Ryan Wilson: Team Sweden Four Nations preview Team Sweden Four Nations preview

This Sweden blog acted as your new Pens blog and buried the actual latest Pens blog "Sid is good to go" in archives

My hot take/prediction for the rest of the season is that we trade NYR's 1st round pick to Anaheim for Zegras.

Add to the fact that Anaheim is watching the Baby Pens tonight in the AHL.

My hot take/prediction for the rest of the season is that we trade NYR's 1st round pick to Anaheim for Zegras.

Add to the fact that Anaheim is watching the Baby Pens tonight in the AHL.
- SuperHenderson13

I think McTavish might be who we are targeting. Zegras might be a secondary target. If they are looking at WBS. It could be a big deal. I don't see us shipping off many prospects this TDL. So that is extremely interesting.

I think McTavish might be who we are targeting. Zegras might be a secondary target. If they are looking at WBS. It could be a big deal. I don't see us shipping off many prospects this TDL. So that is extremely interesting.
- 123Kid

Its a very interesting time in the Penguins timeline, no doubt. However, I have lost a great deal of faith in Dubas being good for this time in our history....but it is what it is, now. We'll see what unfolds.

Its a very interesting time in the Penguins timeline, no doubt. However, I have lost a great deal of faith in Dubas being good for this time in our history....but it is what it is, now. We'll see what unfolds.
- MattStrat

I feel that if he ends up bringing in some more picks and bombs the season. I think the offseason will be telling. If he can be aggressive and use some of the picks and land us some young talent in the draft and via trade. Plus if he can land a few good free agents. It could change this team for the better. Especially if he lands Rantanen or Marner for this team this offseason.

I feel that if he ends up bringing in some more picks and bombs the season. I think the offseason will be telling. If he can be aggressive and use some of the picks and land us some young talent in the draft and via trade. Plus if he can land a few good free agents. It could change this team for the better. Especially if he lands Rantanen or Marner for this team this offseason.
- 123Kid

I just cant see Rantanen or Marner, whom both of which are going to be going for max term and major dough, signing with the Pens at this point, and where they are, in their franchise cycle. Maybe if Sid was 4 or 5 years younger. I've been wrong before, though.

I just cant see Rantanen or Marner, whom both of which are going to be going for max term and major dough, signing with the Pens at this point, and where they are, in their franchise cycle. Maybe if Sid was 4 or 5 years younger. I've been wrong before, though.
- MattStrat

I get conflicting reports. I have heard they wanna ship of salary, but I also hear they are trying to get additional investors to be more aggressive in the bidding wars. So I am unsure what to believe.

It's crazy to see Brock Nelson as the number 1 option for teams looking for scoring help. The Penguins owe it to themselves to at least listen on Rackell. 6 months ago, he probably wasn't tradable without retaining salary. Now with the big year he's having and the cap rising combined with a thin market, he could net at least one premium asset plus.

A premium asset like a first or top prospect and I'd look hard at trading him.

Here's an interesting (to me) thought I had. Which of these groups of Penguins prospects will end up having the biggest NHL impact: WBS's rookie class, or the rest of their prospects combined?

McGroarty, Musharov, Pickering, Koivunen, and Broz are all rookies at the same time due in large part to trades. The first four are probably in the top 5-7 prospects if you made a list right now.

That sid assist was a beauty.

I think McTavish might be who we are targeting. Zegras might be a secondary target. If they are looking at WBS. It could be a big deal. I don't see us shipping off many prospects this TDL. So that is extremely interesting.
- 123Kid

Agreed on McTavish. I have floated him as someone we could take a big risk offer sheet on. I don't see Zegras being the answer for us.

Here's an interesting (to me) thought I had. Which of these groups of Penguins prospects will end up having the biggest NHL impact: WBS's rookie class, or the rest of their prospects combined?

McGroarty, Musharov, Pickering, Koivunen, and Broz are all rookies at the same time due in large part to trades. The first four are probably in the top 5-7 prospects if you made a list right now.
- Tojo.

Outside of that group, who's left? Brunike, Howe, Pieniniemi, Maybe Harding. I'd add Blomqvist and Ponamarev to the first group.

I just cant see Rantanen or Marner, whom both of which are going to be going for max term and major dough, signing with the Pens at this point, and where they are, in their franchise cycle. Maybe if Sid was 4 or 5 years younger. I've been wrong before, though.
- MattStrat

Well Rantanen looks human when he isn't alongside MacKinnon now. He might still get $14M from a team but if Dubas really wants to, we could go to $15M per. Don't think we should though.

I see Marner staying, I think he really does enjoy it there.
But I could see him being interested in Pittsburgh if he does go FA. He gets to lead the retool and play a few years with Sid.

The focus for us needs to be finding the next young, top 6 center. McTavish, Wyatt Johnson, type of player. Maybe Cozens can rebound and be that guy? Villardi is a good 2C option.

After seeing some of the hitting, I hope Rak and EK don't get hurt. It would suck to not have the ability to move them.

Outside of that group, who's left? Brunike, Howe, Pieniniemi, Maybe Harding. I'd add Blomqvist and Ponamarev to the first group.
- madmike71

Ponomarov and Blomqvist aren't rookies, so they go in the second group. I'd add Ilyin though he's stagnated a bit this year.

1) So McGroarty, Murashov, Pickering, Koivunen, Broz

2) Blomqvist, Howe, Brinicke, Ilyin, Ponomarov Pieniniemi, etc.

Which group do you take to have the best NHL impact?

Really brought it up to say how much of our prospect talent is concentrated on that group.

Hopefully Dubas was watching that Crosby-Marner connection in overtime.

Hopefully Dubas was watching that Crosby-Marner connection in overtime.
- SuperHenderson13

Hopefully he was watching what Crosby can do surrounded with talent in general. How on earth as a coach do you give McDavid 4 mins more in a game than Crosby?

Ponomarov and Blomqvist aren't rookies, so they go in the second group. I'd add Ilyin though he's stagnated a bit this year.

1) So McGroarty, Murashov, Pickering, Koivunen, Broz

2) Blomqvist, Howe, Brinicke, Ilyin, Ponomarov Pieniniemi, etc. (maybe the kid we got on the Petts trade)

Which group do you take to have the best NHL impact?

Really brought it up to say how much of our prospect talent is concentrated on that group.
- Tojo.

After seeing some of the hitting, I hope Rak and EK don't get hurt. It would suck to not have the ability to move them.
- madmike71

I loved seeing the hitting and the hustle and battle level of the players. EK looked great for Sweden and all the GM's are watching haha.

I cant wait to watch USA/Finland tonight...

...and I never want to see another All-Star game in my life.

I loved seeing the hitting and the hustle and battle level of the players. EK looked great for Sweden and all the GM's are watching haha.

I cant wait to watch USA/Finland tonight...

...and I never want to see another All-Star game in my life.
- MattStrat

I wasn't sure that they would all go as hard as they did. Definitely beats an all-star game, but I don't think this will catch on with owners. Not sure how bad Theodore is but Vegas will miss him badly!

And yeah, good to see Karlsson show so well when playing best on best. I keep going back and forth on wanting to keep or trade him...

I loved seeing the hitting and the hustle and battle level of the players. EK looked great for Sweden and all the GM's are watching haha.

I cant wait to watch USA/Finland tonight...

...and I never want to see another All-Star game in my life.
- MattStrat

It's definitely good hockey. Not denying that. Losing players like Theodore last night could directly affect a teams cup chances. I guess we don't have that problem anymore lol.

I was happy to see Sid play so well -- and smile again -- but I was rooting for my ancestorial homeland. The vikings gave it a good effort. Looking forward to seeing this Team USA on the ice tonight.

I have tickets to the Canada-Finland game in Boston. I hope it's as good as last night's game was.

I wasn't sure that they would all go as hard as they did. Definitely beats an all-star game, but I don't think this will catch on with owners. Not sure how bad Theodore is but Vegas will miss him badly!

And yeah, good to see Karlsson show so well when playing best on best. I keep going back and forth on wanting to keep or trade him...
- MacPatty

That's why we have to enjoy this while we can! hahaha

I found it funny that people were hating on this tourney even being a thing. I really dont think those people are true lovers of hockey. My only gripe is no Russia....and to lesser extent Czechia. League did announce 8 team World Cup in 2028 though, I would imagine Russia will be a part of that.

It's definitely good hockey. Not denying that. Losing players like Theodore last night could directly affect a teams cup chances. I guess we don't have that problem anymore lol.
- madmike71

hahaha nope, we don't. Just don't want Sid to get injured and F up beating Gretzky's record.