Considering you never really know who is going to call and offer what I would say this list is 2 players too long.

Brandon Tanev is going to be the most tradable player on this list too.

Carter"s play in the playoffs was great and it was a great deadline pickup, BUT he will not play close to that level in the regular season next year. Just hope that he stays healthy and the Pens make the playoffs next year if you want to see him play like he did in the first round.

Brandon Tanev is going to be the most tradable player on this list too.
- Grinder47

Tanev would look great in blue on Broadway

I'm not sure we can do that due to cap implications of bringing in a $10 mil player, which gets back to my point about Jake making like $6 mil for what he brings. I think it'll be pretty easy to get off Zucker's contract so his inclusion isn't really a carrot for me. Maybe I'm wrong and Zucker will be a pain in our cap structure's ass, but I really don't think he's a bad contract or bad player, he just didn't work out here.
- Victoro311

Zucker is the cap offset

Trading Jake would look a lot like when we traded Mark Recchi in 1992

In hindsight, Recchi for Tocchet doesn't seem like a great trade, but at the time Tocchet was EXACTLY what the team needed in 91/92, and we won another cup with him, and Tocchet was great in 92/93. Would I do it again?, absolutely. Because the cup in hand outweights a slightly better team over the long term

Of course, Tocchet became Robitialle, who became Nedved, who became Kovalev so maybe the trade tree worked out in the long run, but it isn't trading Jake for the sake of trading Jake. It would be for a specific type of player that is different and fills a glaring need

So if this is the “untouchable list” , how are they gonna improve the team again? The window has been closed.

Only stats nerds think Rust is untouchable.
- Murphy_Dump

I don’t know anyone other than RW who thinks Rust is untouchable.

Carter"s play in the playoffs was great and it was a great deadline pickup, BUT he will not play close to that level in the regular season next year. Just hope that he stays healthy and the Pens make the playoffs next year if you want to see him play like he did in the first round.
- rrentz

He had a solid regular season too.

Zucker is the cap offset
- jmatchett383

No my whole point is is that I'd rather have Jake at 6.5 than Marner at 10 and we can just get rid of zucker and do something else.

Doesn’t Malkin want to be the Man somewhere else? Might be time to move on LA or Florida but not Seattle.

There was an awesome article in The Athletic for those that have a subscription about the lessons learned from the Vegas expansion draft and how that is going to effect the Kracken draft.

They don't always go for the best players in the draft, nor should they. They are trying to put together the best team that they can. If a player fits into what they seem best team, or of they feel that they could get an asset for that player, that is what they are going to try and get.

Only about half of the players taken by Vegas ever played for Vegas...

So to say that Zucker or ZAR are definately going, there are a lot.more factors than just stats...

https://theathletic.com/2...he-best-available-player/

Rust, Marino a 1st and a prospect

To Columbus for:

Jones and Laine...sign them both to extensions...with Zuckers (and perhaps others) cap hit gone...

I dont want to lose Rust, I love Rust, but packaged in something like that I could digest his departure easier.

With some of those interviews given by Hexy and Burke, I think it's pretty obvious they will view him as an important player for next season. He'll be protected.

I'd protect Rust but I wouldn't be opposed to moving him. He's a bargain, but he will not be a Penguin in 2023.

Rust, Marino a 1st and a prospect

To Columbus for:

Jones and Laine...sign them both to extensions...with Zuckers (and perhaps others) cap hit gone...

I dont want to lose Rust, I love Rust, but packaged in something like that I could digest his departure easier.
- MattStrat

??? A bit of madness here ????

So this wouldn't work on a number of levels (as much as we should all wish it would)...

1. You would need to sub Jake for Rust to make the value comparable.
2. Pens don't have the cap space for those two big contracts.
3. Laine is one thing, but I think the BJs would have a hard time sending Jones next door. Let alone, is Pittsburgh where he wants to go?

I do want Laine in a bad way however. Since they are losing Jones for sure, maybe they would be interested in Zucker & Marino for Laine but we would still likely need to add. I'd even consider Jake for Laine+ also.

The other interesting guy in Columbus that might fit the mold is Domi. It has always felt like he is destined to be a Pen but taking the really long path to get there.

Rust, Marino a 1st and a prospect

To Columbus for:

Jones and Laine...sign them both to extensions...with Zuckers (and perhaps others) cap hit gone...

I dont want to lose Rust, I love Rust, but packaged in something like that I could digest his departure easier.
- MattStrat

Rust is a better player than Laine and Jones' next contract is going to be a poison pill due to perceived value.

With some of those interviews given by Hexy and Burke, I think it's pretty obvious they will view him as an important player for next season. He'll be protected.

I'd protect Rust but I wouldn't be opposed to moving him. He's a bargain, but he will not be a Penguin in 2023.
- madmike71

Yeah I'm also pretty sure Carter gets protected.

Rust is a better player than Laine and Jones' next contract is going to be a poison pill due to perceived value.
- Victoro311

Rust, Marino a 1st and a prospect

To Columbus for:

Jones and Laine...sign them both to extensions...with Zuckers (and perhaps others) cap hit gone...

I dont want to lose Rust, I love Rust, but packaged in something like that I could digest his departure easier.
- MattStrat

Keep dreaming.

Also Jones sucks.

- MacPatty

Laine is Vanek 2.0

A one dimensional PP specialist.

??? A bit of madness here ????

So this wouldn't work on a number of levels (as much as we should all wish it would)...

1. You would need to sub Jake for Rust to make the value comparable.
2. Pens don't have the cap space for those two big contracts.
3. Laine is one thing, but I think the BJs would have a hard time sending Jones next door. Let alone, is Pittsburgh where he wants to go?

I do want Laine in a bad way however. Since they are losing Jones for sure, maybe they would be interested in Zucker & Marino for Laine but we would still likely need to add. I'd even consider Jake for Laine+ also.

The other interesting guy in Columbus that might fit the mold is Domi. It has always felt like he is destined to be a Pen but taking the really long path to get there.
- MacPatty

Domi is injured so he’s a perfect fit for the pens.

Rust is a better player than Laine and Jones' next contract is going to be a poison pill due to perceived value.
- Victoro311

Obviously if his contract is going to be massive its a no go but in a flat cap world, who knows. He is an upgrade over Marino though and one I feel more comfortable jumping up to the 1st pair righty if Letang goes down.

I cant say that currently about Laine and Rust for sure...Laine is only 23 and besides a season in lackluster Columbus, has been around 30 or more goals in his 4 other seasons...with 44 in one. Rust is better defensively though. What is Laine expecting to get after such a sh!t season, I wonder.

??? A bit of madness here ????

So this wouldn't work on a number of levels (as much as we should all wish it would)...

1. You would need to sub Jake for Rust to make the value comparable.
2. Pens don't have the cap space for those two big contracts.
3. Laine is one thing, but I think the BJs would have a hard time sending Jones next door. Let alone, is Pittsburgh where he wants to go?

I do want Laine in a bad way however. Since they are losing Jones for sure, maybe they would be interested in Zucker & Marino for Laine but we would still likely need to add. I'd even consider Jake for Laine+ also.

The other interesting guy in Columbus that might fit the mold is Domi. It has always felt like he is destined to be a Pen but taking the really long path to get there.
- MacPatty

Oh total madness. I put about 80 seconds of thought into that trade post hahaha

Domi is injured so he’s a perfect fit for the pens.
- Feds91Stammer

I might be open to taking a flyer on Domi....with 1/2 retained

Keep dreaming.

Also Jones sucks.
- Feds91Stammer

If these guys suck why is it dreaming? hahaha I actually know its an unrealistic proposal.