Really smart for Dubas to not give out any long term contracts so we have the funds to sign McDavid in 2 years.
- SuperHenderson13

Draisaitl.

Nashville or Washington?
- Feds91Stammer

Washington

The only notable top 6 fwd we were linked to, Debrusk, signs in Van.

Mark Madden: Tampa Bay shows Penguins what might have been with offseason moves

Don't care if you like mark madden, but this is the truth about the penguins. Madden isn't bad but my fav is tim benz.

The only notable top 6 fwd we were linked to, Debrusk, signs in Van.
- Brownsoldier

DeBrusk got 7 years! No thanks. He's not nearly good enough for term like that.

They need a good hockey players. I'll keep an open mind but Hayes has carried a cloud over his head everywhere he has gone.

We should have been leaving a roster spot open for an entry level deal and used the Hayes cap space toward a Duchene or Lindholm who are good hockey players who have position flexibility.
- MacPatty

I don't disagree on Hayes to be clear. We got him because of the pick. He's overpriced and it shows we aren't trying to field the best team we can this year. But... he's still probably better than any of our prospects that are ready now.

Mark Madden: Tampa Bay shows Penguins what might have been with offseason moves

Don't care if you like mark madden, but this is the truth about the penguins. Madden isn't bad but my fav is tim benz.
- jb55

The time to do what TB is doing now was before Geno and Letang re-signed, when Hex was in charge -- and he would've just fumbled the retool, 100% guaranteed on that.

Mark Madden: Tampa Bay shows Penguins what might have been with offseason moves

Don't care if you like mark madden, but this is the truth about the penguins. Madden isn't bad but my fav is tim benz.
- jb55

lol.

Yohe also confirmed what I posted yesterday: Dubas is prioritizing the future, not the current team.

Yohe also said if it wasn't for Sid, Dubas would go into full rebuild mode now, but Sid doesn't want to leave and they don't want him playing on a terrible team. Hence, Dubas will do what he can to keep them able to compete for a WC spot, but he's not going to sign long-term deals, trade picks, etc.
- MickV

Guentzel kind of foreshadowed that. Really tough to build a team with glaring holes that way.

Have to wonder if they aren't going big on LD though, why not just bring back POJ? Guess they just have no confidence in him. I don't think he'll be a needle mover, but I think he'll be a solid #4 somewhere else.

Mark Madden: Tampa Bay shows Penguins what might have been with offseason moves

Don't care if you like mark madden, but this is the truth about the penguins. Madden isn't bad but my fav is tim benz.
- jb55

In what way is Tampa better?

The time to do what TB is doing now was before Geno and Letang re-signed, when Hex was in charge -- and he would've just fumbled the retool, 100% guaranteed on that.
- MickV

TB also has Kucherov who is putting up 140pts and a center in Point who scored like 45 goals. So losing Stamkos for a younger Guentzel probably is a lateral move, BUT since he’s younger it should keep their window open longer.

Pens definitely don’t have that luxury to dump Malkin and have a 100pt 28 year old center to replace him. Pens are going down the Wings/Hawks path of rebuild, which is going to be a dark time.

It's just so stupid. You have a top 5 and top 40 center in the league. You have 2 1RD caliber defensemen. And you have a handful of quality supporting pieces with Rust and Peterson. We finally had some cap space to make a play.

Dubas has had a great canvas to work with if he had some brains and some balls. You can both go for it and begin to stockpile assets. Right now Dubas is in no man's land.... Not good enough to make the playoffs, not bad enough to get good draft picks.

Let's hope your assessment there is wrong.
- MacPatty

I think once they traded Jake, they didn't have enough elite talent to work with. I wouldn't put Malkin there anymore. Rust is holding on as a top line wing but for how long. Bunting, Rackell, Smith all coming off somewhat disappointing seasons. Same for EK. Letang is showing some decline. Pettersson is solid. Not really any standout young players that seem poised to grab larger roles. Very shaky goaltending. Etc, etc. It's just not that strong of a core right now.

Per Johnston:

We're looking in on Ondrej Kase
- Rocco115Pitt

If we're shopping in the bargain bin, I like him. Lots of talent if he can stay healthy.

TB also has Kucherov who is putting up 140pts and a center in Point who scored like 45 goals. So losing Stamkos for a younger Guentzel probably is a lateral move, BUT since he’s younger it should keep their window open longer.

Pens definitely don’t have that luxury to dump Malkin and have a 100pt 28 year old center to replace him. Pens are going down the Wings/Hawks path of rebuild, which is going to be a dark time.
- drummer829

Tampa also gave up Sergachev. As of now they moved laterally at best.

If we're shopping in the bargain bin, I like him. Lots of talent if he can stay healthy.
- Tojo.

I know of another guy in the bargain bin.

Tampa also gave up Sergachev. As of now they moved laterally at best.
- Feds91Stammer

Well they did pick up McDonough and got Moser in the trade and while Sergayev is better, he has major injury concerns.

I think subbing Stamkos for Jake was a big mistake, but at least Tampa is always trying to improve their team.

I remember Rutherford preaching about over-paying to get the player you want, but that Debrusk deal is steep at 7 years.

Well they did pick up McDonough and got Moser in the trade and while Sergayev is better, he has major injury concerns.

I think subbing Stamkos for Jake was a big mistake, but at least Tampa is always trying to improve their team.
- MacPatty

How does Sergachev have major injury concerns?

Matt Grzelcyk 1 x $2.75M Pittsburgh

Friedman

I think once they traded Jake, they didn't have enough elite talent to work with. I wouldn't put Malkin there anymore. Rust is holding on as a top line wing but for how long. Bunting, Rackell, Smith all coming off somewhat disappointing seasons. Same for EK. Letang is showing some decline. Pettersson is solid. Not really any standout young players that seem poised to grab larger roles. Very shaky goaltending. Etc, etc. It's just not that strong of a core right now.
- Tojo.

That's a fair assessment. But... I have zero respect for the half way BS approach. All in or full rebuild. Everyone wants to keep the big 3 here until they retire but why? So we can watch the full back half of their careers be wasted by poopty GM's? I'd rather Sid go chase a cup with the Habs than look back on his retirement and say, holy poop, I didn't realize that Crosby went the entire final decade of his career without advancing past the 1st round of the playoffs.

I remember Rutherford preaching about over-paying to get the player you want, but that Debrusk deal is steep at 7 years.
- madmike71

Rutherford didnt care years ago when he was with us, and he will be long gone when the bill comes due on DeBrusk

We should be looking at some of these players because we will be trading for them as cap dumps in 2-3 years.

Matt Grzelcyk 1 x $2.75M Pittsburgh

Friedman
- kfinl170

Meh. Some of the worst metrics out of all of the Bs defenseman last season. Very small.

I know of another guy in the bargain bin.
- Feds91Stammer

I second this!

Maybe Im overthinking this because Im bored today... but I wonder how much of this "rebuild without calling it a rebuild" is being driven by Hockey Ops versus FSG.

FSG has to be smart enough to know that when this team tears it down, attendance will drop as it does for most small market teams. However, if you still have your old core, attendance will be impacted if they arent competitive, but not as bad as when they are gone.

I see FSG pushing a "rebuild" now with Crosby and Co. around so that in a best case scenario, we find at least one of the future core guys that allow for a soft transition versus us losing those 3 guys and having literally no one.

Washington
- MattStrat

I like it.