The Penguins will spend over 8 million dollars this year on Graves, Grzelcyk and JJ. Pretty sure we could have found a really good player with that kind of money.
- madmike71

Lol I somehow missed Graves in the list of bad players we’ve thrown significant amount of money at. He was so irrelevant last year that I totally forgot about him. We truly just gassed money last off season during a buyer’s market: Dubas’s worst moment as our GM thus far.

So many questions to see where the depth is next year. I'm very interested to see how they clear out their goalie logjam, particularly if both Blomquist and Murashov continue to progress well.

Will McGroarty win a spot and if so how high in the line up?

Are Pettersson and DOC retained or are those spots opened?

Where does Hayes end up fitting?

Do any of the young players start to knock down the door? Pickering is most interesting to me here with a gaping hole already at LD and Pettersson set for UFA.

Will they clear a spot for someone like Ponomarev or risk waivers if he isn't forcing the issue?

Do they do anything at the deadline to add a guy longer term like they did with Bunting? Or trade someone unexpected?

Pens could have a top six of Sid, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, McGroarty, and Bunting which isn't spectacular anymore but not really a hole. Third line is maybe Hayes, maybe DOC, or maybe need three top nine forwards though lol.
- Tojo.

Yeah best case scenario is McGroatry pushes DOC down and Glass pushes Eller/Hayes down and DOC and Glass can form a decent, somewhat young 3rd line. At that point our top 9 isn’t sexy but we might be able to vanilla our way into the playoffs with that.

Yeah best case scenario is McGroatry pushes DOC down and Glass pushes Eller/Hayes down and DOC and Glass can form a decent, somewhat young 3rd line. At that point our top 9 isn’t sexy but we might be able to vanilla our way into the playoffs with that.
- Victoro311

I'm a little more hopeful since adding McGroarty and Glass. DOC locked in at top line and some combo of Hayes, Eller, Beau and Puustinen for third line felt like a real thing line for success. At least now there are more options competing for top nine. Still might not be enough, but better than having Harkins and Zohorna as our top 3RW options for half a year.

I'm a little more hopeful since adding McGroarty and Glass. DOC locked in at top line and some combo of Hayes, Eller, Beau and Puustinen for third line felt like a real thing line for success. At least now there are more options competing for top nine. Still might not be enough, but better than having Harkins and Zohorna as our top 3RW options for half a year.
- Tojo.

I’m actually real high on the Beavillier signing after all the ink I just spilled on how no one i want ever comes here

I have been pondering this myself. I think Jarry gets moved at some point which would add some additional space. Maybe if Dubas plans to bring in Marner he may trade off Rakell for a roster spot plus cap space.

I could see Dubas going after some of his old players if we have some space Jake McCabe, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares (pending how Malkin plays).


Chychrun, Ehlers, Kuzmenko, and Brock Nelson are all FAs next year.

I think Broz, McGroarty, and Ponomarev would be cheaper bottom 6 options. Could add Koivunen and Gruden in the discussion for the bottom 6 as well for their PK ability. Bring in a few bigger name players to hold up the stars a bit before they retire and give us some new talent for the next transition.
- 123Kid

Also can dump Accari and Hayes for more space. There’s plenty of cap space to make substantial changes, even after a raise for Petterson. Hoping Dubas puts the chips on the table for Malkin’s last season in 25-26.

Should also add we'll probably have a 6M fourth line with one of the players who misses out joining Accairi and Lizotte. So I think bottom six will be somewhat better. Unfortunately I think top six is worse, defense might be worse without some bounce backs, and our goaltending is the same for now.

Also can dump Accari and Hayes for more space. There’s plenty of cap space to make substantial changes, even after a raise for Petterson. Hoping Dubas puts the chips on the table for Malkin’s last season in 25-26.
- abasin

I don't think that's as easy to do in an environment where Glass at 2.5M cost a third to move. I frankly don't think Dubas wants to send out picks to do that.

Complete class act and great player.
Glad you will be able to enjoy watching him for at least two more years.

I’m actually real high on the Beavillier signing after all the ink I just spilled on how no one i want ever comes here
- Victoro311

Was thinking more and Beau is a good example. If he hits as a third liner and McGroarty makes a team, then the third line has Beau and either DOC or McGroarty on the wings. Then a three way competition between Hayes, Eller, and Glass for 3C.

Feels decent. I think they got those five guys for three spots on that line with someone like Puljujarvi or Puustinen as a dark horse.

So many questions to see where the depth is next year. I'm very interested to see how they clear out their goalie logjam, particularly if both Blomquist and Murashov continue to progress well.

Will McGroarty win a spot and if so how high in the line up?

Are Pettersson and DOC retained or are those spots opened?

Where does Hayes end up fitting?

Do any of the young players start to knock down the door? Pickering is most interesting to me here with a gaping hole already at LD and Pettersson set for UFA.

Will they clear a spot for someone like Ponomarev or risk waivers if he isn't forcing the issue?

Do they do anything at the deadline to add a guy longer term like they did with Bunting? Or trade someone unexpected?

Pens could have a top six of Sid, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, McGroarty, and Bunting which isn't spectacular anymore but not really a hole. Third line is maybe Hayes, maybe DOC, or maybe need three top nine forwards though lol.
- Tojo.

My speculation....

McGroarty starts on 3rd or 4th line and both Petts and DOC get new deals. I would have bet against Petts, but with Sid taking such a team friendly deal, they owe him some stability and he's not that old.

Don't have any idea on Hayes. I'm guessing Sullivan gives him every chance to earn his spot.

I think Ponomarev is waivers exempt. He'll be starting in the AHL. Pickering too. I've read he's a year or two away.

Like yinz guys said... I like the Beau lottery ticket.

My speculation....

McGroarty starts on 3rd or 4th line and both Petts and DOC get new deals. I would have bet against Petts, but with Sid taking such a team friendly deal, they owe him some stability and he's not that old.

Don't have any idea on Hayes. I'm guessing Sullivan gives him every chance to earn his spot.

I think Ponomarev is waivers exempt. He'll be starting in the AHL. Pickering too. I've read he's a year or two away.

Like yinz guys said... I like the Beau lottery ticket.
- madmike71

Ponomarev is waiver exempt this year but not the next. So curious if next off-season they leave a spot for him to compete for or similar to the big waiver crew this year they don't have an obvious spot in the starting lineup. He should be close. With a different path, I'd have love to seen him and all the waiver guys battling for at least a fourth line spot. Instead they may be battling for 14th forward.

Agree I have no expectations on Pickering in the NHL this year. But see how he goes for next year.

Basically my post you quoted were questions for next off-season, not this one.

Ponomarev is waiver exempt this year but not the next. So curious if next off-season they leave a spot for him to compete for or similar to the big waiver crew this year they don't have an obvious spot in the starting lineup. He should be close. With a different path, I'd have love to seen him and all the waiver guys battling for at least a fourth line spot. Instead they may be battling for 14th forward.

Agree I have no expectations on Pickering in the NHL this year. But see how he goes for next year.

Basically my post you quoted were questions for next off-season, not this one.
- Tojo.

Ahh... My bad.

Just knowing how GM's operate, they won't allow Ponomarev to be lost on waivers next year. He was part of a high profile deal. Dubas won't risk losing him so soon.

From vaious reports, Pickering looks pretty good. Let's hope he stays healthy.

It's not so much the pens never got the big name UFA guys

It's the vets taking low cost deals either chasing a cup or rebuilding their value that never seems to choose Pittsburgh

Complete class act and great player.
Glad you will be able to enjoy watching him for at least two more years.
- Rang

3*

Big Boy Camp opens today...some preseason action this weekend....gettin' close....

It's not so much the pens never got the big name UFA guys

It's the vets taking low cost deals either chasing a cup or rebuilding their value that never seems to choose Pittsburgh
- RoloTahmasee

Were they even asked to play in Pittsburgh? if so, what kind of salary and term were they looking for and how much per season, and how long of a term, was offered by the Penguins?

Someone like Beauvillier fits the "rebuild their value" mold IMO. 27 years old today...scored 15 to 21 goals in 4 straight seasons and a lot of those season played a fair bit less than 82 games. 9 goals/14 points in 22 playoff games one of those season. Signs 1 year, 1.25 mill per, when his last contract was 4.125 mill per. I think there is a potential there for this guy to get back in that 15 to 20 goal range, and if so, that is a major bargain cap hit.

Now that the dust is settling - how do you rank Dubas's offseason? I give him a sneaky B. I definitely wish we could've gone after some big fish and we couldve moved on from a guy or two, but overall i thought he positioned us well.

The Good:
-Crosby extension
-Restock draft picks
-McGroarty Trade
-Added some decent buy low/sell high guys

The Bad:
-Letting POJ go for more expensive but inferior alternatives
-Not moving on from Graves (didnt feel like it was likely to begin with)
-Not investing in Laine instead of trading for Hayes
-Going into this season with the same goalies as last year
-Team still doesnt feel like it has a style of play/identity

All in all, Dubas was handcuffed. Partly from what he inherited but also of his own doing. Will be interested to see his plan as the season progresses.

Now that the dust is settling - how do you rank Dubas's offseason? I give him a sneaky B. I definitely wish we could've gone after some big fish and we couldve moved on from a guy or two, but overall i thought he positioned us well.

The Good:
-Crosby extension
-Restock draft picks
-McGroarty Trade
-Added some decent buy low/sell high guys

The Bad:
-Letting POJ go for more expensive but inferior alternatives
-Not moving on from Graves (didnt feel like it was likely to begin with)
-Not investing in Laine instead of trading for Hayes
-Going into this season with the same goalies as last year
-Team still doesnt feel like it has a style of play/identity

All in all, Dubas was handcuffed. Partly from what he inherited but also of his own doing. Will be interested to see his plan as the season progresses.
- SuperHenderson13

Pretty good assessment. I'd probably give him a C/C+.

My number one priority would have been a 1LW, but clearly, his priority was adding some picks and prospects. He would not have traded for Hayes without the 2nd round pick. Since his goal is high picks, you have to give him a pass for Hayes. I'm hoping Hayes has some pride and takes it personally that other teams are paying to have him leave.

I hated the Grz contract. Like you said, would rather have kept POJ. Aho seems like decent depth.

Very hard to move on from Graves. Nobody will take that contract unless we pay them. Would have loved to move Acciari and open up that slot for somebody younger. About Graves... Dubas took a shot at him after the season about his conditioning. IMO, he'll be one of the more interesting story lines. Can he play better? If he does, that solves a big problem.

If McG somehow grabs that 1LW spot (big IF), I'd bump it up to a B+. I kind of like some of the lottery ticket guys. Glass, Beau, Pulj.

Today's scrimmage teams from Haase...

Team 1
Ville Koivunen - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell
Emil Bemstrom - Vasily Ponomarev - Valtteri Puustinen
Corey Andonovski - Marc Johnstone - Jimmy Huntington/Bennett MacArthur

Matt Grzelcyk - Kris Letang
Nikolai Knyzhov - Mac Hollowell
Philip Waugh - Nathan Clurman

Team2
Anthony Beauvillier - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Drew O'Connor - Sam Poulin - Rutger McGroarty
Logan Pietila, Joona Koppanen, Jesse Puljujarvi, Boko Imama rotating

Marcus Pettersson - Mac Hollowell
John Ludvig - Filip Kral
Sebastian Aho - Harrison Brunicke / Dan Renouf

Now that the dust is settling - how do you rank Dubas's offseason? I give him a sneaky B. I definitely wish we could've gone after some big fish and we couldve moved on from a guy or two, but overall i thought he positioned us well.

The Good:
-Crosby extension
-Restock draft picks
-McGroarty Trade
-Added some decent buy low/sell high guys

The Bad:
-Letting POJ go for more expensive but inferior alternatives
-Not moving on from Graves (didnt feel like it was likely to begin with)
-Not investing in Laine instead of trading for Hayes
-Going into this season with the same goalies as last year
-Team still doesnt feel like it has a style of play/identity

All in all, Dubas was handcuffed. Partly from what he inherited but also of his own doing. Will be interested to see his plan as the season progresses.
- SuperHenderson13

It's tough to grade because he had those weird pick ups for picks that look like good value, but weren't the best for this year's team.

Pretty much agree with your highs. Beau, Glass, Hayes, Lizotte aren't huge adds, but still probably better than Carter, Harkins, Zohorna as lower line guys that left. McGroarty is the big wild card this year.

Going with Mike that biggest downgrade is LW. Lost Guentzel and Smith for Bunting and either McGroarty or Beau. After that I agree POJ for Gryz feels like a big downgrade.

Debatable on Laine especially the timing since I don't think he was available for that price when we got Hayes. I don't think they could do anything with Graves or Jarry without a small fortune in futures.

Bringing back Ned feels good for now, but don't like the second year with how good our AHL goaltending is. I think that's where the real hope for better goaltending is and has a better chance than the open market.

I think the team took a step back this year to be better positioned for the following year. Time might not be in their side for that.

A few quick thoughts on the groupings

EK is day to day with an upper body injury

Gryz paired with Letang so think they want to try that

Team 4 doesn't have enough players and is largely guys I never heard of... and Accairi. If he's not nursing an injury, seems odd placement.

In first scrimmage I thought Puljujarvi being on the third line that rotates players was a bad sign. Guys I thought he was above like Koivunen, Poulin, Ponomarev, Bennstrom all played top 6. But he got at least one goal, maybe 2 so good response.

Oh new blog