I thought about this. Could you IMAGINE getting out from under the graves contract? Regardless, these are net positive trades. The TDL is dubas’ bread and butter imo. He’s god awful at free agency but always does well with trades.
- Brownsoldier

Well taking back Krug is a lottery ticket... If he doesn't recover from surgery well, than that is a worse contract than Graves. I'd still take that chance but it would be a gamble.

Reading Dubas's comments, it sure sounds like we're keeping Schenn for now. Sounds like he wants him as a locker room leader and to toughen up the team. I'll add he might feel more comfortable breaking in young players like Kolyochonok and Pickering with a vet like Schenn than Desharnais.

I'm OK with that. Not sure how much value Schenn has, but if he does, can still flip him in a year.

Does Schenn play both sides? Ñ
Could he be a gryz replacement?

Does Schenn play both sides? Ñ
Could he be a gryz replacement?
- Brownsoldier

I don't think so, but we have 4 lefties: POJ, Shea, Graves, and Kolyachonok. And while none of them are top four, neither is Schenn. Though I guess he steps into second pair of Letang or EK is unavailable.

I thought about this. Could you IMAGINE getting out from under the graves contract? Regardless, these are net positive trades. The TDL is dubas’ bread and butter imo. He’s god awful at free agency but always does well with trades.
- Brownsoldier

What trades has he been great at?

Guentzel went for 2 non nhlers, 2nd and bunting who kinda sucked. He was worth more imo

Did Ty smith ever do anything?

Luke is a really good fighter, so he and Sullivan definitely won’t see eye to eye.

Dubas is definitely familiar with Schenn. It is a good upgrade in the 3rd D spot. It is interesting because Toronto had big interest in acquiring him so there may be something to what Pensforlife commented with Rakell and him going to Toronto. I continue to hear there is a bit of an internal struggle on if we should trade Rakell.

Side note a lot of the insider information in Toronto has been saying teams were interested in uniting the brothers together (not sure if it was the Schenn brothers wish to finish out their careers together). The insiders all pointed to Toronto as the biggest possibility for the brothers to get together at the TDL. Now some are saying the Toronto connections may actually be a former Toronto connection in the form of Dubas trying to reunite them on the Penguins. So that is something to watch going forward (we had some extensive talks with the Blues previously).


I really wouldn't know what direction we were going in if we landed Brayden Schenn as well since we already have 7 centers on our roster. I know Schenn and Novak are 2-3rd line centers. It would be odd.

Hoping my sources were right on the Anaheim or Buffalo interested names. Or they read my interest in the LA Kings players. I know Vancouver was a team interested in Rakell. I know we discussed Hoglander previously. I am hoping for Lekkerimaki if he is traded to Vancouver because I feel he could be solid with additional picks.

Dubas is definitely familiar with Schenn. It is a good upgrade in the 3rd D spot. It is interesting because Toronto had big interest in acquiring him so there may be something to what Pensforlife commented with Rakell and him going to Toronto. I continue to hear there is a bit of an internal struggle on if we should trade Rakell.

Side note a lot of the insider information in Toronto has been saying teams were interested in uniting the brothers together (not sure if it was the Schenn brothers wish to finish out their careers together). The insiders all pointed to Toronto as the biggest possibility for the brothers to get together at the TDL. Now some are saying the Toronto connections may actually be a former Toronto connection in the form of Dubas trying to reunite them on the Penguins. So that is something to watch going forward (we had some extensive talks with the Blues previously).


I really wouldn't know what direction we were going in if we landed Brayden Schenn as well since we already have 7 centers on our roster. I know Schenn and Novak are 2-3rd line centers. It would be odd.

Hoping my sources were right on the Anaheim or Buffalo interested names. Or they read my interest in the LA Kings players. I know Vancouver was a team interested in Rakell. I know we discussed Hoglander previously. I am hoping for Lekkerimaki if he is traded to Vancouver because I feel he could be solid with additional picks.
- 123Kid

Crosby-Malkin-Schenn-Lizotte is decent center depth if we could get some 2nd line wingers.

Dubas is definitely familiar with Schenn. It is a good upgrade in the 3rd D spot. It is interesting because Toronto had big interest in acquiring him so there may be something to what Pensforlife commented with Rakell and him going to Toronto. I continue to hear there is a bit of an internal struggle on if we should trade Rakell.

Side note a lot of the insider information in Toronto has been saying teams were interested in uniting the brothers together (not sure if it was the Schenn brothers wish to finish out their careers together). The insiders all pointed to Toronto as the biggest possibility for the brothers to get together at the TDL. Now some are saying the Toronto connections may actually be a former Toronto connection in the form of Dubas trying to reunite them on the Penguins. So that is something to watch going forward (we had some extensive talks with the Blues previously).


I really wouldn't know what direction we were going in if we landed Brayden Schenn as well since we already have 7 centers on our roster. I know Schenn and Novak are 2-3rd line centers. It would be odd.

Hoping my sources were right on the Anaheim or Buffalo interested names. Or they read my interest in the LA Kings players. I know Vancouver was a team interested in Rakell. I know we discussed Hoglander previously. I am hoping for Lekkerimaki if he is traded to Vancouver because I feel he could be solid with additional picks.
- 123Kid

Well that would be an interesting shift for us targeting Brayden Schenn too! I have wanted Schenn for years ...

That would send the ultimate signal to FAs that we are going to put together a winning team next season. But I just don't see how we do it. The Blues are in the playoffs hunt still... They aren't going to sell him cheap.

I'd trust Schenn as 2C if we got him some quality wings. Malkin-Schenn-Rust would be perfect if we keep Rackell.

Would we be a playoff team with Jake this season? No, I dont think we would be.

So far Dubas has turned trading Jake into Novak, Schenn, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Lucious, 2nd round pick and two 5th round picks.

I was reading somewhere the other day that Koivunen down in WBS is really starting to come into his own the past few months. So, hopefully he keeps trending that way.

So far Dubas has turned trading Jake into Novak, Schenn, Ponomarev, Koivunen, Lucious, 2nd round pick and two 5th round picks.

I was reading somewhere the other day that Koivunen down in WBS is really starting to come into his own the past few months. So, hopefully he keeps trending that way.
- MattStrat

Did we get Brunike with that 2nd from Carolina? If Koivunen and Brunike turn out to be good, that's probably a good deal. If not, it's obviously and ugly deal. I was 50/50 on trading Rak, but it sure seems like a missed opportunity to not take advantage of the sellers market.

I don't think so, but we have 4 lefties: POJ, Shea, Graves, and Kolyachonok. And while none of them are top four, neither is Schenn. Though I guess he steps into second pair of Letang or EK is unavailable.
- Tojo.

I think just being a right handed defenseman in this league ups value a bit...then add in his grit and toughness factors and I could see playoff teams wanting him as their 6th/7th d-man. So, maybe he fetches a 3rd?

Did we get Brunike with that 2nd from Carolina? If Koivunen and Brunike turn out to be good, that's probably a good deal. If not, it's obviously and ugly deal. I was 50/50 on trading Rak, but it sure seems like a missed opportunity to not take advantage of the sellers market.
- madmike71

Yes, thats right. It was either Brunike or Howe picked with that 2nd. I like both of those selections.

Koivunen is now almost a ppg player in AHL. Thats always a good sign for younger guys down there but not a be all, end all indictor of ending up a constant NHLer, of course.

Yes, thats right. It was either Brunike or Howe picked with that 2nd. I like both of those selections.

Koivunen is now almost a ppg player in AHL. Thats always a good sign for younger guys down there but not a be all, end all indictor of ending up a constant NHLer , of course.
- MattStrat

I remember Dubas saying they had Koivunen rated much higher than most of the experts because they watched him extensively as they were watching Pieniniemi. He looked great in the last two preseason games for what that's worth.

Hopefully Dubas picks up where he left off today. My source has gone quiet (probably doing some work ). Hopefully Pensforlife can add some more inside info for us today. I'm still hoping we make a few more impact moves.

While its no substitute for being a playoff team/making playoffs/being in playoffs I do find these current times for the Pens a bit exciting.

Hopefully Dubas picks up where he left off today. My source has gone quiet (probably doing some work ). Hopefully Pensforlife can add some more inside info for us today. I'm still hoping we make a few more impact moves.
- 123Kid

I tried getting a little Rak info but got shut down on that haha
I think there is a couple factors why he isn't already traded but mostly
-I dont think they were going to trade him at all unless it was an absolute overpay but have realized there is only like 2-3 top 6 players available with a cap hit around 5 mill
-I dont think they expected the prices being this high so didnt look into what everyone was willing to pay
-As others have mentioned, I dont think Dubas wants 1st rnd picks he wants multiple middle prospects

Really think A LOT of GMs burn themselves by waiting to long and end up getting less when the other GM realizes they are just waiting on 1 team to up there offer. Maybe he has trades very close to done but leaving Rak, Gryz, Beau, EK, Schenn, Acciari plus others till the last 24 hours will allow other teams to find common ground on other trades as well.
Would be hard to say after to the media now "the prices just werent there for Rak"

Rakell to TOR actually makes sense if Marner prices himself out or simply wants to leave.

Then EK to TOR in the offseason. Dubas can eat some salary on EK to get a better deal.