about Smith but that’s it.
Just was my guess but I thought panthers or rangers would get Jake. Rangers were the first team with serious interest but like I said before I think they were the ones that said the price was “ridiculous”.
- pens4life-66

I won't like the ask that you told us about was a bit much. I assume it would come down slightly in discussions Personally I would have liked Lafreniere to be a Penguin.

I won't like the ask that you told us about was a bit much. I assume it would come down slightly in discussions Personally I would have liked Lafreniere to be a Penguin.
- 123Kid

I do not think they trade Lafreniere for a rental. He's never going to live up to the hype he came into as 1st overall of that draft, but he's coming along to be a solid top 6 forward with size.

They'd probably do Kakko, but, I mean, there's a reason why they'd do that...

Not disagreeing in theory, but in practice, a deadline rental isn't going to return young cheaper talent that's worth losing Guentzel's production over. If he had some term and this were the offseason, there might be a hockey trade to be had where I agree with you, but the reason to trade Guentzel this deadline is because he's expiring, doesn't want to resign, and losing him for nothing is a disaster. But if he wanted to resign, that changes everything about the situation.
- Victoro311

I think this may be a player and agent not on the same page.
With Jakes agent saying they would see how it plays out with Pittsburgh. As an agent his job is to maximize his players worth. I think if Jake takes a team deep into the playoffs or gets another Stanley cup that maximizes his value way more than playing out the rest of the season for us.

I do not think they trade Lafreniere for a rental. He's never going to live up to the hype he came into as 1st overall of that draft, but he's coming along to be a solid top 6 forward with size.

They'd probably do Kakko, but, I mean, there's a reason why they'd do that...
- Victoro311

Pens4life previously reported we asked for Lafreniere, Cuylle and a 1st or Perreault.
And from Vancouver for Kuz, Hoglander, 1st, top 2 prospect. Which is why I had slight hopes of him in a deal if we did trade Jake to Rangers.

I do not think they trade Lafreniere for a rental. He's never going to live up to the hype he came into as 1st overall of that draft, but he's coming along to be a solid top 6 forward with size.

They'd probably do Kakko, but, I mean, there's a reason why they'd do that...
- Victoro311

Kakko and Rempe straight up.

Not disagreeing in theory, but in practice, a deadline rental isn't going to return young cheaper talent that's worth losing Guentzel's production over. If he had some term and this were the offseason, there might be a hockey trade to be.
- Victoro311

Assuming what we hear in the Press is accurate and Detroit would want Rust, trade him for age reasons before refusing to resign Jake. He's 2 years older and he's got 4 more years after this on his contract. Both making him old, but also making him a non-rental and a respectable price.

Jake being too old doesn't make sense based on that.

I’m kind of sick of watching the same team year after year tbh. Hope dubas can work a deal.

Pens4life previously reported we asked for Lafreniere, Cuylle and a 1st or Perreault.
And from Vancouver for Kuz, Hoglander, 1st, top 2 prospect. Which is why I had slight hopes of him in a deal if we did trade Jake to Rangers.
- 123Kid

Yeah if I'm the Rags I don't even think about taking that deal. Negotiation 101 is you ask for something unreasonable to begin with so but not so insulting that the other side hangs up on you. Feel like Lafreniere and a first for rental Guentzel is right on that line between unreasonable and insulting.

Yeah if I'm the Rags I don't even think about taking that deal. Negotiation 101 is you ask for something unreasonable to begin with so but not so insulting that the other side hangs up on you. Feel like Lafreniere and a first for rental Guentzel is right on that line between unreasonable and insulting.
- Victoro311

If I'm the Rangers, I'm not sure I trade Laf for Jake straight up without the promise of an extension.

I think this may be a player and agent not on the same page.
With Jakes agent saying they would see how it plays out with Pittsburgh. As an agent his job is to maximize his players worth. I think if Jake takes a team deep into the playoffs or gets another Stanley cup that maximizes his value way more than playing out the rest of the season for us.
- 123Kid

There was a baseball player a few years ago where that happened. The agent didn't tell the player of the offer on the table. He then took a lesser offer from another team and was super pissed when he found out the details. Freddie Freeman was the player.

I just started following baseball again after a friend of mine has a grandson who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. He's playing AA this year in New Hampshire. We went golfing last fall after his season ended. A lot to be impressed with his athletic ability but his vision is absolutely amazing.

There was a baseball player a few years ago where that happened. The agent didn't tell the player of the offer on the table. He then took a lesser offer from another team and was super pissed when he found out the details. Freddie Freeman was the player.

I just started following baseball again after a friend of mine has a grandson who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. He's playing AA this year in New Hampshire. We went golfing last fall after his season ended. A lot to be impressed with his athletic ability but his vision is absolutely amazing.
- Thunderbolt

I feel like there's been a lot of agent (frank)ery along these lines in the NBA lately as well. Agents trying to get their clients to specific teams at all costs because of other clients' wishes. Klutch Sports is notorious for this. Has resulted in some lawsuits.