Or they just want to see what they have with some of the guys in the A. A lot of them are doing well down there, get them up and see if they can swim. Helps decision making for next year.
- MickV

Absolutely.

I know teams dont throw around first round picks like Candy, but Im growing tired of Dubas' Pirates-like strategy of stressing quantity over quality.
Its concerning that he unloads asset after asset and gets back nothing that is of great value. The return for Guentzel was underwhelming. Quantity over Quality. This trade is the same. Wow a 3rd rounder and a 5th. To go along with all the other 4th and 6th rounders. Maybe if we are lucky he can use those to move up, but otherwise, Im not excited about a bunch of 5th-7th rounders playing at Wilkes Barre

Or they just want to see what they have with some of the guys in the A. A lot of them are doing well down there, get them up and see if they can swim. Helps decision making for next year.
- MickV

This. I doubt they have a 3C on a good team. Glass and Hayes are probably better candidates. But it's past time they see if Poulin can play here. Not sure who else from WBS right now unless you wanted to give Bennstrom another look.

McGroarty hasn't done much. Neither has Ponomarov since returning from injury. Koivunen and Broz are playing great but they probably want to give them a little more time. Could see any of those guys at some point.

Eller turned out to be a good fit on the team and had some great moments as a Pen.

Good luck Lars. But not too good.

Maybe Dubas thinks pieces down in the A are just as good, or better than, some of the pieces in the NHL. Making room to get them up.
- MattStrat

I think he knew Eller had no future here so he wants to see what else is out there in our system. It would save us some money and effort this summer to address the position if a guy from the organization takes it and runs with it.

The real reason we made this trade is so we wouldn't have to put Puustinen on waivers when Nieto comes back this weekend.

Or they just want to see what they have with some of the guys in the A. A lot of them are doing well down there, get them up and see if they can swim. Helps decision making for next year.
- MickV

Definitely. We can lose 7-1 to good teams with or without a lot of these guys!

Gryz at the deadline will make almost nothing. If they can't trade him at all, they just keep him to finish out the year.

Pettersson I think they only retain on if they can't move a longer contract, because he'll go regardless. You are right they could get a better return, but if they can move EK for example I think that's where retention goes.

If they were serious about being competitive next year they'd keep Pettersson, just like they'd have kept Guentzel, but we all know they won't and aren't.
- Tojo.

Well, they could have resigned Jake if they were willing to pay market value. They could also with Petts.

I know this isn't going to happen, but I really hope we position ourselves to be able to put together a playoff roster next year.

Well, they could have resigned Jake if they were willing to pay market value. They could also with Petts.

I know this isn't going to happen, but I really hope we position ourselves to be able to put together a playoff roster next year.
- MacPatty

Only way this happens is if they make a couple big free agent signings which seems unlikely. Wouldn’t be opposed to them overpaying Marner since they’re getting a discount on Sid.

I'd like to see KD swap picks instead of getting picks straight up. Like trade some of the names listed and instead of getting a N round pick, add the Chicago 5th to the deal and get an N+1 round pick. At some point pick volume isn't going to compensate for actual position.

I'd like to see KD swap picks instead of getting picks straight up. Like trade some of the names listed and instead of getting a N round pick, add the Chicago 5th to the deal and get an N+1 round pick. At some point pick volume isn't going to compensate for actual position.
- coohill

Would rather have more lotto tickets than a ticket with slightly better odds. Outside the top 10, the nhl draft is a crapshoot.

Would rather have more lotto tickets than a ticket with slightly better odds. Outside the top 10, the nhl draft is a crapshoot.
- abasin

Outside the top 5 it starts getting crapshotty (not a real word, I know haha)...I dont follow other sports like I do the NHL but there seems to be a fair amount of top 5 pick flops in NHL as well and much more in top 10. Whats Derrick Pouliot (8th) up to these days, anyway? haha

I have always thought that it was an unwritten rule that you never trade with teams in your own division unless they give you something in return that you just can't refuse. Eller's value would have gone up closer to the deadline, too, and waiting would have at least signaled to the money-paying fans that the organization was not throwing in the towel by mid-November.

All further confirmation that Dubas is an amateur GM.

Outside the top 5 it starts getting crapshotty (not a real word, I know haha)...I dont follow other sports like I do the NHL but there seems to be a fair amount of top 5 pick flops in NHL as well and much more in top 10. Whats Derrick Pouliot (8th) up to these days, anyway? haha
- MattStrat

Nice thing about the nfl is they draft at age 22/23 and are ready to go. I mean populin was drafted over 5 yrs ago. That’s what sucks is you trade and that pick might be playing in 3 yrs at best. Pretty rare they can step right in at 18.

Crosby has 3 more yrs after this hard to turn the ship around in that time.

I have always thought that it was an unwritten rule that you never trade with teams in your own division unless they give you something in return that you just can't refuse. Eller's value would have gone up closer to the deadline, too, and waiting would have at least signaled to the money-paying fans that the organization was not throwing in the towel by mid-November.

All further confirmation that Dubas is an amateur GM.
- PghPens668771

Pens aren't competitive and they probably just did him a favor and sent him back to his old team.

I have always thought that it was an unwritten rule that you never trade with teams in your own division unless they give you something in return that you just can't refuse. Eller's value would have gone up closer to the deadline, too, and waiting would have at least signaled to the money-paying fans that the organization was not throwing in the towel by mid-November.

All further confirmation that Dubas is an amateur GM.
- PghPens668771

There's no way of knowing that. Everybody thought someone would want Eller last year and they had no takers. Had no takers in the summer too. At this point, I'd rather see younger players get experience while clearing cap space. Maybe take on another cap dump for a nice pick.

I thought this team would compete better, but so many guys are underperforming. They're not just losing to good teams, they're getting destroyed.

Just heard: Apparently Dubas asked all core players and any players with no trade clause if they wanted out..He also told other teams there open for business BUT crosby is not on the list to be traded. However dubas stated he left it up to crosby if he wants to stay or go...Nothing further.

I think Dubas was just throwing Eller a bone. Hey you want to go play with your old buddy Ovi? We’re going to give some young guys a look, and you can go play with a decent hockey club.

Malkin definitely needs to be playing with Sid now that he’s available. Teams need to see he’s a competent winger to up his value at the deadline.

Big props and respect to the Caps, MacLellan and Patrick for at least giving Ovi a shot at the playoffs and a possible cinderella run at the cup to end his career. Hes earned it and thats what the players love to play for. Deal with a proper full re build when Ovis done.

Just heard: Apparently Dubas asked all core players and any players with no trade clause if they wanted out..He also told other teams there open for business BUT crosby is not on the list to be traded. However dubas stated he left it up to crosby if he wants to stay or go...Nothing further.
- jb55

So he’s bailing on his plan b already? Impressive! Not even 2 yrs in and he’s failed 2x.

I’m taking sully lasts longer than dubas at this point.

Big props and respect to the Caps, MacLellan and Patrick for at least giving Ovi a shot at the playoffs and a possible cinderella run at the cup to end his career. Hes earned it and thats what the players love to play for. Deal with a proper full re build when Ovis done.
- pens4life-66

Pens could have done the same with smarter moves. Hextall and Dubas both massively struck out.

Per Elliot Friedman:

-Pettersson and DOC could be next
-No reason to think Crosby and/or Malkin would leave
-Doesnt see any market for Letang given his age and injury history + plus his NMC
-As Karlsson's salary drops, there could be interest in him
-No imminent plan to fire Mike Sullivan, but Dubas hasnt given him the public vote of confidence.

Pens could have done the same with smarter moves. Hextall and Dubas both massively struck out.
- buckster2342

I think people forget how good that 2021 Penguins team was. We took a supposed Cup favorite Rangers team to the brink of Game 7 without our top goalie for the whole series. We blew that opportunity and then Hextall blew that team up for no reason.

I think people forget how good that 2021 Penguins team was. We took a supposed Cup favorite Rangers team to the brink of Game 7 without our top goalie for the whole series. We blew that opportunity and then Hextall blew that team up for no reason.
- SuperHenderson13

That was a Covid year so idk if you can fully compare it.

But yeah I’d take math and Marino on the blue line vs this crap.

Not sure who is worse at gm hex or dubas at this point,