Trevor Zegras has more FM than Bryan Rust. Kind of (frank)ing embarrassing. Giant blemish on a pretty good career. Like, you were never that emotionally invested in your career that you dropped the gloves?
- Grinder47

...major blemish on Mario's career too then I guess? guess he was never emotionally invested in the game...

GTFO here with this hahaha

Sounds like the medicine here is to buy Marner, Zacha, and Boeser all in free agency. It seems like a reasonable expectation and Dubas probably should be fired if he can’t do it
- Victoro311

With Dubas at the helm I'd toss Tavares in there too....Tavares for 3C, Zacha for 2C, Geno as a top 9 winger along with Marner, Rust, Rak and Boeser....now we're cookin' hahaha

So is Schaffer the clear no. 1? Does he play left or right?

...major blemish on Mario's career too then I guess? guess he was never emotionally invested in the game...

GTFO here with this hahaha
- MattStrat

Umm. Mario fought though?

Umm. Mario fought though?
- Grinder47

When? vs who?

I dont think he ever had an actual fighting major. I know he would get involved in scrums sometimes

So is Schaffer the clear no. 1? Does he play left or right?
- Brownsoldier

Seems to be, he plays LD. He has Quinn Hughes type potential, but he was really just emerging when he got that injury at the WJC. Have to wonder how big of a setback this injury will be. Missing 12 weeks in your biggest development year can be a major setback.

Misa has been outstanding, I think he is the surest thing in the draft as he plays an NHL style game and plays great in traffic.

Hagens has been good but not outstanding. I think he might be getting slept on a bit because of his stat line. Watch him play and he can snipe and make plays. I could see either of these guys being #1.

I’d double Richard the rags with offer sheets on Will cuyle and keandre miller. Unfortunately thanks to Anaheim they have lots of cap space.

Other than trying to get some decent talent I’d be firesaling for 2 more years instead of trying this quick fix.

Seems to be, he plays LD. He has Quinn Hughes type potential, but he was really just emerging when he got that injury at the WJC. Have to wonder how big of a setback this injury will be. Missing 12 weeks in your biggest development year can be a major setback.

Misa has been outstanding, I think he is the surest thing in the draft as he plays an NHL style game and plays great in traffic.

Hagens has been good but not outstanding. I think he might be getting slept on a bit because of his stat line. Watch him play and he can snipe and make plays. I could see either of these guys being #1.
- MacPatty

Honestly this is the most accurate take. Following into the 3rd spot and landing Hagens could still be a win (since he was in the #1 spot for a while). Misa is a can't miss right now and has really been outstanding. Schaffer took an injury and was fantastic at the LD spot.

When? vs who?

I dont think he ever had an actual fighting major. I know he would get involved in scrums sometimes
- MattStrat

Mario got into a fight in his first ever home game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP0mc8qbM0

He was also in maybe 5 or 10 other fights over the course of his career. He didn't have to fight much though because they put guys out there with him most of the time that would jump in before he could even drop his own gloves -- as they should when you have the best player in the game.

I’d double Richard the rags with offer sheets on Will cuyle and keandre miller. Unfortunately thanks to Anaheim they have lots of cap space.

Other than trying to get some decent talent I’d be firesaling for 2 more years instead of trying this quick fix.
- 10inchTerror

I think the consensus in the building is that Crosby can't keep up his level of play forever. They feel his play may drop off soon. So they wanna build up the team before that happens. Or what I am hearing. Which is one reason we want Grz and Rak to stay. It is also a reason we are looking to be aggressive this offseason.

Mario got into a fight in his first ever home game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP0mc8qbM0

He was also in maybe 5 or 10 other fights over the course of his career. He didn't have to fight much though because they put guys out there with him most of the time that would jump in before he could even drop his own gloves -- as they should when you have the best player in the game.
- MickV

Crazy. I was only a baby when that fight happened hahaha and I've never seen that highlight before. I watched so many of his games and never saw an actual glove dropping tilt involving him, myself. I remember seeing him throw lots of punches with gloves on.

Crazy. I was only a baby when that fight happened hahaha and I've never seen that highlight before. I watched so many of his games and never saw an actual glove dropping tilt involving him, myself. I remember seeing him throw lots of punches with gloves on.
- MattStrat

I know he’s no Bryan Rust or anything. Mario didn’t have Crosby to stick up for him.

Crazy. I was only a baby when that fight happened hahaha and I've never seen that highlight before. I watched so many of his games and never saw an actual glove dropping tilt involving him, myself. I remember seeing him throw lots of punches with gloves on.
- MattStrat

Most of his other fights after that when he did drop the gloves other guys got in there and the linesman, etc, to make it not a proper fight. Even the linesman knew that part of their job was to not let the best player on earth throw 'em.

I remember that after this first fight, which again was his first ever home game, that the team management sat Mario down and explained to him that he's the next Gretzky and they don't want him to ever fight ... and they made it clear to all his teammates that they are supposed to jump in before Mario can ever get in this situation.

Most of his other fights after that when he did drop the gloves other guys got in there and the linesman, etc, to make it not a proper fight. Even the linesman knew that part of their job was to not let the best player on earth throw 'em.

I remember that after this first fight, which again was his first ever home game, that the team management sat Mario down and explained to him that he's the next Gretzky and they don't want him to ever fight ... and they made it clear to all his teammates that they are supposed to jump in before Mario can ever get in this situation.
- MickV

You mean they had a proper hockey team.

You mean they had a proper hockey team.
- Grinder47

Exactly. Those guys knew what their jobs were, even guys like Stevens who scored 50 goals but never hesitated to stand up for Mario.

Honestly this is the most accurate take. Following into the 3rd spot and landing Hagens could still be a win (since he was in the #1 spot for a while). Misa is a can't miss right now and has really been outstanding. Schaffer took an injury and was fantastic at the LD spot.
- 123Kid

Thanks for the insight, guys. I think us landing top 3 is important then. Because each of the top 3 could be argued one way or another.

Thanks for the insight, guys. I think us landing top 3 is important then. Because each of the top 3 could be argued one way or another.
- Brownsoldier

Need Buffalo and Nashville to start a couple winning streaks. I hope the conspiracy about fixing the lottery for the pens is true and it ultimately doesn’t matter.

When? vs who?

I dont think he ever had an actual fighting major. I know he would get involved in scrums sometimes
- MattStrat

Gary Lupul & Aki Berg were legit fights. A lot of them are like him jumping dude instead of squaring off lol

I think the consensus in the building is that Crosby can't keep up his level of play forever. They feel his play may drop off soon. So they wanna build up the team before that happens. Or what I am hearing. Which is one reason we want Grz and Rak to stay. It is also a reason we are looking to be aggressive this offseason.
- 123Kid

I see this just keeping us in mediocrity for years longer. Ask Sid to mentor like Mario did him, or see if he wants to play elsewhere.

I think the consensus in the building is that Crosby can't keep up his level of play forever. They feel his play may drop off soon. So they wanna build up the team before that happens. Or what I am hearing. Which is one reason we want Grz and Rak to stay. It is also a reason we are looking to be aggressive this offseason.
- 123Kid

Personally I think the first drop of his play has happened and I think he could maintain the level he’s at now for quite awhile longer if he wishes to. He can go out and a G and two A’s and not break a sweat.

Gary Lupul & Aki Berg were legit fights. A lot of them are like him jumping dude instead of squaring off lol
- j.boyd919

The big guy definitely had a temper.

The big guy definitely had a temper.
- Grinder47

100% hahaha some Pens haters even called him sooky

I see this just keeping us in mediocrity for years longer. Ask Sid to mentor like Mario did him, or see if he wants to play elsewhere.
- 10inchTerror

It’s a much different league and ownership group than 20 years ago. They could definitely remain competitive via free agency. Tanking for the next 3-5 years probably results and an even worse outcome.

So is Schaffer the clear no. 1? Does he play left or right?
- Brownsoldier

MacPatty's write up was excellent and he looked into this a lot. In my own research, it's usually Scaffer slightly in front, but Misa, Hagens and Martine (a big power forward wing), are all really close and a tier together. Feels like anywhere in the top 4 is great. Then there's another tier of guys from 5-8 that is close, but I personally like some of them more than others. But anyone in the top 4 is fantastic if we get there.

If the pens win the lottery, I’d have to think Dubas entertains the idea of trading back.

Swap picks, then try to get a roster player and their 2026 1st.

Pens send 2025 #1 pick and 2026 2nd rd to Buffalo for 2025 #4, 2026 1st round pick, and Peterka