Maybe next yr dubas can package him bunting and other parts for a 40g scorer.
- sammy87

Trades are easier in the offseason/around the draft. Plus the cap is going up significantly. I would imagine Dubas will be making moves after the playoffs end. Some of the guys a lot of us wanted traded, or thought for sure they were going to be moved at the deadline, will most likely go in the summer.

Trades are easier in the offseason/around the draft. Plus the cap is going up significantly. I would imagine Dubas will be making moves after the playoffs end. Some of the guys a lot of us wanted traded, or thought for sure they were going to be moved at the deadline, will most likely go in the summer.
- MattStrat

Sullivan's 3-year $5.5M/year contract extension starts next season as well. Do you think he stays for its duration?

Sullivan's 3-year $5.5M/year contract extension starts next season as well. Do you think he stays for its duration?
- chimpira

I do, unfortunately. Way too much smoke for there not to be a fire regarding it. From his dinners with the owners in Boston, where they're all from, to the high paying extension signed like two years ago haha. Then there's Dubas repeatedly standing by him/supporting him and saying he will be kept and he is believed to be the coach of the future, for the transition to the dark ages and for all the young kids that will eventually start playing for them in the years that come.

I do, unfortunately. Way too much smoke for there not to be a fire regarding it. From his dinners with the owners in Boston, where they're all from, to the high paying extension signed like two years ago haha. Then there's Dubas repeatedly standing by him/supporting him and saying he will be kept and he is believe him to be the coach of the future, for the transition to the dark age for all the young kids that will eventually start playing for them in the years that come.
- MattStrat

I see it playing out the same way too, unfortunately. The bad part is that Sullivan keeps utilizing the same speed game tactics, even though most of the current players can't meet the demands. It's really frustrating to see the same thing over and over. Not a single playoffs series wins i the last 6 years, 2 years in a row without playoffs. Just mindboggling how much Pittsburgh has a love affair with coaches that don't get results.

And he doesn't play the young guns enough ... the whole "trust the veterans" thing.

Trades are easier in the offseason/around the draft. Plus the cap is going up significantly. I would imagine Dubas will be making moves after the playoffs end. Some of the guys a lot of us wanted traded, or thought for sure they were going to be moved at the deadline, will most likely go in the summer.
- MattStrat

Well, trades are supposed to be easier at the deadline when you are the team with the best available player and have the ability to retain cap space. But yeah, salaries are easier to move in the offseason.

If we do end up with our top 10 pick, I am looking right at Arizona and Seattle. If we are in the top 3 I am definitely keeping it but I expect Celebrini and Lindstrom will both be gone by #3 and even though there are a ton of good D prospects, in the interest of competing in the Crosby era Id rather trade than try to make a D deal.

Would Zona value a top 10 enough to do some kind of package like:
Pens 1st, Rackell & Graves for Keller a 2nd & 3rd?

With Seattle, I wonder if you could get really good value giving them a good excuse to get out of their Shayne Wright connundrum. They have mishandled him badly, and I also dont think he has handled any of it well. He projects like a 2C or 3C to me still.
Pens 1st & Smith for Wright, Tolvanen & their 2nd rounder?

Lastly, I think the BJ's might have a few players that could help us out but one being very high risk.
Pens 1st, Rackell & Graves for Laine, Provorov & Jiricek. Jiricek is going to be a stud, Provorov gives us a proper 2LD while getting us out of Graves and Laine has been an absolute mess but could likely fit in under the radar a bit more where he wouldnt be the biggest star on the team. I still think he has huge upside as he will have had lots of time to recover from his ailments.

Sullivan's 3-year $5.5M/year contract extension starts next season as well. Do you think he stays for its duration?
- chimpira

No. Dubas has already started the pissing contest by refusing to recall Hinestroza and Zohorna. Also saying in his press conference his goal is to make this a younger team.

Sullivan won the feuds with JR and Hextall. I don't see him winning this one.

I can't see Sullivan sticking around once Crosby leaves either. Which may be sooner than anyone thinks.

Well, trades are supposed to be easier at the deadline when you are the team with the best available player and have the ability to retain cap space. But yeah, salaries are easier to move in the offseason.

If we do end up with our top 10 pick, I am looking right at Arizona and Seattle. If we are in the top 3 I am definitely keeping it but I expect Celebrini and Lindstrom will both be gone by #3 and even though there are a ton of good D prospects, in the interest of competing in the Crosby era Id rather trade than try to make a D deal.

Would Zona value a top 10 enough to do some kind of package like:
Pens 1st, Rackell & Graves for Keller a 2nd & 3rd?

With Seattle, I wonder if you could get really good value giving them a good excuse to get out of their Shayne Wright connundrum. They have mishandled him badly, and I also dont think he has handled any of it well. He projects like a 2C or 3C to me still.
Pens 1st & Smith for Wright, Tolvanen & their 2nd rounder?

Lastly, I think the BJ's might have a few players that could help us out but one being very high risk.
Pens 1st, Rackell & Graves for Laine, Provorov & Jiricek. Jiricek is going to be a stud, Provorov gives us a proper 2LD while getting us out of Graves and Laine has been an absolute mess but could likely fit in under the radar a bit more where he wouldnt be the biggest star on the team. I still think he has huge upside as he will have had lots of time to recover from his ailments.
- MacPatty

Some years its a sellers market, some years its a buyers. This year was a buyers which makes getting good returns harder. Wasnt a whole lot of cap space around, especially for teams that think they can go all the way.

Sullivan's 3-year $5.5M/year contract extension starts next season as well. Do you think he stays for its duration?
- chimpira

I am convinced that him being there is purely a monetary decision. So he stays for now... BUT if the Pens players continue to not show up and the fans start to follow suit and not show up to games, the economics of the decision making process start to flip.

The Pens will have to be REALLY bad the rest of way through for them to let him go after the season. Which is crazy because it is so easy to see what the problem is.

I am convinced that him being there is purely a monetary decision. So he stays for now... BUT if the Pens players continue to not show up and the fans start to follow suit and not show up to games, the economics of the decision making process start to flip.

The Pens will have to be REALLY bad the rest of way through for them to let him go after the season. Which is crazy because it is so easy to see what the problem is.
- MacPatty

They have been REALLY bad the last 4-5 games. Like stupidly bad

Sullivan's 3-year $5.5M/year contract extension starts next season as well. Do you think he stays for its duration?
- chimpira

If he does I really hope Sid, Malkin and Letang and Carter decide to move on and finish their careers playing hockey somewhere. EK can put up pts on a poop team again.

If he does I really hope Sid, Malkin and Letang and Carter decide to move on and finish their careers playing hockey somewhere. EK can put up pts on a poop team again.
- Grinder47

They're screwed with EK now. They'll have to deal him with a 1st or 2nd. As far as 2 cup sullivan? I can't believe he's still coaching the penguins? This is the same situation with tomlin. What do the penguins and steelers see in these coaches? Both were gifted star players. It's ludicrous.

Malkin should have been gone long ago. I’d rather watch Sid and Letang compete than just skate around in Penguin jerseys.
- Grinder47

If I were Dubas, I'd tell Crosby that we're beginning a youth movement but he has the choice of staying or going. If he wants to stay and retire as a Penguin and be the bridge to the next generation, he's earned that; if not, you ask him where he wants to go and try to facilitate that. As for everyone else, including EK, Letang, and Malkin, everyone is available.

If he does I really hope Sid, Malkin and Letang and Carter decide to move on and finish their careers playing hockey somewhere. EK can put up pts on a poop team again.
- Grinder47

Carter, lol. He's (frank)ing over done.

If I were Dubas, I'd tell Crosby that we're beginning a youth movement but he has the choice of staying or going. If he wants to stay and retire as a Penguin and be the bridge to the next generation, he's earned that; if not, you ask him where he wants to go and try to facilitate that. As for everyone else, including EK, Letang, and Malkin, everyone is available.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't go full youth movement, but I'd make Malkin available.

I wouldn't go full youth movement, but I'd make Malkin available.
- 668710

I'd move Letang, too, or at least make him available. His decision making with puck nowadays is questionable or worse.