Yeah its too bad they had to face the borderline dynasty team Tampa Bay a few times.

Playoffs are a strange animal. The Pens had far superior on paper teams that lost in the 1st, 2nd and swept in 3rd rounds over the years than the teams that won the back to backs in 2016 & 2017.

After a mid season lull your Rangers are looking lethal again. Wouldn't be surprised to see them in the finals this year.
- MattStrat

I think the 2016 team was more balanced and had better depth than some of those teams. Only one puck, so throwing a bunch of similar players together doesn't always work.

2017...yeah, I still can't figure out how they won that.

And with the way that Florida is tearing up the league right now, they'd be my pick.

I think you're forgetting how awful the Pens team was pre-Crosby (and even the first season with Crosby). This team may be more disappoitning, but they're nowhere near as bad.
- jmatchett383

No I remember it well….I just don’t enjoy watching great players die on a bad team. I’d rather seem them thrive elsewhere while giving pens the tools to rebuild. Keeping the core together only serves the fans to watch them locally.

Pens are going on 7 straight on missing it 1st end exits….this really isn’t entertaining.

Can't argue with any of this. I liked Fluery then and I still like him now. But, I am in the canmp that says no to retiring his number.

I think he gets in the Hall of Fame, based almost entirely on his longevity. The HOF has become the Hall of the Pretty Good. Not just in hockey, everywhere. The Rock and Roll HOF has turned itself into a joke.
- Thunderbolt

The RnR HOF just flat out makes no sense to me. They refuse to admit anyone from the 80s indie scene which was actual rock and an important movement but they let in artists that aren’t rock at all like Run DMC. Very weird to on the one hand say “this isn’t real rock so we’re not going to let in guys like The Smiths (and by extension Morrissey which is egregious)” and on the other hand say “This isn’t rock but this music was very important so we’re gonna let in Eminem”

I think the 2016 team was more balanced and had better depth than some of those teams. Only one puck, so throwing a bunch of similar players together doesn't always work.

2017...yeah, I still can't figure out how they won that.

And with the way that Florida is tearing up the league right now, they'd be my pick.
- jmatchett383

My pick as well...however, the playoffs can be somewhat nonsensical a lot of years. (Presidents trophy winner doesn't win the cup that often for example)...so like I said I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Rangers representing the East at all.

No I remember it well….I just don’t enjoy watching great players die on a bad team. I’d rather seem them thrive elsewhere while giving pens the tools to rebuild. Keeping the core together only serves the fans to watch them locally.

Pens are going on 7 straight on missing it 1st end exits….this really isn’t entertaining.
- sammy87

Last nights game was entertaining as F. Sure, it was a disappointing end but it had a lot of ups and downs and excitement. It was engaging.

Funny thing is almost everyone but Grinder liked all those moves (EK he hated from get go). Quite a few of us concerned about scoring in the bottom 6 but figured they'd be much better defensively and they have been. Everyone rightfully concerned with Jarry extension too, I guess, but that hasn't been a problem at all...he blew a few games but every goalie does through the course of a season.
- MattStrat

EK and Smith trade I liked at the time. Bottom 6 I definitely did not. Graves was meh at the time -- too much term.

Saw a Hockey News article with potential Guentzel trades...

PIT - Holloway, McLeod, Lavoie & 1st rounder
EDM - Jake & POJ

PIT - Jake
LA - Turcotte, Arvidsson & 1st rounder

Not sure these really make sense at all but I'd take both all day. Not sure why LA would give up Arvidsson but we could theoretically just flip him for something.

It's time ...
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pi...on-core-players-1.2078998

They were around a top 5 defense team in his last couple of seasons as their GM, though? Muzzin going down was a bit of a blow to the corps as well.
- MattStrat

If I've learned anything on h-buzz it's that most fans won't let facts get in the way of their narrative. Especially if it proves them wrong.

I don't know if you said it earlier or not but someone did, 7 months is too early too judge a GM. Not even a trade deadline has happened for the guy!

If I've learned anything on h-buzz it's that most fans won't let facts get in the way of their narrative. Especially if it proves them wrong.

I don't know if you said it earlier or not but someone did, 7 months is too early too judge a GM. Not even a trade deadline has happened for the guy!
- Aaron_85

Yeah, it was me that said it. Way too early.

So who else is waiting to hear what Dubas has to say? We all know it's starting to get old hearing excuse after excuse from Dubas, and Sullivan. Just do something! Fire someone! Make a big shake up trade! This team needs some change
- 123Kid

We haven't heard much of anything from Dubas for months, so I'm very curious. My guess is he's going to say we're sellers. Question is how deep?

We haven't heard much of anything from Dubas for months, so I'm very curious. My guess is he's going to say we're sellers. Question is how deep?
- Tojo.

TSN (LeBrun) is reporting that Dubas is 'listening' on all non-core players:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pi...on-core-players-1.2078998

TSN (LeBrun) is reporting that Dubas is 'listening' on all non-core players:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pi...on-core-players-1.2078998
- chimpira

Jake is definitely part of the core...at least in my opinion he is...

Im going to be way too busy today to listen to that presser. So, I will be counting on you fine folks to provide the details haha.

He was good at drafting talent and signing talent (college FA's and KHL FA's). He found middle talent which worked well with his stars and they fit in well in the top ten (Bunting being one example). He made a lot of big trades and found a way to get talent for his players and prospects (Kapanen being one example). Did he miss on some trades? Yes. Have all GMs? Yes.

I think these are some reasons they brought him in. I think the other is with the Tavares deal, he is good at influencing bigger names to sign with his team. Hopefully he frees up some space this deadline and his FA skill comes in handy this FA period and we land a few big names.
- 123Kid

He also turned about 10M in cap space into Smith and Graves this off-season. Major UFA retools just rarely work out. But I do agree it's about all they can do. I couldn't stomach continuing to trade picks for this team.

TSN (LeBrun) is reporting that Dubas is 'listening' on all non-core players:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pi...on-core-players-1.2078998
- chimpira

Damn, I was hoping he’d be able to get Carter into the playoffs. But he’s only listening non core players.

I think the 2016 team was more balanced and had better depth than some of those teams. Only one puck, so throwing a bunch of similar players together doesn't always work.

2017...yeah, I still can't figure out how they won that.

And with the way that Florida is tearing up the league right now, they'd be my pick.
- jmatchett383

Hot goalie and star players while most of the rest of the team was overwhelmed. That might have been the best stretch MAF played for the Pens. Certainly the most impactful. I cringe when I hear people say he only really won the one Cup.

Hot goalie and star players while most of the rest of the team was overwhelmed. That might have been the best stretch MAF played for the Pens. Certainly the most impactful. I cringe when I hear people say he only really won the one Cup.
- Tojo.

Yeah, those first two rounds were the two hardest series of that run as well IMO.

He was pretty impactful in the 2008 and 2009 runs.

TSN (LeBrun) is reporting that Dubas is 'listening' on all non-core players:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/pi...on-core-players-1.2078998
- chimpira

Thanks just got to reading it after responding. I'd trust a guy like LeBrun.

Besides Jake, my most curious is Petterson. He'd get a nice return and you can find LHD, but it creates a weakness for us if he goes. To me, he's an indicator of what they think they can do next year.

Thanks just got to reading it after responding. I'd trust a guy like LeBrun.

Besides Jake, my most curious is Petterson. He'd get a nice return and you can find LHD, but it creates a weakness for us if he goes. To me, he's an indicator of what they think they can do next year.
- Tojo.

I would consider Petterson and Letang the core of the defense.

Yeah, those first two rounds were the two hardest series of that run as well IMO.

He was pretty impactful in the 2008 and 2009 runs.
- MattStrat

Plenty of good runs in MAF's career. I'll just always stand by that run as his best because of how badly they were being outplayed.

Jake is definitely part of the core...at least in my opinion he is...
- MattStrat

Nah. He’s Sid’s sidekick. The core is Crosby, Letang, Petts, Carter. Honorable mention goes to Malkin.

I would consider Petterson and Letang the core of the defense.
- Grinder47

Hopefully someone in the media gets him to define who is a core player. I'd read it as just Crosby, Malkin, and Letang for sure. But could make arguments for Jarry, EK, Petterson, Guentzel, and Rust so won't really disagree on any of them. But who Pens think is their core is what matters.

Who do we see as the most valuable trading chips that would not be considered core?

Jake
Rust
Petts
Smith
Ned

in that order?

Hopefully someone in the media gets him to define who is a core player. I'd read it as just Crosby, Malkin, and Letang for sure. But could make arguments for Jarry, EK, Petterson, Guentzel, and Rust so won't really disagree on any of them. But who Pens think is their core is what matters.
- Tojo.

Core: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Rust & Pettersson > Irreplaceable at their cap hits, never thought I'd say that about Petts. I'd take Rust at $5.1M over Jake at $9M.

Close to core: Karlsson, Jarry & Jake - talent wise are there but you are going to have to choose between top end talent and fielding a deep team. All could net big returns.