Ryan Wilson: Jarry steals another two points for Penguins Jarry steals another two points for Penguins

I will never ever cheer for, or hope for, a Pens loss. However, we are now in a Penguins era where losing can be beneficial for them. So, my current relationship status with the Penguins is: it's complicated

Jarry is going to play out of his mind these last few weeks just to screw us over one more time.

I will never ever cheer for, or hope for, a Pens loss. However, we are now in a Penguins era where losing can be beneficial for them. So, my current relationship status with the Penguins is: it's complicated
- MattStrat

Agreed. I truly want them to get the best draft pick possible. 3rd or 4th pick is possible still. That being said I can’t stand seeing them lose.

I want the vets and retreads all gone. Bring up Kids ready to go to war every single game. And most importantly find a coach who will instil in them a way to play that is miserable on the opponent in all 3 zones. Find some big nasty Dmen who are defensively responsible to play with Letang and EK. Make our crease a battle front every single second. Eventually the top end skill will be drafted and hopefully by then the Broz, howes, mcgroatys, etc will know how to battle.

There is no pressure at all now. That's why I think he's playing well.

I knew this would be just another reason for you to hate Tristan. Yes winning hurts the chances of a top 3 pick but still. A real fan doesn't root for their team to lose. Maybe Crosby shouldn't have scored 2 goals. The only way to be sure not to win is not to score.
It may help Jarry's value. NHL has a recency bias and they could see the good in him.

I will never ever cheer for, or hope for, a Pens loss. However, we are now in a Penguins era where losing can be beneficial for them. So, my current relationship status with the Penguins is: it's complicated
- MattStrat

Same. Makes the losses easier to swallow, but I can't bring myself to root for them to lose.

So... Jarry gonna cost us a better chance at a good draft pick... but MAYBE play just well enough for us to trade him this offseason without taking it up the ass to shed his contract?

I am not sure... what is better... ~5th overall pick and being stuck with Jarry's contract... or ~8th pick, and Jarry's contract being shed for only a mid round pick (3rd or fourth) with no money retained?

Get Sid the points, then allow 5 goals in a row. This is not rocket science. No need to showboat now. Need the best odds for the Draft Lottery.

I don't think Jarry's value is going to change much ... everyone saw what happened this season and the last couple of seasons.

It was 2 games with good goal tending guys, calm down.

Top 4 pick is what the pens need. There is a drop off after Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone. Quite a big drop off IMO after those 4.
Frondell, Mcqueen, Desnoyers, Eklund are in the next group depending on how you view Jackson Smith who I think has a ton of potential.
From 10-20 I dont see a difference in caliber of any of those players. After that I think its a mess this year.

From a draft only standpoint, Id pray the pens get a top 4 pick, then make a trade up with the rangers pick into the top 8.

I don’t think you realize how rare this was though. He’s a different human rn.

Top 4 pick is what the pens need. There is a drop off after Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone. Quite a big drop off IMO after those 4.
Frondell, Mcqueen, Desnoyers, Eklund are in the next group depending on how you view Jackson Smith who I think has a ton of potential.
From 10-20 I dont see a difference in caliber of any of those players. After that I think its a mess this year.

From a draft only standpoint, Id pray the pens get a top 4 pick, then make a trade up with the rangers pick into the top 8.
- pens4life-66

Unless we win the lottery Schaefer is going to SJ and misa to Chicago. Who knows after that. I would have to think Pitt would choose hagens as Martone might need a few years if given the options. Hopefully Buffalo, Nashville, Philly, and Seattle start playing better than Pitt down the stretch.

Top 4 pick is what the pens need. There is a drop off after Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, Martone. Quite a big drop off IMO after those 4.
Frondell, Mcqueen, Desnoyers, Eklund are in the next group depending on how you view Jackson Smith who I think has a ton of potential.
From 10-20 I dont see a difference in caliber of any of those players. After that I think its a mess this year.

From a draft only standpoint, Id pray the pens get a top 4 pick, then make a trade up with the rangers pick into the top 8.
- pens4life-66

Yeah, ideally a top 4 and we trade up, but we are going to need luck. The other teams around us all dumped to get worse, and we might have actually got better after the deadline. I'm guessing we finish 7th or 8th and its luck of the draw from there.

Finishing 5th gets you an 8.5% chance at the 1st and has a worst case pick of #7.
Finishing 8th gets you a 6% chance at #1 and a worst case pick of #10.
I think we fall somewhere in between.

Lets hope we get lucky but it seems more likely that we need to trade our 1st & the Rangers pick to get into the top 4.

Yeah, ideally a top 4 and we trade up, but we are going to need luck. The other teams around us all dumped to get worse, and we might have actually got better after the deadline. I'm guessing we finish 7th or 8th and its luck of the draw from there.

Finishing 5th gets you an 8.5% chance at the 1st and has a worst case pick of #7.
Finishing 8th gets you a 6% chance at #1 and a worst case pick of #10.
I think we fall somewhere in between.

Lets hope we get lucky but it seems more likely that we need to trade our 1st & the Rangers pick to get into the top 4.
- MacPatty

He could also package that Rags pick with Graves and punt him to a cap floor team perhaps....or one can dream....

Yeah, ideally a top 4 and we trade up, but we are going to need luck. The other teams around us all dumped to get worse, and we might have actually got better after the deadline. I'm guessing we finish 7th or 8th and its luck of the draw from there.

Finishing 5th gets you an 8.5% chance at the 1st and has a worst case pick of #7.
Finishing 8th gets you a 6% chance at #1 and a worst case pick of #10.
I think we fall somewhere in between.

Lets hope we get lucky but it seems more likely that we need to trade our 1st & the Rangers pick to get into the top 4.
- MacPatty

For what its worth, I only have 9 players with 1st round grades this year... I honestly doubt any player from this years draft (2025) is "ready" for the NHL next year.

The 2026 and 2027 drafts both look to have franchise changing talents at #1 with Mckenna and Dupont. 2027 are still way to young to guess but 2026 draft looks to have a lot more top end talent and also quite a bit deeper in talent.

He could also package that Rags pick with Graves and punt him to a cap floor team perhaps....or one can dream....
- MattStrat

Well its looking like we might also need some luck in that regard. The Rangers have lost 4 in a row and are currently in the #13 spot. They definitely dont look like they will be making the playoffs, and they seem more likely to drop further than to get back on track.

I'm actually wondering if we will end up offering the Rangers a 2nd next year to give up this years 1st if it falls between pick 9-13. I think the Rangers are also at risk of completely imploding next season and it would be interesting to have a lottery pick in a draft with McKenna. Would you rather have a top 15 pick this year or a 2.5% chance at a true generational talent like McKenna...?

For what its worth, I only have 9 players with 1st round grades this year... I honestly doubt any player from this years draft (2025) is "ready" for the NHL next year.

The 2026 and 2027 drafts both look to have franchise changing talents at #1 with Mckenna and Dupont. 2027 are still way to young to guess but 2026 draft looks to have a lot more top end talent and also quite a bit deeper in talent.
- pens4life-66

Really...? I agree that the that the top end is not Elite... but only 9 first round caliber players?

I think its about 50/50 whether Hagens or Misa could play in the NHL next season. Schaefer seems unlikely if only for the injury taking him out this season. Martone is going to need some time to develop and it seems very unlikely he will make the leap.

So would you rather have the Rangers pick at #15 or hope that the Rangers fall apart and we get a lottery shot next year? Assuming you'd prefer the latter.

Really...? I agree that the that the top end is not Elite... but only 9 first round caliber players?

I think its about 50/50 whether Hagens or Misa could play in the NHL next season. Schaefer seems unlikely if only for the injury taking him out this season. Martone is going to need some time to develop and it seems very unlikely he will make the leap.


So would you rather have the Rangers pick at #15 or hope that the Rangers fall apart and we get a lottery shot next year? Assuming you'd prefer the latter.
- MacPatty

I’ve only had to do grades on the last 3 drafts but going off our scouting lists on average there is about 17 players per draft with for sure 1st round grades. I’d bet some scouts will have 1st round grades on between 9-14 players this year.
I’d definitely take next years pick 100%. Not just the chance for McKenna but comparing I think this years 12th pick has the same talent/potential as next years 20th pick.
Obviously hard to say for sure as a year is A LOT of development for a 17 year old but at this point ya…

I’ve only had to do grades on the last 3 drafts but going off our scouting lists on average there is about 17 players per draft with for sure 1st round grades. I’d bet some scouts will have 1st round grades on between 9-14 players this year.
I’d definitely take next years pick 100%. Not just the chance for McKenna but comparing I think this years 12th pick has the same talent/potential as next years 20th pick.
Obviously hard to say for sure as a year is A LOT of development for a 17 year old but at this point ya…
- pens4life-66

Dubas has been quite a good drafter so I’m actually not super worried about where these picks fall given their likely ranges. I trust the FO to give us a good shot at maximizing their values.

I’ve only had to do grades on the last 3 drafts but going off our scouting lists on average there is about 17 players per draft with for sure 1st round grades. I’d bet some scouts will have 1st round grades on between 9-14 players this year.
I’d definitely take next years pick 100%. Not just the chance for McKenna but comparing I think this years 12th pick has the same talent/potential as next years 20th pick.
Obviously hard to say for sure as a year is A LOT of development for a 17 year old but at this point ya…
- pens4life-66

Wow.. thanks for the feedback. I guess it is obvious that this is a weaker draft, but thought that it was mostly at the top end and not just across the board.

So its probably a good thing that Dubas stocked up on 2026 2nd round picks. If next year is that much deeper, I'd be feeling really good about having 2 1sts & 3 2nds to be able to trade quantity for quality.

Wow.. thanks for the feedback. I guess it is obvious that this is a weaker draft, but thought that it was mostly at the top end and not just across the board.

So its probably a good thing that Dubas stocked up on 2026 2nd round picks. If next year is that much deeper, I'd be feeling really good about having 2 1sts & 3 2nds to be able to trade quantity for quality.
- MacPatty

Pierre Mcquire was on Madden the other day. He said the next 2 or 3 drafts are kind of weak. He said there's still really good players, but the depth of the drafts aren't that great. He said teams are aware of the depth issues and that's one of the reasons they were willing to part with picks. TIFWIW.

That shift by Imamma was the highlight of the game. Hague like started to skate over to him then decided better of it.