I don’t think JR is signing any more forwards right now, but I would still give Kovy a look for a one year deal at around $1M or inquire about Soderberg; given his age and the market I’m curious if he would take a one year $2M deal or maybe even two years.
- Rinosaur

I’d love Kovy at 1m. He could play the left side of the PP. But I thought he played LW and not RW?

I’d probably go:
Matheson - Marino
Petts -Ruhwedel

And hope Marino masks and covers Mathesons deficiencies a bit
That way you have a boring but effective 3rd pair.
- j.boyd919

haha you guys are assuming Matheson really sucks and Pettersson and Marino are sure things. I thought the Pettersson/Marino pairing looked shaky against Montreal. Maybe it was the Covid thing but they didn't play exactly well.
From what I've seen from Matheson his skating jumps out right away. He gets to pucks.

haha you guys are assuming Matheson really sucks and Pettersson and Marino are sure things. I thought the Pettersson/Marino pairing looked shaky against Montreal. Maybe it was the Covid thing but they didn't playe exactly well.
From what I've seen from Matheson his skating jumps out right away. He gets to pucks.
- Barnaby36

I’m not assuming anything. I’m using statistical analysis with the 4 year sample size that he has been in the NHL. I’ve also watched enough Tampa vs. Florida games to know his style. He’s basically a younger version of JJ. The overwhelming majority of players he played with on Florida had a better xGF without him than with him. He reminds me of Daley a bit. Gets by on skating ability (also young JJ) and trades chances.

I'd ship it. Granlund won't play center, but he'd lock down the RW depth. You could play him top 6 and move Kap down if you wanted, or not.

You lock down RW, and essentially McCann, Jankowski, Rodrigues, Poulin, and O'Connor are competing for two spots. I like the odds of McCann plus one of those four emerging.
- Tojo.

I’m not assuming anything. I’m using statistical analysis with the 4 year sample size that he has been in the NHL. I’ve also watched enough Tampa vs. Florida games to know his style. He’s basically a younger version of JJ. The overwhelming majority of players he played with on Florida had a better xGF without him than with him. He reminds me of Daley a bit. Gets by on skating ability (also young JJ) and trades chances.
- j.boyd919

If he's Daley 2.0 sign me up. No to JJ.

I’d love Kovy at 1m. He could play the left side of the PP. But I thought he played LW and not RW?
- j.boyd919

He does. I was thinking Kovy-McCann-Tanev.

If he's Daley 2.0 sign me up. No to JJ.
- Barnaby36

Sign you up for what? He’s here and not going anywhere.

He does. I was thinking Kovy-McCann-Tanev.
- Rinosaur

Yes, agree on Kovy and that looks like a great line. Its funny because for the last few years he has seemed like this no brainer great fit for the Pens yet they never seem to even consider him.

haha you guys are assuming Matheson really sucks and Pettersson and Marino are sure things. I thought the Pettersson/Marino pairing looked shaky against Montreal. Maybe it was the Covid thing but they didn't play exactly well.
From what I've seen from Matheson his skating jumps out right away. He gets to pucks.
- Barnaby36

The Pettersson-Marino pairing wasn't even on for a goal against the whole series. They're not as dynamic offensively as you'd like from 2 guys who can move the puck, but they give up very little. Of course both are young defensemen with the ability to improve.

Oh, I'm not counting on it either... Just think it might be the current idea for JR and Sully. Even if that pair sn't that effective it might still be better than the 3rd pair that played the Habs haha.
- MattStrat

Let’s start by hoping he can play his natural side haha

The Pettersson-Marino pairing wasn't even on for a goal against the whole series. They're not as dynamic offensively as you'd like from 2 guys who can move the puck, but they give up very little. Of course both are young defensemen with the ability to improve.
- Tojo.

They're a really good second pairing. I don't know why everyone hates them (specifically Peterson) so much. Can't really ask for a more cost effective top 4 pairing than that. With our bottom pairing being so damn cost-ineffective, we need them to keep this level of play up.

He does. I was thinking Kovy-McCann-Tanev.
- Rinosaur

I like that line. I wonder if Kovy would even consider playing RW or Poulin play RW if he makes the jump.

Let’s start by hoping he can play his natural side haha
- 10inchTerror

Lol

The Pettersson-Marino pairing wasn't even on for a goal against the whole series. They're not as dynamic offensively as you'd like from 2 guys who can move the puck, but they give up very little. Of course both are young defensemen with the ability to improve.
- Tojo.

I’d prob keep petts and Marino together. Marino might be able to help prop new MM up a bit but then he will also be facing harder opponents

They're a really good second pairing. I don't know why everyone hates them (specifically Peterson) so much. Can't really ask for a more cost effective top 4 pairing than that. With our bottom pairing being so damn cost-ineffective, we need them to keep this level of play up.
- Victoro311

Yea it's a good pair, but I'm not against trying Matheson up there. However I think Ruh is such a safe player that it might be ok paired with Matheson.

I like that line. I wonder if Kovy would even consider playing RW or Poulin play RW if he makes the jump.
- 668710

If Kovy came here I’d even consider him with Geno and push Zucker to the third line a la Kessel.

If Kovy came here I’d even consider him with Geno and push Zucker to the third line a la Kessel.
- Rinosaur

Yea that's true, could definitely be a thing. If we sign him haha

Yea that's true, could definitely be a thing. If we sign him haha
- 668710

Yeah, I’m just dreaming. I firmly believe he’s done for now.

If Kovy came here I’d even consider him with Geno and push Zucker to the third line a la Kessel.
- Rinosaur

Ironically I think of Tanev as similar to Hagelin with his speed and two way style of play. Now if McCann could just emulate Bonino we could have a poor man’s HBK line.

Hmmm I wonder why Tofolli chose the Habs....

Let’s start by hoping he can play his natural side haha
- 10inchTerror

hahaha

Ironically I think of Tanev as similar to Hagelin with his speed and two way style of play. Now if McCann could just emulate Bonino we could have a poor man’s HBK line.
- MaxHyjinx

Hagelin is a better defensive player than Tanev, but yes, there are definitely similarities in their game. At this point it's sounding like the penciled in idea is a McCann-Jankowski-ERod third line, but I personally just see the line getting caved in and I also don't see that happening due to Poulin.

From everything that's been reported, barring him looking like an absolutely disaster in camp, Poulin is going to get a serious look and my guess he gets his ten games.

Considering the fact the 4th line will not have ZAR until at least February, I think it behooves the Pens to try Tanev on the third line until ZAR comes back.

Poulin-McCann-Tanev (If Poulin makes it)
Tanev-McCann-ERod (if Poulin doesn't make it)

Guys, Laine is still on the block... he is going to get traded. He will be a Penguin.

Laine for Dumo, Rust and a pick. Leaves the Pens with $3M to bolster the blueline and some good players are still out there.

Also worth noting that there is a possibility Chara leaves Boston...

Guys, Laine is still on the block... he is going to get traded. He will be a Penguin.

Laine for Dumo, Rust and a pick. Leaves the Pens with $3M to bolster the blueline and some good players are still out there.

Also worth noting that there is a possibility Chara leaves Boston...
- MacPatty

I'm going to get massacred for this, but I wouldn't give anything up for Laine. Yes, Laine is an incredible goal scorer, but he virtually disappears for very long stretches, has a non-existent two-way game and reportedly has major work ethic issues.

IMO you lose far more than you gain by a trade like that. Dumo is such a (frank)ing good dman, is cheap relative to his position and honestly (this is the part I'll get massacred for), I'm taking Rust at $3.5M over likely double salary of Laine.

Rust has been getting better each season with the Pens and the point-pace he was on last season was nuts. I'm not banking on the fact that was necessarily sustainable, but I think there's more value with Rust at $3.5M vs. Laine at probably around $7M.

EDIT: Scratch that. If moving Matheson + Rust gets it done, I'm all in. lol

I'm going to get massacred for this, but I wouldn't give anything up for Laine. Yes, Laine is an incredible goal scorer, but he virtually disappears for very long stretches, has a non-existent two-way game and reportedly has major work ethic issues.

IMO you lose far more than you gain by a trade like that. Dumo is such a (frank)ing good dman, is cheap relative to his position and honestly (this is the part I'll get massacred for), I'm taking Rust at $3.5M over likely double salary of Laine.

Rust has been getting better each season with the Pens and the point-pace he was on last season was nuts. I'm not banking on the fact that was necessarily sustainable, but I think there's more value with Rust at $3.5M vs. Laine at probably around $7M.

EDIT: Scratch that. If moving Matheson + Rust gets it done, I'm all in. lol
- Rinosaur

I'm not a big fan of Laine myself...we have to take into consideration Rust and Dumoulin will command a big raise though. Maybe 10-11 million both players?

Anyway, I'm torn on this trade "proposal"