Ryan Wilson: Penguins complete a mostly successful trade deadline Penguins complete a mostly successful trade deadline

Good deals. I hope they make some moves like the Capitals have. Making a move like Chickenrun from sens.

Grzelcyk... ugh. Not only did we not get anything for him, this must be a sign they're going to extend him in the offseason and the fear is it'll be too much money for too long.

I agree that it feels like we should have been able to get a 2nd for him. Sigh

Good deals. I hope they make some moves like the Capitals have. Making a move like Chickenrun from sens.
- Aaron_85

Dubas has said he prefers young players/prospects to draft picks and i agree. I dont want anything to do with the lottery of picking a guy and not knowing for 2-3 years if he'll become anything.

Ideal situation would be Penguins get a top 5 pick with their 1st and 13-15th with the Rangers pick. That mid round pick could be flipped for a player, move up in the draft, etc.

Dubas came in with little assets and options. In less than 2 years, we have collected a lot of draft picks, rebuild our prospect pool from 30-32 to league average, and we will have some flexibility money wise.

Dubas has said he prefers young players/prospects to draft picks and i agree. I dont want anything to do with the lottery of picking a guy and not knowing for 2-3 years if he'll become anything.

Ideal situation would be Penguins get a top 5 pick with their 1st and 13-15th with the Rangers pick. That mid round pick could be flipped for a player, move up in the draft, etc.

Dubas came in with little assets and options. In less than 2 years, we have collected a lot of draft picks, rebuild our prospect pool from 30-32 to league average, and we will have some flexibility money wise.
- SuperHenderson13

Not sure we’re at league average prospect pool yet. Our futures are still mostly draft capital.

I agree with this write up. Also, it’s good to have some perspective…. Imagine if you’re a bruins fan rn

Not sure we’re at league average prospect pool yet. Our futures are still mostly draft capital.
- Victoro311

Scott Wheeler's prospect ranking for us was 20 out of 32 teams. Still lots of room to go, and we lack that true top tier guy, but this is the lowest we've been since probably 2012. We used to be in the 30-32 range.

I agree with this write up. Also, it’s good to have some perspective…. Imagine if you’re a bruins fan rn
- Brownsoldier

Bruins had balls today and I kind of wish Dubas had a bit bigger ones. I'm not saying I'm not pleased with what he did, I am, I just think he should have moved more guys out with this year's market the way it was. Bruins still have Pasta and Swayman to build around. Also, they have a ton of cap space.

Even as a rental Marchand for only a 2nd is pretty crazy.

From DK's site

Dubas on Rak....

"He is a big part of our program," Dubas said Friday afternoon at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. "Everyone has seen this year -- he’s got a long history of the type of player that he is -- but we see him every day, the type of person he his as well. When you have players that perform that way on a game-in, game-out basis that show the ability to respond when things don’t go well then can propel themselves back into being near the top of the league and perform at that level, it’s not something that you -- especially when you have them signed and they want to be a part of the community, they want to be part of the program, they know the path that we’re on and they want to be a part of helping to bring the team back to being in contention -- I would say that you don’t just push that out the door because that may be what’s wanted."

Dubas said the market was strong for Rakell, that there was a lot of interest from teams. That makes sense, given the season he's having and the fact that he's under contract for three more seasons at a very affordable annual cap hit of $5 million. Ultimately, Dubas remained steadfast that Rakell's the type of player worth keeping as part of the team's core moving forward.

"You have to do what’s right for the Pittsburgh Penguins," Dubas said. "And for us, having Rickard Rakell as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins was definitely the right thing to do as we measured it up against everything. We’re happy to have him, he’s a big part of what we do and I know he really wants to be here."

Apparently we extended Shea. 1 year, 900k. Solid enough depth guy.

From DK's site

Dubas on Rak....

"He is a big part of our program," Dubas said Friday afternoon at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. "Everyone has seen this year -- he’s got a long history of the type of player that he is -- but we see him every day, the type of person he his as well. When you have players that perform that way on a game-in, game-out basis that show the ability to respond when things don’t go well then can propel themselves back into being near the top of the league and perform at that level, it’s not something that you -- especially when you have them signed and they want to be a part of the community, they want to be part of the program, they know the path that we’re on and they want to be a part of helping to bring the team back to being in contention -- I would say that you don’t just push that out the door because that may be what’s wanted."

Dubas said the market was strong for Rakell, that there was a lot of interest from teams. That makes sense, given the season he's having and the fact that he's under contract for three more seasons at a very affordable annual cap hit of $5 million. Ultimately, Dubas remained steadfast that Rakell's the type of player worth keeping as part of the team's core moving forward.

"You have to do what’s right for the Pittsburgh Penguins," Dubas said. "And for us, having Rickard Rakell as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins was definitely the right thing to do as we measured it up against everything. We’re happy to have him, he’s a big part of what we do and I know he really wants to be here."
- madmike71

Straight from his own mouth there was a strong market for Rackell. This was just a choice they made.

Do you guys want to hear my stupid idea for the summer?

Go after Brady Tkachuk.

His best friend on the team got traded today and there's already talk that he is going to want to move on. I bet he'd want to go to Florida, but hey, you never know.

Scott Wheeler's prospect ranking for us was 20 out of 32 teams. Still lots of room to go, and we lack that true top tier guy, but this is the lowest we've been since probably 2012. We used to be in the 30-32 range.
- SuperHenderson13

Also of note, while there have been some positives for the Pens prospects, their top 2 guys coming in, McGroarty and Blomqvist, haven't had great years. The pool is improving and probably will jump a bit with this year's first rounder, but it's still maybe middle of the pack. A bunch of extra 3rds, a few 2nds, and an extra 1st won't move that needle much in the near future.

Straight from his own mouth there was a strong market for Rackell. This was just a choice they made.
- Tojo.

Sounds like he’s ready to shift to the next phase of his plan too unless that’s just lip service.

Straight from his own mouth there was a strong market for Rackell. This was just a choice they made.
- Tojo.

Yep... Sounds like they could have dealt Gryz too. Kept him for some reason.

Sounds like he’s ready to shift to the next phase of his plan too unless that’s just lip service.
- j.boyd919

Seems like it. I think they're a year out from being able to do that, but I hope he proves me wrong. Better not be planning on Ned as the starting goalie then or rolling with a similar blueline.

Sounds like he’s ready to shift to the next phase of his plan too unless that’s just lip service.
- j.boyd919

Yeah I’m for this. It was a painful two years but I think I see the vision here

Straight from his own mouth there was a strong market for Rackell. This was just a choice they made.
- Tojo.

I’m glad he actually said it instead of making up some bs. The other moves were as good as you could have asked for.

Like I said earlier, I know 100% there was 1 VERY strong offer. Cant really dive into that team or the prospect but it was a top 35 league wide prospect, (we have him ranked quite a bit higher than McGroarty) a 1st and a conditional 4th.
I was told 2 other really good offers were sent to the pens. Direct quote from 1 of these 2 offers “I think our offer is better than what they got for Jake and no money back beyond this season.”

Keeping Grze was a huge miss. Bottom line. As I’m sure you could have seen by that market the price was high and there were takers for him as well. No idea any of those exact offers but apparently “a 2nd wasn’t enough”???

Pens still have 13 forwards and 8 defenseman when you include POJ. So doesn't look like anybody from WBS is getting look beyond Boko and Bennstrom. Not a good sign for guys like Ponomarov and Poulin.

Should be a good chance for Tomasino to show if he's worth considering for a 2nd line role and Bennstrom to show if the changes to his game can help him stick as a third line scorer. Also interested to see what Novak, Kolyachonok and Timmons do with the opportunity. LGP

I’m glad he actually said it instead of making up some bs. The other moves were as good as you could have asked for.

Like I said earlier, I know 100% there was 1 VERY strong offer. Cant really dive into that team or the prospect but it was a top 35 league wide prospect, (we have him ranked quite a bit higher than McGroarty) a 1st and a conditional 4th.
I was told 2 other really good offers were sent to the pens. Direct quote from 1 of these 2 offers “I think our offer is better than what they got for Jake and no money back beyond this season.”

Keeping Grze was a huge miss. Bottom line. As I’m sure you could have seen by that market the price was high and there were takers for him as well. No idea any of those exact offers but apparently “a 2nd wasn’t enough”???
- pens4life-66

Thanks for the insights. We're of the same mind here. Missed opportunity, hope we don't regret it too much.

On the one hand, I agree with you guys that they should've traded Grz ... but on the other hand, I've been completely wrong about all things related to Grz so far.

I would've sold high on Rak, but who knows, maybe they make a great deal over the summer.

Pens still have 13 forwards and 8 defenseman when you include POJ. So doesn't look like anybody from WBS is getting look beyond Boko and Bennstrom. Not a good sign for guys like Ponomarov and Poulin.

Should be a good chance for Tomasino to show if he's worth considering for a 2nd line role and Bennstrom to show if the changes to his game can help him stick as a third line scorer. Also interested to see what Novak, Kolyachonok and Timmons do with the opportunity. LGP
- Tojo.

I think that was by design, I think he wants them to compete in the AHL and push for the first round bye to develop some winning culture down there.

On the one hand, I agree with you guys that they should've traded Grz ... but on the other hand, I've been completely wrong about all things related to Grz so far.

I would've sold high on Rak, but who knows, maybe they make a great deal over the summer.
- MickV

It would be extremely rare for summer time prices to be even close to that high. I know people always say “then everybody can fit him in cap wise” ya sure but as you seen the top teams against the cap didn’t have much problems fitting in 5 mill anywhere let alone the teams with 10+ mill in free cap. I get if it was a player that made 10+ mill it gets a lot trickier (Karlsson) but 5 mill every team can quite easily have fit.

Problem 2: as Ryan mentioned, now they can sign guys they want for free as a UFA

Problem 3: there will always be the Jeff skinners and arvidsons on cheaper “prove it deals” that teams will take.

Problem 4: teams are in literally no rush to force a deal. They can wait and talk to 31 other teams to find a different player for less. Or again, they wait and see if any of their own young guys step up and take that spot.

It would be extremely rare for summer time prices to be even close to that high. I know people always say “then everybody can fit him in cap wise” ya sure but as you seen the top teams against the cap didn’t have much problems fitting in 5 mill anywhere let alone the teams with 10+ mill in free cap. I get if it was a player that made 10+ mill it gets a lot trickier (Karlsson) but 5 mill every team can quite easily have fit.

Problem 2: as Ryan mentioned, now they can sign guys they want for free as a UFA

Problem 3: there will always be the Jeff skinners and arvidsons on cheaper “prove it deals” that teams will take.

Problem 4: teams are in literally no rush to force a deal. They can wait and talk to 31 other teams to find a different player for less. Or again, they wait and see if any of their own young guys step up and take that spot.
- pens4life-66

I think Dubas thinks he can build a contender with the assets amassed and sees Rackell as part of that. Per Tojo’s point, why wasn’t Peterssen was part of that? I have no idea but it does feel like Dubas has a plan right now.

Just throwing out a thought, but it seems like we keep making deals with Nashville. I wonder if we really are trying to shoot for a playoff spot next season. They weren't happy with quite a few players. Maybe we can fleece Trotz in another deal for someone like Forsberg