Well, what do you expect to get in FA? Probably overpay a couple people that are worse than Jake Guentzel. There isn't actually a great path towards getting better talent.

I realize they need change. But Sid-Jake is the best part of the team, so I don't see how they come out better trading him than signing him.
- Tojo.

They definitely won't improve by trading Jake, but if he wants 8 years and over $10M/year, signing him may just not be a sensible option either, leaving them no other choice.

No way to know what the contract discussions really were without insider info. I don't put any weight in these rumors leaking presumably from Jake's agent or the Penguins' front office.

The TDL is still a ways off, no need to rush things.

They definitely won't improve by trading Jake, but if he wants 8 years and over $10M/year, signing him may just not be a sensible option either, leaving them no other choice.

No way to know what the contract discussions really were without insider info. I don't put any weight in these rumors leaking presumably from Jake's agent or the Penguins' front office.

The TDL is still a ways off, no need to rush things.
- MickV

Yeah we can talk about what’s smart and not smart in a vacuum but end of the day our cap structure isn’t great given our lack of high contributing ELCs. We can’t handle a star level contract.

Looks like 2 1sts from Vegas is likely part of the package.

Looks like 2 1sts from Vegas is likely part of the package.
- sextoymagic

Part of what package? Hanafin?

Part of what package? Hanafin?
- MacPatty

For Jake. The stipulation on the 1st moves it to 2026. They want the 24 and 25 1sts for trading still.

For Jake. The stipulation on the 1st moves it to 2026. They want the 24 and 25 1sts for trading still.
- sextoymagic

Where are you getting this from?

For Jake. The stipulation on the 1st moves it to 2026. They want the 24 and 25 1sts for trading still.
- sextoymagic

Would be pretty surprising to see them trade away all three of their 1sts here at the deadline but who knows. The terms of the 1st going to Calgary are really interesting. Its a 2025 1st which flips to a 2026 draft pick if it ends up being a top 10 pick OR they find another deal by March 10th to trade the 2025 pick.

So if we are talking about their two 1sts for Jake... What is really interesting about that is that they would be unprotected picks. I'd hop all over that for Jake. They would likely be late first picks (definitely this year) but they have Stone and Eichel who are injured frequently, and this could be two deep runs in a row for them which will make the 2025 season extra tough for them. Better to take a sure thing but Im interested in a gambler chance also.

I've been digging around the Rangers boards/twitter and they are very divided about giving up Kakko because of the lack of depth they have at RW.

The top prospects they mention are Othmann and Perreault.

Someone proposed the trade as:

Othmann/Perreault
Kakko
2025 1st Round Pick (Rangers owner doesnt want to trade 2024 1st round pick)

for

Jake (50% retained)

Most Rangers fans said no to that deal because its too much. I have to think thats the framework Dubas is looking for. Maybe the prospect drops to Sykora or something.

I've been digging around the Rangers boards/twitter and they are very divided about giving up Kakko because of the lack of depth they have at RW.

The top prospects they mention are Othmann and Perreault.

Someone proposed the trade as:

Othmann/Perreault
Kakko
2025 1st Round Pick (Rangers owner doesnt want to trade 2024 1st round pick)

for

Jake (50% retained)

Most Rangers fans said no to that deal because its too much. I have to think thats the framework Dubas is looking for. Maybe the prospect drops to Sykora or something.
- SuperHenderson13

Kakko’s a bust. He’s a bottom six player unless he has a ridiculous jump out of nowhere at this point in his development. A first a year out is automatically devalued even if it has the potential to be a better asset.

Sounds like the Rangers don’t need a LW so guentzel doesn’t really make sense but this is the kind of trade we should really be pushing for in returning someone like one of those two prospects named.

Kakko’s a bust. He’s a bottom six player unless he has a ridiculous jump out of nowhere at this point in his development. A first a year out is automatically devalued even if it has the potential to be a better asset.

Sounds like the Rangers don’t need a LW so guentzel doesn’t really make sense but this is the kind of trade we should really be pushing for in returning someone like one of those two prospects named.
- Victoro311

I tend to agree. Some guys can blossom at that age, but when you've been in the league for a few years and it isnt clicking, the chances of it clicking somewhere else are low.

It's a shame lafreniere has turned it around. He was a guy I would have loved to buy low on.

I tend to agree. Some guys can blossom at that age, but when you've been in the league for a few years and it isnt clicking, the chances of it clicking somewhere else are low.

It's a shame lafreniere has turned it around. He was a guy I would have loved to buy low on.
- SuperHenderson13

If Lafreniere hadn’t turned it around, we wouldn’t be interested in him, now would we?

I've been digging around the Rangers boards/twitter and they are very divided about giving up Kakko because of the lack of depth they have at RW.

The top prospects they mention are Othmann and Perreault.

Someone proposed the trade as:

Othmann/Perreault
Kakko
2025 1st Round Pick (Rangers owner doesnt want to trade 2024 1st round pick)

for

Jake (50% retained)

Most Rangers fans said no to that deal because its too much. I have to think thats the framework Dubas is looking for. Maybe the prospect drops to Sykora or something.
- SuperHenderson13

Hard to really expect more than that IMO. Dubas started out with what I think was a VERY high ask of Lafreniere, cuylle and Perreault OR a 1st and ends with Kakko, Perreault and a 1st…. Those are the almost the same trades with the main difference being Kakko instead of Lafreniere. I think lafreniere is definitely the better player but keep in mind last season Kakko outscored Lafreniere (by 1 point) with a 40 point season as a 22 year old…. I could be wrong but I think he didn’t have any PP time last season either.

Hard to really expect more than that IMO. Dubas started out with what I think was a VERY high ask of Lafreniere, cuylle and Perreault OR a 1st and ends with Kakko, Perreault and a 1st…. Those are the almost the same trades with the main difference being Kakko instead of Lafreniere. I think lafreniere is definitely the better player but keep in mind last season Kakko outscored Lafreniere (by 1 point) with a 40 point season as a 22 year old…. I could be wrong but I think he didn’t have any PP time last season either.
- pens4life-66

Laf has steadily become more consistent where as Kaap has had a horrendous season this year. He’s scoring at 1.1 per 60 at 5v5 on a really high shooting percentage. That is very concerning going on year three.

Do agree that they had similar years last year, but last year might have been an anomalous peak for Kaap where as Laf may be budding into a top 6 forward, even if that falls short of his pedigree.

All this is mights, both are young enough that it can go in either direction, but I would put a lot of money on Kakko being a bust and Lanfrenier having a pretty solid career.

I've been digging around the Rangers boards/twitter and they are very divided about giving up Kakko because of the lack of depth they have at RW.

The top prospects they mention are Othmann and Perreault.

Someone proposed the trade as:

Othmann/Perreault
Kakko
2025 1st Round Pick (Rangers owner doesnt want to trade 2024 1st round pick)

for

Jake (50% retained)

Most Rangers fans said no to that deal because its too much. I have to think thats the framework Dubas is looking for. Maybe the prospect drops to Sykora or something.
- SuperHenderson13

I cant imagine any scenario under which the Rangers would do that. Perreault is a stud, would love to get him. Kakko I am not so sure of but would be cool with giving him a shot, 2025 draft pick is fine with me since we hopefully won't have ours next season.

Laf has steadily become more consistent where as Kaap has had a horrendous season this year. He’s scoring at 1.1 per 60 at 5v5 on a really high shooting percentage. That is very concerning going on year three.

Do agree that they had similar years last year, but last year might have been an anomalous peak for Kaap where as Laf may be budding into a top 6 forward, even if that falls short of his pedigree.

All this is mights, both are young enough that it can go in either direction, but I would put a lot of money on Kakko being a bust and Lanfrenier having a pretty solid career.
- Victoro311

Totally agree like I said I think Laf is the much better player but keep in mind like you said in the earlier post… we are starting with a insulting level trade with Lafreniere included… in no way can switching Kakko for Laf make it go from insulating to average. A top 15 prospect in the NHL, a 1st and a 23 year old NHL player that’s had a 40 point season is a TON in return. It’s talked about in here DOC has potential turning 26 and they have had similar seasons with DOC having a much bigger opportunity this season.

Totally agree like I said I think Laf is the much better player but keep in mind like you said in the earlier post… we are starting with a insulting level trade with Lafreniere included… in no way can switching Kakko for Laf make it go from insulating to average. A top 15 prospect in the NHL, a 1st and a 23 year old NHL player that’s had a 40 point season is a TON in return. It’s talked about in here DOC has potential turning 26 and they have had similar seasons with DOC having a much bigger opportunity this season.
- pens4life-66

Agreed. What we’re really going after is the prospect. What I’m saying is I don’t give two poops about Kakko. I’m happy to exchange him for a plug if that would make the rangers happy

Might feel better if the rumor was "Penguins will wait until the last minute to cut a Jake deal". That way all of us are chill until Friday morning.
- coohill

No. Get him out of here. Take a 2nd round pick if that’s all you can get.

Totally agree like I said I think Laf is the much better player but keep in mind like you said in the earlier post… we are starting with a insulting level trade with Lafreniere included… in no way can switching Kakko for Laf make it go from insulating to average. A top 15 prospect in the NHL, a 1st and a 23 year old NHL player that’s had a 40 point season is a TON in return. It’s talked about in here DOC has potential turning 26 and they have had similar seasons with DOC having a much bigger opportunity this season.
- pens4life-66

Forgot about DOC. That dudes gotta go too.

I just don't think you can afford to sacrifice one of the best goal scorers in the league for the sake of getting younger. There are tons of older vets on this team that are easier to replace than Jake. Obviously Smith, Rakell as well, and as much as it pains me to say it, Rust are all guys that maybe you can benefit from exchanging for youth even if raw production dips. But a 30-40 goal scorer who hasn't really slowed down? If you want to build one last competitive team around Crosby, you don't just get rid of him.

Makes no sense they didn't try to resign him. This whole thing made way more sense to me when I thought it was Guentzel's decision to not be signed yet. Now I'm just scratching my head.
- Victoro311

If dubas didn't trade for EK and his 10 mil this issue wouldn't be a problem with guentzel..Can't change the past though.

Forgot about DOC. That dudes gotta go too.
- Grinder47

hahah you didnt forget about DOC, man. You have a complex with him. He's young and cheap, should stay for the bottom 6 IMO.

I know I’m late to the party, but I just saw the details on the Hanfin trade and woof the Flames got cooked

I wonder if the Kings feel some pressure and try to make a big push for a Jake trade with some pressure added (Edmonton and Vegas making deals).

If dubas didn't trade for EK and his 10 mil this issue wouldn't be a problem with guentzel..Can't change the past though.
- jb55

Yeah had he not made that deal granlund would be expiring.

Ruuta was better than graves and 1 yr left of petry and still Ken a first……the team would still be out of the playoffs but the 11m for ek sucks.

hahah you didnt forget about DOC, man. You have a complex with him. He's young and cheap, should stay for the bottom 6 IMO.
- MattStrat

Therein lies the problem.

Sullivan has done a good job recently of giving some of the young guys opportunities, especially O'Connor. O'Connor works hard is going to have himself a nice career. I'm like you and maybe a couple others here, he's not talented enough to have a steady top six position.

I'm thinking Sullivan didn't have a choice in the matter. Dubas made the decision to leave guys like Hinastroza, White, and Zohorna in the minors. If Sullivan could have, he would have them in the line-up.

Yeah had he not made that deal granlund would be expiring.

Ruuta was better than graves and 1 yr left of petry and still Ken a first……the team would still be out of the playoffs but the 11m for ek sucks.
- sammy87

Granlund's contract does not expire this year, he has another year same as Petry.