Granted I haven't watched the penguins that closely this year, but I'm generally surprised with the news about Graves. I really liked him on the Devils and was pretty upset we couldn't keep him due to the cap.

Granted I haven't watched the penguins that closely this year, but I'm generally surprised with the news about Graves. I really liked him on the Devils and was pretty upset we couldn't keep him due to the cap.
- Devils91

We'd be happy to trade him back to you.

I'm might be alone on this, but I'm playing a lot of youth at the bottom and on D and just focusing hard on 2-3 forwards with most of my available cap space. The guy I go back and forth on is Eller who was a fine 3C but I wouldn't mind an upgrade who could play 2C if Sid or Geno misses time.

I only had DOC top 9. Preferably 3rd line, I'd only have him on first if it was to stretch out the line-up. I like the guy, but I hope he isn't one of our two best LWs next year.
- Tojo.

I agree. I think what they'll do is go with something like:

1LW - Sid - Rust
Bunt - Geno - Rak
DOC - Eller - 3RW
young guy - young guy - Acciari/JP

Ideally the 1LW and/or 3RW can play C if Sid or Geno misses some games. This assumes they can trade Smith and that they don't manage to free up enough cap space via a Graves or Jarry trade. (If they can manage one of those, then upgrade one of my "young guy" players, possibly bumping Eller or somebody else down to the 4th line.)

I agree. I think what they'll do is go with something like:

1LW - Sid - Rust
Bunt - Geno - Rak
DOC - Eller - 3RW
young guy - young guy - Acciari/JP

Ideally the 1LW and/or 3RW can play C if Sid or Geno misses some games. This assumes they can trade Smith and that they don't manage to free up enough cap space via a Graves or Jarry trade. (If they can manage one of those, then upgrade one of my "young guy" players, possibly bumping Eller or somebody else down to the 4th line.)
- MickV

If the cap is there, I could go Eller 4C Poulin 4 LW to start. Might be a good guy for Poulin to learn from. I like Gruden at 4 LW, but minority opinion and I'm not bullish enough on him to want a discussion. Just not Harkins again.

If the cap is there, I could go Eller 4C Poulin 4 LW to start. Might be a good guy for Poulin to learn from. I like Gruden at 4 LW, but minority opinion and I'm not bullish enough on him to want a discussion. Just not Harkins again.
- Tojo.

Although small sample size the 4th looked good with gruden. I’d do it. I just don’t trust poulin to stay healthy longer than two weeks

I'm might be alone on this, but I'm playing a lot of youth at the bottom and on D and just focusing hard on 2-3 forwards with most of my available cap space. The guy I go back and forth on is Eller who was a fine 3C but I wouldn't mind an upgrade who could play 2C if Sid or Geno misses time.

I only had DOC top 9. Preferably 3rd line, I'd only have him on first if it was to stretch out the line-up. I like the guy, but I hope he isn't one of our two best LWs next year.
- Tojo.

That's what I want. 1LW and 3C.

Just a reminder, during the season we heard from a pair of sources, one from our own plus a Jeremy Roenick podcast, there was some dissention on this team. As with everyone else I have my suspicions.

So far after the season I've heard a couple of specific instances of players not acting professional. I know people get carried away sometimes. And if true, Karlsson wouldn't be the first person to miss work after a night of indiscretion. That one isolated incidence isn't a big deal. We are seeing more and more players go into rehab.

Dubas will undoubtedly address these situations. I suspect we will see a few moves that may not make sense at the time, but if we remember everything that has transpired it may make it a little clearer.

Apparently Letang had a significant health thing going on all season and is getting evaluated. Jeez. Hope it’s a physical injury and not something related to his strokes.

Just a reminder, during the season we heard from a pair of sources, one from our own plus a Jeremy Roenick podcast, there was some dissention on this team. As with everyone else I have my suspicions.

So far after the season I've heard a couple of specific instances of players not acting professional. I know people get carried away sometimes. And if true, Karlsson wouldn't be the first person to miss work after a night of indiscretion. That one isolated incidence isn't a big deal. We are seeing more and more players go into rehab.

Dubas will undoubtedly address these situations. I suspect we will see a few moves that may not make sense at the time, but if we remember everything that has transpired it may make it a little clearer.
- Thunderbolt

Hockey players are just overpaid pussies. In construction you party with the boys then show up to work in the morning with the men. These clowns shouldn’t get paid if they aren’t playing. If they had to deal with their own poop on their own dime everyone of them would suck it up.

That's what I want. 1LW and 3C.
- madmike71

I had a 3 RW in there too, above 3 C because I like Eller more than Puustinen, but largely we are on a similar page.

Although small sample size the 4th looked good with gruden. I’d do it. I just don’t trust poulin to stay healthy longer than two weeks
- 10inchTerror

Fair, I'd probably make Gruden the extra forward in that case, but could understand if they snuck him through waivers. He's a 12-13 to me, but I like what he brings.

Apparently Letang had a significant health thing going on all season and is getting evaluated. Jeez. Hope it’s a physical injury and not something related to his strokes.
- Victoro311

Sounded serious, saw at least one place say he might even miss time at the start of next year.

I wonder if that fed into the Guentzel disappointment. How mad would you be if you played hurt all year and felt the front office threw in the towel? (For the record, I agree they should have been sellers )

Hockey players are just overpaid pussies. In construction you party with the boys then show up to work in the morning with the men. These clowns shouldn’t get paid if they aren’t playing. If they had to deal with their own poop on their own dime everyone of them would suck it up.
- 10inchTerror

Do we really need two Broncos on here?

I think realistically 1 of Smith, Rakell, and Accairi are gone. Smith still has Stanley cup fairy dust on him so hopefully he’s the guy to go. Eller is probably 3c again which I don’t think is a problem. Probably easier to find a 4c anyway. Let ATCh play wing. A fourth line that can consistently grind it out down low in the ozone is perfectly fine, as long as it’s consistent. My hope for the defense would be to roll back the same pairings but Graves will be there to at least start the year. Hopefully he gets a hair cut. Dude looks like a girl. Although the WPHL players play harder and more physical than he does.
- Grinder47

Weren't the rumours that Smith wanted back to the West anyway? If those are true, 1 year remaining and as you pointed out, cup winning dust still on him, he's an easy piece to move for a respectable return. Might even increase a bit from last summer since the cap is going up and only the 1 year remaining.

Fair, I'd probably make Gruden the extra forward in that case, but could understand if they snuck him through waivers. He's a 12-13 to me, but I like what he brings.
- Tojo.

I would just leave a spot or two open and let all the young guys battle it out in camp. Make them fight for it and earn it. Whoever wins the battle gets the spot. I don't really have any preference for who that is.

If the cap is there, I could go Eller 4C Poulin 4 LW to start. Might be a good guy for Poulin to learn from. I like Gruden at 4 LW, but minority opinion and I'm not bullish enough on him to want a discussion. Just not Harkins again.
- Tojo.

Harkins looked really good in that final game. I hope he signs elsewhere and is given a fair shake. He should have received the minutes DOC received. DOC kind of sucks.

Apparently Letang had a significant health thing going on all season and is getting evaluated. Jeez. Hope it’s a physical injury and not something related to his strokes.
- Victoro311

I doubt they would have let him play if it was stroke related.

I agree. I think what they'll do is go with something like:

1LW - Sid - Rust
Bunt - Geno - Rak
DOC - Eller - 3RW
young guy - young guy - Acciari/JP

Ideally the 1LW and/or 3RW can play C if Sid or Geno misses some games. This assumes they can trade Smith and that they don't manage to free up enough cap space via a Graves or Jarry trade. (If they can manage one of those, then upgrade one of my "young guy" players, possibly bumping Eller or somebody else down to the 4th line.)
- MickV

I think it's going to be Gruden - Poulin - JP. They played well together in WBS.

You could potentially swap Poulin with Ponomarev who looked really good in his short stint in WBS. Or Maybe even swap Joona Koppanen who played great at Center with Gruden and had a nice shut down and solid PK ability. We had a lot of players who showed they may be able to make the jump. WBS played with a lot more life.

I would just leave a spot or two open and let all the young guys battle it out in camp. Make them fight for it and earn it. Whoever wins the battle gets the spot. I don't really have any preference for who that is.
- MickV

If Yeager shows he’s NHL ready I’d move him to wing to play with Sid. I hate when NHL teams call up the young offensive guy and play him 7-10 minutes on the fourth line.

Do we really need two Broncos on here?
- Victoro311

Haha I know right

If Yeager shows he’s NHL ready I’d move him to wing to play with Sid. I hate when NHL teams call up the young offensive guy and play him 7-10 minutes on the fourth line.
- Grinder47

I think best case scenario Yeager is on a Jake projectery; half a season in Wilkes then comes up and sticks. Keep in mind though Jake also played 3 years of university hockey so he was a fair bit older.

Benson had a good year in Buffalo though for a smaller 18 yr old so it is doable.

If Yeager shows he’s NHL ready I’d move him to wing to play with Sid. I hate when NHL teams call up the young offensive guy and play him 7-10 minutes on the fourth line.
- Grinder47

Agreed, Yager is a special case in that if he is ready for the NHL, he shouldn't be on the 4th line. I'd expect them to start him instead at 3RW and see how that goes. (I don't expect him to make the team out of camp though, more likely he goes to WB and is a mid-season call up. If he does make it that'd be great.)

Agreed, Yager is a special case in that if he is ready for the NHL, he shouldn't be on the 4th line. I'd expect them to start him instead at 3RW and see how that goes. (I don't expect him to make the team out of camp though, more likely he goes to WB and is a mid-season call up. If he does make it that'd be great.)
- MickV

If anything I’d rather see the top six filled out with youngsters and sign experienced 4th line guys that can bang and bring the poop every night. Doesn’t seem like any young guys in the pens system fit the bill for that.

I think some of you guys were really hoping the Pens signed 2021 2nd rounder prospect Tristan Broz as opposed to him staying in college longer and potential becoming a FA?...well, they just did and he's headed to WBS

I think some of you guys were really hoping the Pens signed 2021 2nd rounder prospect Tristan Broz as opposed to him staying in college longer and potential becoming a FA?...well, they just did and he's headed to WBS
- MattStrat

Nice. I'm glad they avoided that.