Ryan Wilson: Sid vs the Flyers, same as it ever was Sid vs the Flyers, same as it ever was

I honestly don’t care if Berm. Scores his 6 goals. We need good, young forwards now and if he scores more goals than any of our bottom 6 does, but in half the games, I couldn’t care less about the 3rd rounder.

I honestly don’t care if Berm. Scores his 6 goals.

If we are 10th worst team (or lower) at the end of the season, that round 3 pick will be more valuable than any we've had in a long time.

If we become sellers, we'll send Berm to the AHL if he reaches 4 goals total with Pens. It's a business at that point. Don't risk the 3rd rounder if you're looking to score at the draft.

3rd rounder is a better trading chip than a 6th, that's where the Pens lose value. I'm not concerned about the pick itself as player will not likely impact the NHL roster for many years...

Its hysterical that a potential 3rd round pick being lost is even on the radar after the club’s history of spitting-up 1st rounders during the all-in era. Focus on signal not noise.

Its hysterical that a potential 3rd round pick being lost is even on the radar after the club’s history of spitting-up 1st rounders during the all-in era. Focus on signal not noise.
- out_of_market

Agreed. Granted, a 3rd rounder has a lot more value than a 6th, but the odds of getting an impact player in the 75-80 range requires immense luck. Again, don't wanna give it up if you don't have to, but it's not the end of the world.

The pick is in 2026, two years from now. Who cares if it’s 3 or 6.

I honestly don’t care if Berm. Scores his 6 goals. We need good, young forwards now and if he scores more goals than any of our bottom 6 does, but in half the games, I couldn’t care less about the 3rd rounder.
- Brownsoldier

I wouldn't normally be concerned at all with a 3rd rounder...but this franchise seems to hit on 3rds in the last decade and a half....Letang, Guentzal, Rust, Murray, Sundqvist, Bortuzzo. Obviously some of those players are much better than the others. However, Ive always been of the opinion if a pick gets a regular NHL shift it was a successful pick...unless of course its something like a top 5 pick ending up a 4th liner kinda thing.

We should hope Emil nets 10 goals the balance of the year and finds his form as a top 9 forward and 2nd PP unit contributor. The Pens need guys who can shoot the puck, well worth the 3rd rounder if he can be that guy.

We should hope Emil nets 10 goals the balance of the year and finds his form as a top 9 forward and 2nd PP unit contributor. The Pens need guys who can shoot the puck, well worth the 3rd rounder if he can be that guy.
- MacPatty

Absolutely.

With the way the winger injuries are going, plus the lack of organizational depth, he could be riding shotgun with Sid soon haha

I wouldn't normally be concerned at all with a 3rd rounder...but this franchise seems to hit on 3rds in the last decade and a half....Letang, Guentzal, Rust, Murray, Sundqvist, Bortuzzo. Obviously some of those players are much better than the others. However, Ive always been of the opinion if a pick gets a regular NHL shift it was a successful pick...unless of course its something like a top 5 pick ending up a 4th liner kinda thing.
- MattStrat

Well if it is a 3rd but he ends up having a regular spot...you got your wish from the fish.

If we are 10th worst team (or lower) at the end of the season, that round 3 pick will be more valuable than any we've had in a long time.

If we become sellers, we'll send Berm to the AHL if he reaches 4 goals total with Pens. It's a business at that point. Don't risk the 3rd rounder if you're looking to score at the draft.
- coohill

If he scores 10 goals in 30 games, I couldn’t possibly care less about the 2026 3rd rounder.

Absolutely.

With the way the winger injuries are going, plus the lack of organizational depth, he could be riding shotgun with Sid soon haha
- MattStrat

This is my take. Let’s not lose too much sleep over a 3rd rounder that has a marginal chance at making an NHL roster let alone score goals on the PP. if he scores 10 goals as a young, effective winger, it’s worth a 3rd rounder. If we are THAT scared of the 3rd rounder, we can probably just trade him in 2026 for another one.

Well if it is a 3rd but he ends up having a regular spot...you got your wish from the fish.
- jmatchett383

hahah indeed

That's the key to extending Malkin's role at 2C IMO. Hind sight is 20/20, but Zucker and Malkin were so good together last year.
- madmike71

Is this really hindsight? I thought we all accepted letting Zucker go was a bit of a risk because when on his game he was a great compliment to Malkin. We were just willing to make it with his age and injury history. Might have felt different if we thought he'd only get one year.

We should hope Emil nets 10 goals the balance of the year and finds his form as a top 9 forward and 2nd PP unit contributor. The Pens need guys who can shoot the puck, well worth the 3rd rounder if he can be that guy.
- MacPatty

To me the issue is he can do something in between. He could get six goals the rest of the way while we fade and just play younger guys, but still not be someone you want in a prominent role next year. A 3rd feels a touch too high because you can find good players there pretty regularly.

But I'll root for him being a top 9 guy and worth using the 3rd. Just concerned they put themselves in a spot they could lose a third AND he isn't a top 9 player. Would have preferred they just traded a 4th or 5th since he hasn't done enough at the NHL for a 3rd to be risked on a weird stipulation.

Its hysterical that a potential 3rd round pick being lost is even on the radar after the club’s history of spitting-up 1st rounders during the all-in era. Focus on signal not noise.
- out_of_market

I was thinking the very same thing. We go from, who cares about a first round pick to can't give up a third round pick. By the way, we have two third round picks in '26.

Bermstrom is only 24 also not 54 like the rest of the team. He's a proven goal scorer in the AHL Where in the AHL does the penguins farm team rank? Near the bottom? Yager is their best forward prospect. Unless you want to count poulion? If gruden and Puustinen by passed poulin to the nhl already, I wouldn't even consider poulin a prospect anymore.

Here's Sulivan's opening to put O'Connor on Sid's wing.

Frank Seravalli really doesn't like Dubas lol.

This team should just abandon the PP units and roll their normal lines.

PensInsideScoop·5m
Bryan Rust is absent from Penguins practice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Here are the #LetsGoPens lines in his absence:

Rakell-Crosby-Smith
O’Connor-Malkin-Puustinen
Bemstrom-Eller-Puljujarvi
Harkins-Acciari-Carter
Phillips is rotating on the extra D pair with Ludvig.

Frank Seravalli really doesn't like Dubas lol.
- 123Kid

He doesn't like the Penguins. He's a Philly boy.

Why do you say that, though?

PensInsideScoop·5m
Bryan Rust is absent from Penguins practice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Here are the #LetsGoPens lines in his absence:

Rakell-Crosby-Smith
O’Connor-Malkin-Puustinen
Bemstrom-Eller-Puljujarvi
Harkins-Acciari-Carter
Phillips is rotating on the extra D pair with Ludvig.
- Thunderbolt

Ouch hahaha

PensInsideScoop·5m
Bryan Rust is absent from Penguins practice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Here are the #LetsGoPens lines in his absence:

Rakell-Crosby-Smith
O’Connor-Malkin-Puustinen
Bemstrom-Eller-Puljujarvi
Harkins-Acciari-Carter
Phillips is rotating on the extra D pair with Ludvig.
- Thunderbolt

I guess I get to see the 1st line I was asking Sully to try out earlier. Too bad it comes at the expense of Jake and Rust. If Smith really does want out now's the time to step up and showcase.