Gotta say... Great final this year. I'm torn between rooting for McD and Drai getting a cup and FLA (love their brand of hockey). I think FLA wins it in 7.
- madmike71

I'm a big believer that the quality of the matchup matters a lot more than the TV markets in terms of ratings. So while ESPN shouldnt love South Florida and Edmonton compared to New York and Dallas, these are the best two teams IMO.

Lots of good matchups and star power. Should be a 6-7 game series, but I could see Florida run with it if they shut McDavid down.

Brother how can an average be less than any of the values you're averaging? Lay off the marijuans.
- Victoro311

Hahahaha why in the F did I divide by 10?... And no, no Mary J involved.

Also, one of the values was 5...so, lay off the wine?

I'm a big believer that the quality of the matchup matters a lot more than the TV markets in terms of ratings. So while ESPN shouldnt love South Florida and Edmonton compared to New York and Dallas, these are the best two teams IMO.

Lots of good matchups and star power. Should be a 6-7 game series, but I could see Florida run with it if they shut McDavid down.
- SuperHenderson13

100%

Taylor Haase talked to Dubas today:

-Dubas said if Jake was interested in the Penguins, they'd explore that avenue in free agency.
-No chance the team trades a pick for his rights, thus meaning they could only offer him 7 years
-Ned's status was partly dependent on Blomqvist's playoff performance in the AHL plus if the player would be interested in returning
-Dubas doesnt see a ton of spots to fill, so that gives them more cap flexibility to fill those roles
-The new NHL assistant and AHL head coach will hopefully be filled soon

I personally see little chance of a Jake return. Seems he wants big money and seems this is the exact kind of situation Dubas wants to avoid paying someone like him big money given his age and profile... and personally, I have no problem with either side's position. Jake was underpaid throughout his 20s and should get the biggest pay day possible, and Dubas shouldnt be looking to pay big money to guys Jake's age.
- SuperHenderson13

Reading into what Dubas said about Ned... They'd do another cheap 1 year deal if he's interested, but they want to have Blomqvist get some NHL time this year.

Yeah... Jake isn't coming back. Maybe not a ton of spots are open, but they should be lol.

Go panthers!

It's amazing to think that the Penguins could have McCann and Rodrigues right now and all they got for them was a 7th pick and Flipp Hallander.

Impossible to overstate how much this decline was totally self-made versus the natural regression of our core.

It's amazing to think that the Penguins could have McCann and Rodrigues right now and all they got for them was a 7th pick and Flipp Hallander.

Impossible to overstate how much this decline was totally self-made versus the natural regression of our core.
- SuperHenderson13

Hextall destroyed any chance of being competitive. Basically ripped out our mid to late 20s core besides Petts and Jake. We probably would have been better off sticking with GMJR.

I’m in the North woods of Wisconsin fishing pretty much daylight to dark. How was the Barkov Mcdavid matchup?

It's amazing to think that the Penguins could have McCann and Rodrigues right now and all they got for them was a 7th pick and Flipp Hallander.

Impossible to overstate how much this decline was totally self-made versus the natural regression of our core.
- SuperHenderson13

I don't totally disagree but a bit of retrospect here...

McCann was pretty inconsistent and while he showed some flashes, he wasn't really a no brainer core piece at the time. Should we have kept him? Yeah. But losing McCann wasnt the difference between us competing for a cup.

Rodriguez was a completely different situation. We shouldn't have let him walk, but we did have multiple chance to get him back and chose not to.

So yeah, I'd rather have McCann and Rodrigues right now over Smith and Eller but I think there have been way bigger issues than them.

Hextall destroyed any chance of being competitive. Basically ripped out our mid to late 20s core besides Petts and Jake. We probably would have been better off sticking with GMJR.
- Tojo.

We definitely would have been better off with GMJR, no question. The only reason he is not still with the Pens is due to the fact they would not let him pursue a Malkin trade.

The real question for me is whether we would be better off with Hextall or Dubas.... and I was no fan of Hextall.

I’m in the North woods of Wisconsin fishing pretty much daylight to dark. How was the Barkov Mcdavid matchup?
- Grinder47

Barkov did well limiting mcd for the most part. Edmonton had a few looks but bobrovsky was there every time.

We definitely would have been better off with GMJR, no question. The only reason he is not still with the Pens is due to the fact they would not let him pursue a Malkin trade.

The real question for me is whether we would be better off with Hextall or Dubas.... and I was no fan of Hextall.
- MacPatty

I think easily dubas. Although sounds like rebuild is starting with collecting youth and draft picks.

I don't totally disagree but a bit of retrospect here...

McCann was pretty inconsistent and while he showed some flashes, he wasn't really a no brainer core piece at the time. Should we have kept him? Yeah. But losing McCann wasnt the difference between us competing for a cup.

Rodriguez was a completely different situation. We shouldn't have let him walk, but we did have multiple chance to get him back and chose not to.

So yeah, I'd rather have McCann and Rodrigues right now over Smith and Eller but I think there have been way bigger issues than them.
- MacPatty

From DK about Erod....

• Last time the Penguins participated in the playoffs, Evan Rodrigues took a terrible retaliatory penalty that handed the Rangers a power-play goal and a Game 6 survival that fed right into New York's eventual seven-game series victory. That penalty, I was told at the time, so angered Mike Sullivan that it contributed to Rodrigues not being brought back that summer. Now, Rodrigues, who I thought more than made up for that lapse with a massive tying goal in Game 7, gets his crack at the Final with Florida. Good player. Gooder dude.

We definitely would have been better off with GMJR, no question. The only reason he is not still with the Pens is due to the fact they would not let him pursue a Malkin trade.

The real question for me is whether we would be better off with Hextall or Dubas.... and I was no fan of Hextall.
- MacPatty

I never heard that. I've only ever heard it was a simple contract dispute. JR wanted an extension with one year left on his deal and Moorehouse didn't want to give him one.

Yes... That's an easy call on whether the Pens would be better off if JR stayed. Hextall was a disaster for this team.

Husso and a 3rd for Jarry and a 5th
- Feds91Stammer

That is probably not far off what DET would offer, which is why I don't see us making a trade with the Wings. I would think a team like LAK might be desperate enough to make a better partner.

That is probably not far off what DET would offer, which is why I don't see us making a trade with the Wings. I would think a team like LAK might be desperate enough to make a better partner.
- MickV

Really only makes sense for the pens if Husso is going on LTIR all year. Then it clears Jarrys cap completely to make a move elsewhere

Really only makes sense for the pens if Husso is going on LTIR all year. Then it clears Jarrys cap completely to make a move elsewhere
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah, I considered that but seems too risky unless it's 100% certain he can't play next year -- plus that'd be almost $5M in real-world operating cost Dubas would be taking on just to get rid of a contract he himself signed last year. I just can't see him doing that.

I’m in the North woods of Wisconsin fishing pretty much daylight to dark. How was the Barkov Mcdavid matchup?
- Grinder47

I’m in Ontario doing the same. Good luck and Tight lines!

I’m in the North woods of Wisconsin fishing pretty much daylight to dark. How was the Barkov Mcdavid matchup?
- Grinder47

What’s yinz fishin fer? Pike? Walleye?

What’s yinz fishin fer? Pike? Walleye?
- Feds91Stammer

During the day we are after panfish but evening and night we target walleye. Pike are fun but we don’t eat them.

That is probably not far off what DET would offer, which is why I don't see us making a trade with the Wings. I would think a team like LAK might be desperate enough to make a better partner.
- MickV

Hoping skinner absolutely poops the bed because:

1. I hate Edmonton.

2. They can bring in home town boy Jarry.

If shesterkin is rumored to want 11-12m, saros will want nearly as much, then 5m for a Jarry type ain’t so bad.

Wow, Cap Friendly being purchased by the Capitals. Will go dark after the draft. Damn.

Wow, Cap Friendly being purchased by the Capitals. Will go dark after the draft. Damn.
- madmike71

I find that so weird. I always assume that FOs have much better tools for data aggregations than any fan with internet access but I guess maybe not.

I find that so weird. I always assume that FOs have much better tools for data aggregations than any fan with internet access but I guess maybe not.
- Victoro311

Right. Really weird the NHL doesn't actually provide all that information to their franchises. How the ef does a third party site have information that the Capitals do not have? That's almost comical.

Wow, Cap Friendly being purchased by the Capitals. Will go dark after the draft. Damn.
- madmike71

Ouch that one hurts.