I agree. problem with Rak is he only seems to work well with Sid. Sully putting him on the 3rd line was idiotic, he has a working line and almost always moves away from it.

No one seems to be working well with Geno which is a problem. The 2nd line looked OK last night but it was mostly because DOC was everywhere.

That was easily Jesse's worst game I've seen him play as a Pen.
- Thorny87

Geno would really benefit from someone like DOC with better hands. Dogged on the puck. North/South player. Kind of funny, but Zucker would be ideal. I thought Smith was going to be that guy, but he disappears for games at a time. Zucker when healthy never took a game off. I'd take him back in a heartbeat.

I hope Smith plays well the next few. Maybe get someone to bite on him. Don't care if they're still technically in it.

Geno would really benefit from someone like DOC with better hands. Dogged on the puck. North/South player. Kind of funny, but Zucker would be ideal. I thought Smith was going to be that guy, but he disappears for games at a time. Zucker when healthy never took a game off. I'd take him back in a heartb eat.

I hope Smith plays well the next few. Maybe get someone to bite on him. Don't care if they're still technically in it.
- madmike71

Not sure what direction the Pens are going but if they want to stay in it and change the mix, I think you could see:

PIT - Zucker
ARI - LVK 2nd round pick, PIT 4th round pick
LVK - Smith (1/2 ret by Ari)

Geno ain't the problem lol
- j.boyd919

Malkin is still a very good player. The problem is the team needs him to be a great one and that’s just not realistic.

Well Malkin on the PP has been atrocious but that’s not exclusively on him. They all suck there. The PP really did the season in, which I know it’s repetitive at this point but it’s crazy. If the players were straight washed it would show at ES.

Broken record at this point but whatever. I didn’t expect them to be world beaters. I get where they are at in the cycle. But damn that Florida game broke me haha

Crazy here, but could you somehow put together a trade centered on Jake and Ovechkin? Down year and all, having a line with Crosby centering OV would be amazing.
- jmatchett383

Love Ovie! Always use to trade for him in the NHL games and put him with Malkin. Capitals I believe are going to be sellers during the deadline. So idk about a Jake going to Capitals type of deal. I would consider trading the 1st we received in the Jake deal along with a smaller package to acquire him if the Capitals retained 3 million. Would it happen though? Doubt it.

Make the millennial line Malkin - Crosby - Ovie lol

Rak is fine, I don't mind him but I think I'd like to see what the trade market looks like for him.

Definitely on board with trading Smith. I like Ned but also makes sense to trade him. On Eller though, surprisingly I feel like he is a keeper. His contract is fine and he has done ok so far.
- MacPatty

I think Vic said this earlier... Eller would be a great 4C. I really wanted a 3C last off-season, I don't think Eller fits that now. If someone gives you a decent return, you have to take it. He's replaceable.

Rak is fine, I don't mind him but I think I'd like to see what the trade market looks like for him.

Definitely on board with trading Smith. I like Ned but also makes sense to trade him. On Eller though, surprisingly I feel like he is a keeper. His contract is fine and he has done ok so far.
- MacPatty

I think Rak is fine too.. Even before that injury, when he wasn't producing much, I thought he looked great but snake bitten. He, Geno and Smith had the best line a lot of games. He does look a bit lost in bottom 6 though. I don't mind Eller at all and wouldn't mind keeping him. Totally fine with Smith being shipped out and I think teams would want him. He's always produced well and has that cup ring experience now. Even in this down season he's on an almost close to 20 goal/45 point pace over 82 games and that's with little PP time.

A big issue with teams that would want someone like Smith for a run is there's no cap space to be had for most of those teams. Cap has to leave their team as well. I wouldn't be shocked if Dubas is working on some 3 ways to facilitate stuff like that.

I think Vic said this earlier... Eller would be a great 4C. I really wanted a 3C last off-season, I don't think Eller fits that now. If someone gives you a decent return, you have to take it. He's replaceable.
- madmike71

Eller and doc would be 2 3rds of a fourth line on a team with cup winning depth for sure. They just don’t have that kind of roster any more

Well Phil barked at him and they ended up moving him to the 3rd line. I think Geno needs a coach that will bark at him and not just coddle him.

I also think its time to bring in a good 2 way 2C and move Malkin to the wing. I would absolutely gauge his interest in a trade though.
- MacPatty

Problem is that these centers are demanding a big price. Lindholm is a solid 2C and he just got the Flames a 1st and then some. I don’t think the pens can trade their 24/25 1st picks due to the conditions on Karlsson. I don’t think you can trade the 2026 due to that being the year the rebuild most likely begins.

Malkin is still a very good player. The problem is the team needs him to be a great one and that’s just not realistic.

Well Malkin on the PP has been atrocious but that’s not exclusively on him. They all suck there. The PP really did the season in, which I know it’s repetitive at this point but it’s crazy. If the players were straight washed it would show at ES.

Broken record at this point but whatever. I didn’t expect them to be world beaters. I get where they are at in the cycle. But damn that Florida game broke me haha
- stayinthefnnet

Florida has been arguably the best team in the league the past few months. They are on a heater. Top of their division. Despite this, the were pretty much tied in scoring chances and the Pens had more high danger chances. 2 or 3 of the Panthers goals were complete fluke bounces. Pens PP went 0/4 including a double minor, theirs went 1/2 with a double minor. If Eller doesn't slightly high stick that puck for first goal of game who knows how that game ends. Would of had a completely different trajectory.

My source has him 9th and 3rd, respectively.

https://www.hockey-refere...ls_per_game_career_p.html
- jmatchett383

Your source doesn't include the min 50 playoff games I included.

If Rakell keeps collecting points on the 1st line. I wonder if he will gain any trade value?
- 123Kid

By the trade deadline? I doubt it. Too bad of an overall season and too many years left on the contract. For better or worse think we are stuck with Rak.

Well Phil barked at him and they ended up moving him to the 3rd line. I think Geno needs a coach that will bark at him and not just coddle him.

I also think its time to bring in a good 2 way 2C and move Malkin to the wing. I would absolutely gauge his interest in a trade though.
- MacPatty

I've been wondering if Malkin to wing might be their Guentzel replacement. Not sure how we pull in a 2C though. Pray for Yager?

Malkin is still a very good player. The problem is the team needs him to be a great one and that’s just not realistic.

Well Malkin on the PP has been atrocious but that’s not exclusively on him. They all suck there. The PP really did the season in, which I know it’s repetitive at this point but it’s crazy. If the players were straight washed it would show at ES.

Broken record at this point but whatever. I didn’t expect them to be world beaters. I get where they are at in the cycle. But damn that Florida game broke me haha
- stayinthefnnet

Add some speed on Geno's wings. Prop him up a little. He's still a good center, but not the kind of player who can take over games like before.

I mean, I don't know how they do it at this point. If they're losing Jake, that's a huge hole. That's going to likely be a downgrade, but maybe it allows them to get something that fits Geno. Will be one of the most interesting 6 months in Pittsburgh in quite some time. Hind sight is 20/20, but I really wish they kept Zucker. He'll be a FA though.

I've been wondering if Malkin to wing might be their Guentzel replacement. Not sure how we pull in a 2C though. Pray for Yager?
- Tojo.

Is that the trade though? Or part of the process with trading Guentzel and Smith? Maybe getting a 2C in to center Geno and DOC, while Rakell moves up to Guentzel's spot?

I've been wondering if Malkin to wing might be their Guentzel replacement. Not sure how we pull in a 2C though. Pray for Yager?
- Tojo.

Boone Jenner or bust.

I think our deadline should be open up some cap space for FA this offseason while getting some picks and prospects and younger talent if possible. Then grab a 2C via free agency and maybe a winger or 2. Might be wise to be aggressive this FA period to speed up the retool.

Boone Jenner or bust.
- pens4life-66

That would be awesome!

I think our deadline should be open up some cap space for FA this offseason while getting some picks and prospects and younger talent if possible. Then grab a 2C via free agency and maybe a winger or 2. Might be wise to be aggressive this FA period to speed up the retool.
- 123Kid

It might be all they can do, but a plan that clears cap in part by trading Jake to spend in UFA...... I have a hard time believing they come out on the better end.

Prior to Guentzel, the team had been remarkably healthy. And they've gotten strong goaltending. Two of the biggest off-season questions. Yet here we are. Sad.

Boone Jenner or bust.
- pens4life-66

According to Davidson that’s gonna be a bust.