Ryan Wilson: Changes at the top of FSG Changes at the top of FSG

“Proud to be a penguin”. Is this how out of touch with hockey Penguins management is now?

Markus will be 34-ish when this new contract expires. I would have been fine signing him that long, but at that price. Oh well. Here's hoping the stuff we get in return turns into something.

Also, the conditional 1st from the Rangers. The have the option to keep the pick if it's 13th or better, right? Not that they automatically keep it but if it's 13th and they don't move up at all, they could say "meh, y'all can have it because 2026 is a deeper draft", correct?

Markus will be 34-ish when this new contract expires. I would have been fine signing him that long, but at that price. Oh well. Here's hoping the stuff we get in return turns into something.

Also, the conditional 1st from the Rangers. The have the option to keep the pick if it's 13th or better, right? Not that they automatically keep it but if it's 13th and they don't move up at all, they could say "meh, y'all can have it because 2026 is a deeper draft", correct?
- coohill

Rangers are clearly in “win now” mode. It’s interesting because if they have the 10-13th overall pick, I could see them hanging onto it just to trade it at the draft for another player.

I’m just hoping the rangers miss the playoffs by 1 or 2 points and the pens get the 14th or 15th pick.

Interesting to think if Rakell or Rust will even be moved. Salary cap is going up. Younger players are ready to step up and be cheaper replacements for Acciari and Glass. Smith and Petry’s retained salaries will be gone.

Pens could actually make some sneaky moves and working on that “retool” instead of a full rebuild.

I’m just hoping the rangers miss the playoffs by 1 or 2 points and the pens get the 14th or 15th pick.
- drummer829

I think you're hoping they keep this pick, then tank the following year and we have a high end pick in 2026.

Anthony Beauvillier - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Danton Heinen
Matt Nieto - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Today's lines. Yes Rackell is our top line center. Sid skated on his own, no update from Sully, says maybe tomorrow.

It would be nice to see a call up at LW instead of playing Nieto on the third line.

Anthony Beauvillier - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Danton Heinen
Matt Nieto - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Today's lines. Yes Rackell is our top line center. Sid skated on his own, no update from Sully, says maybe tomorrow.

It would be nice to see a call up at LW instead of playing Nieto on the third line.
- Tojo.

Some clips had him doing mostly drill work, I saw one clip where he shot the puck, sort of lol

Dubas needs to flip Heinen. Having him play in the top 6 does nothing for our organization

Anthony Beauvillier - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Danton Heinen
Matt Nieto - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Today's lines. Yes Rackell is our top line center. Sid skated on his own, no update from Sully, says maybe tomorrow.

It would be nice to see a call up at LW instead of playing Nieto on the third line.
- Tojo.

Glad Nieto is finally getting the DOC treatment considering he’s 4x the hockey player. Not saying much though.

Glad Nieto is finally getting the DOC treatment considering he’s 4x the hockey player. Not saying much though.
- Grinder47

I thought 4 x nothing = nothing...

Dubas needs to flip Heinen. Having him play in the top 6 does nothing for our organization
- Victoro311

Well...he most likely aids them in plummeting to a top 5 pick while in top 6...

Anthony Beauvillier - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Danton Heinen
Matt Nieto - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Today's lines. Yes Rackell is our top line center. Sid skated on his own, no update from Sully, says maybe tomorrow.
It would be nice to see a call up at LW instead of playing Nieto on the third line.
- Tojo.

Id probably go
Ricky-Hayes-Rust
Bunt-Glass-Beau
Hindu-Lizotte-Tomasino
YourMoma-ATCh-Call up someone tough.

I think you're hoping they keep this pick, then tank the following year and we have a high end pick in 2026.
- coohill

I don’t see them being worse next year than this year. Whatever happened mid year to them probably ain’t gonna happen next year. They will have all their same players back and they have lots of cap space. I think next year they are back to top of the metro.

Hopefully this year we get the 14-18 pick

Don't discount Shertskin having a Bobrovski like hangover after getting the big deal done. With Miller and the cap space they still have this off-season, it seems impossible to think they will be bad next year. But who knows.

I don’t see them being worse next year than this year. Whatever happened mid year to them probably ain’t gonna happen next year.
- 10inchTerror

It's possible JT Miller is toxic on the Rangers too. We can only hope if they fail this year, it gets worse.

Anthony Beauvillier - Rickard Rakell - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Danton Heinen
Matt Nieto - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

Today's lines. Yes Rackell is our top line center. Sid skated on his own, no update from Sully, says maybe tomorrow.

It would be nice to see a call up at LW instead of playing Nieto on the third line.
- Tojo.

Realistically if Rakell shows he can play center decently that would be fantastic. I definitely think we should keep him and Rust. They both seem invaluable especially with the cap going up.

Realistically if Rakell shows he can play center decently that would be fantastic. I definitely think we should keep him and Rust. They both seem invaluable especially with the cap going up.
- 123Kid

I'd move anybody other than Sid for the right price but there's are a handful of players I'd be reluctant to move. Rak is one of them. Keep Sid interested through this rebuild.

Realistically if Rakell shows he can play center decently that would be fantastic. I definitely think we should keep him and Rust. They both seem invaluable especially with the cap going up.
- 123Kid

I am guessing this means they expect Sid back tomorrow. I don't think this is a real audition for Rack at center

Markus will be 34-ish when this new contract expires. I would have been fine signing him that long, but at that price. Oh well. Here's hoping the stuff we get in return turns into something.

Also, the conditional 1st from the Rangers. The have the option to keep the pick if it's 13th or better, right? Not that they automatically keep it but if it's 13th and they don't move up at all, they could say "meh, y'all can have it because 2026 is a deeper draft", correct?
- coohill

That was a great contract for Vancouver. I thought he would get that cap hit for 8 years. He is smart and uses his size well, so even if he loses a step as he ages, I think he can still be an effective player into his mid 30's.

That said, we got a potentially top 20 draft pick... thats really good. So I'd definitely do this again, but if he went for a 2nd rounder I'd be having some heartburn right now.

Looking at the offseason. If they could talk Marchand into coming here since he is friends with Sid, and Marner (since he has the Dubas connection). We could have 2 great scoring lines. It would also allow for Malkin to potentially have Rakell and either Marner/Rust to help him in his last year.

We would just have to work on our defense a bit, but I could see those lines helping us get to the playoffs next year. Especially with some younger energy/talent on the lower lines.

Saw this on DK's site from Haase.

• With the Penguins aiming to add younger, NHL-ready players, there's the sense that the Penguins may extend offer sheets to restricted free agents this summer, which would result in draft pick compensation going to a player's original team if they are successful. That's one of the reasons for accumulating picks -- not because those picks specifically can be used for offer sheets, the picks going out would have to be the Penguins' own pick in the following draft, with the round being contingent on salary offered -- but because if they do end up spending their picks on offer sheets, they have a bunch of others already acquired to make up for that.

Saw this on DK's site from Haase.

• With the Penguins aiming to add younger, NHL-ready players, there's the sense that the Penguins may extend offer sheets to restricted free agents this summer, which would result in draft pick compensation going to a player's original team if they are successful. That's one of the reasons for accumulating picks -- not because those picks specifically can be used for offer sheets, the picks going out would have to be the Penguins' own pick in the following draft, with the round being contingent on salary offered -- but because if they do end up spending their picks on offer sheets, they have a bunch of others already acquired to make up for that.
- madmike71

Does Dubas have the balls to be doing that kind of thing? I'm not sure.

So, lets say he has a massive set of nads...who is there to target that makes sense for the Pens at this point?

Saw this on DK's site from Haase.

• With the Penguins aiming to add younger, NHL-ready players, there's the sense that the Penguins may extend offer sheets to restricted free agents this summer, which would result in draft pick compensation going to a player's original team if they are successful. That's one of the reasons for accumulating picks -- not because those picks specifically can be used for offer sheets, the picks going out would have to be the Penguins' own pick in the following draft, with the round being contingent on salary offered -- but because if they do end up spending their picks on offer sheets, they have a bunch of others already acquired to make up for that.
- madmike71

Offer sheets are dumb! To have any chance of getting that player, the team has to drastically overpay in both money and term. It's not worth it in most cases!

I think going a hybrid rebuild like the Blues (with the offer sheets for the cap strapped teams), and LA Kings (trading for a young talent like they did with Kevin Fiala). I think it could be a good strategy to win now and later. All depends on who he brings in

I think going a hybrid rebuild like the Blues (with the offer sheets for the cap strapped teams), and LA Kings (trading for a young talent like they did with Kevin Fiala). I think it could be a good strategy to win now and later. All depends on who he brings in
- 123Kid

I've been saying Id rather load up in free agency and use picks next year for offer sheets than to just tank and hope we are bad enough. But doing any offer sheeting assumes we are getting a really good top 6 player and a really good top pair LD.

Offer sheets just became harder with the huge cap increase but if you assess the talent right, it can work. Look at Holloway in St Louis... he was held back in Edmonton and all of the sudden he looking like the prospect he was expected to be.

There are some great RFA's we could go after:

JJ Peterka is a player I love and would be willing to overpay for. I think we could get him from the Sabres as they are cheap. He would be an absolute stud playing with Crosby, instantly a PPG player. Id gladly offer 7 x $9.15M for him.

Mason McTavish could be an interesting one. He has been a really good player, but projects as a 2C. Do you make a bet that his offence picks up and he turns into a Bergeron rather than a Danault? It would be a huge risk but you could offer him 7x $9.15M? The Ducks could definitely match that but that is a big overpay for what he has done to date.

Matthew Knies would be a good one if the Leafs re-sign Marner (which I think will happen). He is going to turn into a really good top line power forward and if you can get him for 7x $6M thats going to be a long term great value. Maybe Dubas knows him well enough to go even higher on him.

Wyatt Johnson is an awesome player but Dallas wont let him go.

Hard to imagine Dobson, Bouchard or Hughes going anywhere.

Edit: Add Byram, Cuylle, Villardi, Laferriere, Samberg as some other good options.