Ryan Wilson: Does Dubas' decision on Zach Hyman give insight into Jake Guentzel? Does Dubas' decision on Zach Hyman give insight into Jake Guentzel?

They are completely different types of players so hard to compare. With Hymans style of play along with his reliance on speed, its inevitable he slows down toward the end of his contract. Still think they would have been better off trading Nylander and keeping him though.

Guentzel as noted is a very smart player and he has mostly avoided taking significant damage throughout his career. That said, he isn't an especially fast skater and if he slows down with age that could become a big problem. I think 8/$8M is fair for him but I'd be seeing what the trade market looks like at the same time.

Is there a team who he would sign an extension with, that would be desperate for him and pay a fortune? Could you get Kaliyev or Byfield plus Arvidsson and a pick from LA? Not sure I'd do it but a quick example.

RW - one thing you need to drop now though is this "Who cares if their contract is bad in 5 years. Dubas signed for 7 years and made it clear he isn't looking to have the team fall apart and go through a lengthy rebuild.

Was bored and put this together on cap friendly for the Pens this year. Had a hard time deciding what to do with goaltending and filling in a 2LW role. I think I was left at the end with a 1G and 2LW and about $8M to fill those holes.

Picked up Fast, Campbell and a top prospect for the gap but probably 10 other ways to go there.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/4242875

I like a bunch of your FA's.

I would prefer buyout for Granlund.

The 3 players I want sent out are Grandlund, Carter, Petry, DeSmith, and Smith (in that order). Throw Ruuta in there too. As for a 'shake-up' trade, my vote is Rust.

Trading our first, rust, and Smith should get rid of contracts and maybe bring in some other assets.

The bottom 6 needs completely overhauled and a new Top 6.

D needs to remove the log jam, and have better net-front presence + Speed.

A Top 6 Def of:

Pets - Tanger
Gavrikov - Dumba/Klingberg
POJ - idk

Only bottom 6 players I wouldnt mind return would be Poehling, O'Conner, and Nylander.

I like a bunch of your FA's.

I would prefer buyout for Granlund.

The 3 players I want sent out are Grandlund, Carter, Petry, DeSmith, and Smith (in that order). Throw Ruuta in there too. As for a 'shake-up' trade, my vote is Rust.

Trading our first, rust, and Smith should get rid of contracts and maybe bring in some other assets.

The bottom 6 needs completely overhauled and a new Top 6.

D needs to remove the log jam, and have better net-front presence + Speed.

A Top 6 Def of:

Pets - Tanger
Gavrikov - Dumba/Klingberg
POJ - idk

Only bottom 6 players I wouldnt mind return would be Poehling, O'Conner, and Nylander.
- Grizzsh

Goalie: Anderson/Varlamov 1b/1b.

I have Zero clue on how the cap works out lol.

Was bored and put this together on cap friendly for the Pens this year. Had a hard time deciding what to do with goaltending and filling in a 2LW role. I think I was left at the end with a 1G and 2LW and about $8M to fill those holes.

Picked up Fast, Campbell and a top prospect for the gap but probably 10 other ways to go there.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/4242875
- MacPatty

Monahan is held together with chewing gum and masking tape at this point. I'd stay far away from him.

I don’t love Klinberg with our current defensive construction. Dumba sure is interesting though.

I don’t love Klinberg with our current defensive construction. Dumba sure is interesting though.
- Victoro311

Isn’t Dumba one of the most overrated D in the league? Dude at 14 points in 79 games last year. I wouldn’t touch that poop.

Isn’t Dumba one of the most overrated D in the league? Dude at 14 points in 79 games last year. I wouldn’t touch that poop.
- j.boyd919

Honestly don’t follow him so I was going off the reputation that he was a big physical d man with an offensive pulse. If that’s not the case then whatever.

Isn’t Dumba one of the most overrated D in the league? Dude at 14 points in 79 games last year. I wouldn’t touch that poop.
- j.boyd919

I think its more like one of the more overpaid for production defensemen at 6 mill. He's had four 10+ goal seasons on the back end, just hasnt in a few seasons. I think he's a hard guy to play against, definitely has a snarl and mean streak. If you look at his underlying stuff for the last 10 years and he was almost always above 50% in xGF% and HDSC% ...except last season haha 49ish%. I wouldn't mind him at all if he was around 2, or less, mill...if I were to bet I think he gets like 3.5/4 from a team. He's righty, they're in much more demand.

I think its more like one of the more overpaid for production defensemen at 6 mill. I think he's a hard guy to play against, definitely has a snarl and mean streak. If you look at his underlying stuff for the last 10 years and he was almost always above 50% in xGF% and HDSC% ...except last season haha 49ish%. I wouldn't mind him at all if he was around 2, or less, mill...if I were to bet I think he gets like 3.5 from a team.
- MattStrat

I feel like Petry is basically everything people think Dumba is.

I feel like Petry is basically everything people think Dumba is.
- j.boyd919

I added some more stuff before you replied haha but you might be right

Just keep him and see if they are even remotely close to being a playoff team next year. If not, trade him at the deadline for futures.

Monahan is held together with chewing gum and masking tape at this point. I'd stay far away from him.
- burgh4life87

I don't disagree with the assessment. I think the Pens will have to take on a risk or two to have the chance to win the next couple years. He would be a great option for adding talent on the 3rd line with the potential of moving up with injuries. Can play center or wing.

If he gets hurt early enough, his cap space opens up for the playoffs. Big risk, but with the other moves I put in I thought it was worth trying.

I don’t love Klinberg with our current defensive construction. Dumba sure is interesting though.
- Victoro311

I think Dumba could be had on the cheaper side because of this past year. Regardless, I wasnt a Petry fan at all. May be recency bias but some of his hesitation/decision making was brutal.

I don't disagree with the assessment. I think the Pens will have to take on a risk or two to have the chance to win the next couple years. He would be a great option for adding talent on the 3rd line with the potential of moving up with injuries. Can play center or wing.

If he gets hurt early enough, his cap space opens up for the playoffs. Big risk, but with the other moves I put in I thought it was worth trying.
- MacPatty

Bring back Erod

I can't imagine Dubas not giving deference to Crosby regarding Guentzel. Yes, he won't give him an insane contract but I think Dubas would make lots of enemies throughout the organization without making a serious attempt to resign Guentzel. Crosby's ability to "lift up" his linemates will likely decrease a bit as he gets older and he will want proven wingers whom he knows he can work with to remain on his line. Guentzel also has to realize that his numbers are largely because he is on Crosby's line. I think gm's in the past didn't "get this" but do more so now. So I am not sure how much of a position Guentzel is in to score a ridiculous contract.

Regarding Granlund, yes, a buyout is the only option. The team is finally shed of the JJ buyout and now will have this one for four years. I guess the team has to have one buyout on its books .

I think the Granlund buyout (above) and Carter's NMC makes it impossible to buy Carter out, and the one year left makes it not really worth it. However, hopefully with Hextell gone they can demote Crater to the fourth line or better yet, the pressbox. No 3C should have a +/- as bad as his last year. If it is close to zero fine. His was the worst minus among all the forwards on the team.

Buy out Desmith, are you nuts? As things stand right now the Pens are a month away from losing Jarry. Desmith isn't a starter but he is ok as a backup. The fact that Jarry is not signed indicates to me that either he has a career-affecting or ending injury or that the team just wants to let him walk. If this is the case Dubas doesn't need to make his job any more difficult by needing to find two NHL goalies instead of just one.

I guess there is the possibility of the 1A/1B or 2A/2B or whatever you want to call it, in which case he would probably have to lose Desmith since he isn't good enough to play that many games. Of course, that is predicated upon finding two goalies better than Desmith.

Bring back Erod
- burgh4life87

Bring back Erod, Bring back Blueger, bring back... why? Move on, and move forward. It didn't work out before, let's try and build around what we have with new players.

I can't imagine Dubas not giving deference to Crosby regarding Guentzel. Yes, he won't give him an insane contract but I think Dubas would make lots of enemies throughout the organization without making a serious attempt to resign Guentzel. Crosby's ability to "lift up" his linemates will likely decrease a bit as he gets older and he will want proven wingers whom he knows he can work with to remain on his line. Guentzel also has to realize that his numbers are largely because he is on Crosby's line. I think gm's in the past didn't "get this" but do more so now. So I am not sure how much of a position Guentzel is in to score a ridiculous contract.

Regarding Granlund, yes, a buyout is the only option. The team is finally shed of the JJ buyout and now will have this one for four years. I guess the team has to have one buyout on its books .

I think the Granlund buyout (above) and Carter's NMC makes it impossible to buy Carter out, and the one year left makes it not really worth it. However, hopefully with Hextell gone they can demote Crater to the fourth line or better yet, the pressbox. No 3C should have a +/- as bad as his last year. If it is close to zero fine. His was the worst minus among all the forwards on the team.

Buy out Desmith, are you nuts? As things stand right now the Pens are a month away from losing Jarry. Desmith isn't a starter but he is ok as a backup. The fact that Jarry is not signed indicates to me that either he has a career-affecting or ending injury or that the team just wants to let him walk. If this is the case Dubas doesn't need to make his job any more difficult by needing to find two NHL goalies instead of just one.

I guess there is the possibility of the 1A/1B or 2A/2B or whatever you want to call it, in which case he would probably have to lose Desmith since he isn't good enough to play that many games. Of course, that is predicated upon finding two goalies better than Desmith.
- PghPens668771

Sid and Geno don't lift up team mates anymore. Just surround them with good players. Guentzel is a top line sniper. He benefiits from Crosby as much as Sid benefits from him. Put 90% of the teams in the league and he's still potting 30-35.

Also JJ's buyout isn't over until 2026... not sure where you're getting that.

Bring back Erod, Bring back Blueger, bring back... why? Move on, and move forward. It didn't work out before, let's try and build around what we have with new players.
- j.boyd919

I miss teddy but he never made the jump to a clear cut third liner. If he were to fall through the cracks I’d definitely love to have him back on a fourth liner’s salary but I just feel like he’s gonna get one of those fourth line/third line tweener contracts and those are rarely good value.

Bring back Erod, Bring back Blueger, bring back... why? Move on, and move forward. It didn't work out before, let's try and build around what we have with new players.
- j.boyd919

Erod was a very solid player and proved again last year with Colorado he is just that. Flexible center/winger that fits a need for our 3rd line.
Teddy isn't even playing for Vegas so that's a no.

The Guentz-Sid-Rakell line showed they can keep up and compete with anyone. This line should remain intact for the next 4 years unless one of these players show a huge decline (Sid might be the first 👀).

Guentzel isn’t stupid. He knows if he signs an 8 year deal in Pittsburgh, he’s probably likely to be traded in year 4/5. Dubas gives him an NTC, but tells Jake when the time comes he can essentially choose his trade destination. Or if Jake just wants to be on a losing team for the tail end of his career he can do that too lol

Also JJ's buyout isn't over until 2026... not sure where you're getting that.
- j.boyd919

Sorry, my mistake. It does drop by $1M starting the upcoming season. I guess that being in the back of my mind combined with some wishful thinking made me wrongly think it was over with .

Also, I think Crosby still has somewhat of an uplifting effect on his line. However, if Guentzel were to be replaced with a Pascal Dupuis-type player the first line would definitely tank. Dubas needs to make a serious effort to keep Guenztel.

It wont matter, pens are not winning again with this group

It wont matter, pens are not winning again with this group
- LFS

We know. We just want to watch entertaining hockey till Sid and Geno ride off into the sunset.