Ryan Wilson: Flower met with adulation in final start in Pittsburgh Flower met with adulation in final start in Pittsburgh

"Selfishly, I am also over trying to remember how to spell his last name."

hahaha I'm with you on this one and also that he sucks for the Pens. He was not a necessary signing at all and I cant help but think Aho, or even Pickering, who are down with the baby pens could be an improvement over him at this point.

The Grz situation is similar to JJ. They found a vet D who was a healthy scratch on his team and decided they know better than the people watching the player every night. At least this time it's only a 1-year deal and could help us tank to get a top pick.

Fleury is the best. An all time great player and personality in the NHL. Miss that guy.

Was nice to at least see us have one line that can play well, rather than 4 that suck. Rackell went from having negative trade value to starting to look like a guy that could bring back a really good return if he is moved. Keeping Geno-Sid-Rackell has to be a focus here moving forward.

Grezylk was one of the more confusing signings of the offseason. Boston didnt want him back on their bottom pair so we paid him good money to play with Letang...? Was never really sure what the thought was there but I hoped he would be better.

It is astonishing to me that we are second worst in the league behind San Jose. I fully expected this roster to be bad but my concern was that we would be good enough that we only get a pick outside of the top 10. A top 3 pick this year would at least be a good result as sick to my stomach as it makes me seeing Sid and the crews twighlight years end swirling around the toilet bowl.

Dubas needs to just be watching the injury wire and looking for ways to move out some of the dead weight. Poulin is off to a good start in the AHL, I'd love to see Brunike back in the lineup at some point. Hopefully McGroaty can get his game together enough that we can get him back up.

Eller, Puljujarvi & Ned could bring back some value (Id obviously rather trade Jarry but seems unlikely).

Finding a way to offload Hayes without paying a bunch should be a major priority. Bunting should have some value to a playoff team. The big guys in Toronto really liked him so I could totally see him heading to Toronto.

Dubas needs to just be watching the injury wire and looking for ways to move out some of the dead weight. Poulin is off to a good start in the AHL, I'd love to see Brunike back in the lineup at some point. Hopefully McGroaty can get his game together enough that we can get him back up.

Eller, Puljujarvi & Ned could bring back some value (Id obviously rather trade Jarry but seems unlikely).

Finding a way to offload Hayes without paying a bunch should be a major priority. Bunting should have some value to a playoff team. The big guys in Toronto really liked him so I could totally see him heading to Toronto.
- MacPatty

If there's a rash of goalie injuries, I could see Jarry getting moved with some $ retained. Plus, another GM will look at our "tire fire" defensive structure and reasonably think that's a big factor. Because it is.

Dubas needs to just be watching the injury wire and looking for ways to move out some of the dead weight. Poulin is off to a good start in the AHL, I'd love to see Brunike back in the lineup at some point. Hopefully McGroaty can get his game together enough that we can get him back up.

Eller, Puljujarvi & Ned could bring back some value (Id obviously rather trade Jarry but seems unlikely).

Finding a way to offload Hayes without paying a bunch should be a major priority. Bunting should have some value to a playoff team. The big guys in Toronto really liked him so I could totally see him heading to Toronto.
- MacPatty

Can't bring Brunicke back this year. The CHL transfer rules are dumb.

"Selfishly, I am also over trying to remember how to spell his last name."

hahaha I'm with you on this one and also that he sucks for the Pens. He was not a necessary signing at all and I cant help but think Aho, or even Pickering, who are down with the baby pens could be an improvement over him at this point.
- MattStrat

It's strange if you look at the stats Grezelcyk had in boston he was way better than in pittsburgh? To me anyhow? I'm not sure who he was paired with though?

Geez?? I didn't he was only 5'9..

MAF has always been one of the most interesting sports figures in this past (and very successful) generation of Pittsburgh sports.

On one hand, he made some of the most significant saves of that generation: save on Lidstrom in 2009, save on Ovechkin in 2009, his timely goaltending play in the 2017 Cup run, etc.

On the other hand, he played a big part in the underperformance of this group between 2010-2015. I blame guys like Dan Bylsma more, but if we didnt have Vokoun in 2013, arguably the best Penguins team in the Crosby era would've lost in the first round. The 2012 debacle needs no further analysis, etc.

So it's interesting to me he is one of the most beloved Pittsburgh sports figures in recent memory, right up there with Sid, Geno, Big Ben, and Andrew McCutchen. His personality and how he treats people plays a big role in that, as it should. I've never met any fan that had a bad interaction with him.

I know the logic was sound in 2017, but I do wonder what would've happened had the Penguins traded Murray to strengthen the defending Cup champions such as Sam Bennett, lost a guy like Rust (had a trade not been made to send someone else) and rode with MAF. Hindsight is 20/20, but its one of Penguins funny "What ifs".

To me, all penguins players play better on other teams and the players the penguins get back suck in pittsburgh. Look at bunting he's a perfect example..He's regressed from last year already and was playing as a dmen last week and benched 10 games in..He hasn't impressed me at all..

It's strange if you look at the stats Grezelcyk had in boston he was way better than in pittsburgh? To me anyhow? I'm not sure who he was paired with though?

Geez?? I didn't he was only 5'9..
- jb55

Do you ever know what you're talking about? Perhaps trying doing some semblance of research before you post from now on. Grz did not have good numbers in Boston last year, not good old fashion stats nor advanced stats alike. His usual D partner was McAvoy, who's very good, and they had 609 mins of 5 on 5 ice time together.

Boston look like sh!t without him though haha...maybe they'll take him back.

I think Dubas took him in for one year to see if he could turn it around in order to ship back out at the TDL for more assets.

To me, all penguins players play better on other teams and the players the penguins get back suck in pittsburgh. Look at bunting he's a perfect example..He's regressed from last year already and was playing as a dmen last week and benched 10
games in..He hasn't impressed me at all..
- jb55

Yet another false narrative from you.

Bunting wasnt very good in Carolina man. He produced 50% more with the Pens after the trade than he had with the Canes... and on a Canes team that had +63 goal differential he was -15 haha. That almost seems impossible to do but he did it....

Yet another false narrative from you.

Bunting wasnt very good in Carolina man. He produced 50% more with the Pens after the trade than he had with the Canes... and on a Canes team that had +63 goal differential he was -15 haha. That almost seems impossible to do but he did it....
- MattStrat

Agreed. When we made the trade I thought it was brutal that we had to take back Buntings full contract because he was so bad in Carolina. He proceeded to light it up and make the trade look good. This year he is back to being who he was.

It was great seeing Fleury in Pittsburgh one last time last night. As I mentioned before, his problems in the 2012-3 time frame I think were a result of being worn down from playing behind this team and the large number of quality chances they have always given up, including back then. He is unquestionably the best goalie in Penguin's history.

I liked the idea of putting Malkin on Crosby's wing even before the start of the season. It allows Malkin to take more chance and be more creative offensively, without the added responsibilities of center.

The Grz situation is similar to JJ. They found a vet D who was a healthy scratch on his team and decided they know better than the people watching the player every night. At least this time it's only a 1-year deal and could help us tank to get a top pick.
- MickV

Ouch that's painfully accurate. And we were supposed to flip him for a pick after we rehabbed him.

I said at the time there was a better chance of POJ becoming a regular than any pick we got from Gryz and I'll stand by that.

Yet another false narrative from you.

Bunting wasnt very good in Carolina man. He produced 50% more with the Pens after the trade than he had with the Canes... and on a Canes team that had +63 goal differential he was -15 haha. That almost seems impossible to do but he did it....
- MattStrat

Haha I was about to write something similar but you covered it well. Anyone who has looked into Bunting at all would know he goes through large stretches when he doesn't bring his A game. That was the risk in acquiring him. He was banished to the bottom six in Carolina too. When he's on like he was after the trade, very impactful, but we aren't getting that for 82 games.

TIOPS reporting Vancouver is asking about price for Pettersson and reports is Dubas is setting the price at a 2nd round pick and a prospect

TIOPS reporting Vancouver is asking about price for Pettersson and reports is Dubas is setting the price at a 2nd round pick and a prospect
- 123Kid

Seems about right. Being able to retain half should add further value. Depending on what else is out there at the deadline I could totally see a contender dropping a 1st for him half retained.

I'd like Soucy & a 2nd but Van probably wants to have botfh for a run. Maybe Petts & Puljujarvi for Brannsyrom and a 1st?

If we are going to trade him, we should do so sooner than later so A) he doesn't get injured and B) we will lose more and improve the value of our own picks.

TIOPS reporting Vancouver is asking about price for Pettersson and reports is Dubas is setting the price at a 2nd round pick and a prospect
- 123Kid

Seems about right. Being able to retain half should add further value. Depending on what else is out there at the deadline I could totally see a contender dropping a 1st for him half retained.

I'd like Soucy & a 2nd but Van probably wants to have botfh for a run. Maybe Petts & Puljujarvi for Brannsyrom and a 1st?

If we are going to trade him, we should do so sooner than later so A) he doesn't get injured and B) we will lose more and improve the value of our own picks.