Ryan Wilson: Penguins look to have quite the player in Harrison Brunicke Penguins look to have quite the player in Harrison Brunicke

Wouldn't surprise me if he reaches another gear this season. The Pens had games last year where he was the primary reason they won. Not sure what Dubas is waiting for, but he should already have a contract.
- madmike71

Agree, DOC would be a smart player to try and lock up early. If he spends the bulk of the year in the top 6, there's a good chance he puts up numbers that lead to a contract we may not want to pay.

Nice thing about the Pens having the cap flexibility for 23 for once is that they could keep Brunicke for a tryout and still have their top 13 forwards and 7 defensemen.

Where does HB play though if everybody is healthy? The right side has EK, Letang, and St.I. Do they sit one of them? Seems unlikely, unless they let Grinder run the D for a few games.

When was the last time we gave a prospect the 9 games? Sprong?

Those 9 games will be worth more development wise than an entire season of Junior.
Give him the 9, if he struggles send him back with the goal of joining Team Canada at the WJC.

Where does HB play though if everybody is healthy? The right side has EK, Letang, and St.I. Do they sit one of them? Seems unlikely, unless they let Grinder run the D for a few games.
- MickV

It's a good question. He was pretty dominant with Petts but I'm pretty sure all of our D's numbers go up with 28.

Right now St. I would be most likely but putting Brunicke with Graves is a good way to tank his confidence.

F Graves

I agree with RW (and many of us continue to propose) I think having Malkin and Crosby together would be awesome! I wish Hayes was in his prime.

Malkin -Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Hayes - Rakell
DOC - Eller - Glass/Puljujarvi
Beau - Lizotte - Acciari

Having lines like this would be awesome (again if Hayes was a solid 2nd line center option).

Lizotte and Ned out. Very penguiny of them. Looks like we will get to see Blom in the big leagues earlier than anticipated.

In terms of Brunicke, perhaps EK needs 7-9 games to start the year to make sure he is healthy?

Agree, DOC would be a smart player to try and lock up early. If he spends the bulk of the year in the top 6, there's a good chance he puts up numbers that lead to a contract we may not want to pay.
- Tojo.

He's a good mid 6 player who can competently play on the top line. I don't know if the Dupuis comparison fits, but he does a lot of the same things. Has speed, gets to pucks and has good enough hands where he'll score 15-20 goals. Should have been signed already.

Lizotte and Ned out. Very penguiny of them. Looks like we will get to see Blom in the big leagues earlier than anticipated.

In terms of Brunicke, perhaps EK needs 7-9 games to start the year to make sure he is healthy?
- 10inchTerror

Maybe we'll get lucky and Dubas can swing Jarry+Graves for Swayman. Highly unlikely.

Maybe we'll get lucky and Dubas can swing Jarry+Graves for Swayman. Highly unlikely.
- j.boyd919

I was really hoping someone would have called Waddell and offered graves for anything to get cbus to the cap floor.

It's a good question. He was pretty dominant with Petts but I'm pretty sure all of our D's numbers go up with 28.

Right now St. I would be most likely but putting Brunicke with Graves is a good way to tank his confidence.

F Graves
- Thorny87

That's an important point to consider with the limited data we have. Even Erik Gudbranson was something crazy like a 58% Fenwick guy with Pettersson. It doesn't matter who you are, playing with Pettersson almost always inflates people's possession numbers.

Where does HB play though if everybody is healthy? The right side has EK, Letang, and St.I. Do they sit one of them? Seems unlikely, unless they let Grinder run the D for a few games.
- MickV

You sit St. Ivany for Brunicke if he's earned that look. Brunicke is the higher upside guy. If you don't think he's better than St. Ivany, then you don't bother to give him that tryout. St. Ivany can be sent to WBS so not like he has to sit.

Unless Letang or EK is traded, they might have to make that call in the next three years. Good problem to have if you end up with four good RDs

You sit St. Ivany for Brunicke if he's earned that look. Brunicke is the higher upside guy. If you don't think he's better than St. Ivany, then you don't bother to give him that tryout. St. Ivany can be sent to WBS so not like he has to sit.

Unless Letang or EK is traded, they might have to make that call in the next three years. Good problem to have if you end up with four good RDs
- Tojo.

Yeah sadly if Brunicke earns a spot it'll be at St. Ivany's expense, but that's generally fine. Regardless, if Karlsson misses time, you give Brunicke his nine games to force the issue, then make the decision between him and Jack after. Who knows, maybe one of them can play the left side and they both end up playing.

Yeah sadly if Brunicke earns a spot it'll be at St. Ivany's expense, but that's generally fine. Regardless, if Karlsson misses time, you give Brunicke his nine games to force the issue, then make the decision between him and Jack after. Who knows, maybe one of them can play the left side and they both end up playing.
- Victoro311

Wouldn't that be nice if one moved to LD? Goodbye Graves please.

Per Haase:

Just asked Mike Sullivan, and he said there’s a chance Harrison Brunicke sticks around for the 9-game tryout to start the season before they decide whether to send him back to junior (he’s not eligible for the AHL).

Also if note, Ludvig got bumped down to the depth group in practice. Brunicke, Shea, Puljujarvi, and Puustinen are still in the main group for reference.

Per Haase:

Just asked Mike Sullivan, and he said there’s a chance Harrison Brunicke sticks around for the 9-game tryout to start the season before they decide whether to send him back to junior (he’s not eligible for the AHL).

Also if note, Ludvig got bumped down to the depth group in practice. Brunicke, Shea, Puljujarvi, and Puustinen are still in the main group for reference.
- Tojo.

Not shocked. Ludving and Shea are clearly never going to be more than depth and Shea is 27 so he’s probably more likely to stick around at the moment.

St. Ivany, Brunicke, and Pickering are the non-regulars that matter moving forward.

Not shocked. Ludving and Shea are clearly never going to be more than depth and Shea is 27 so he’s probably more likely to stick around at the moment.

St. Ivany, Brunicke, and Pickering are the non-regulars that matter moving forward.
- Victoro311

I like Shea. Good depth player. If they waive him, I hope he clears.

I like Shea. Good depth player. If they waive him, I hope he clears.
- madmike71

I like em both. Just saying their upside isn’t super high so they won’t take priority over others and Shea being 27 is a prime candidate to keep up with the big club just to sit in the press box as the seventh defenseman because development isn’t really a concern with him.

I like em both. Just saying their upside isn’t super high so they won’t take priority over others and Shea being 27 is a prime candidate to keep up with the big club just to sit in the press box as the seventh defenseman because development isn’t really a concern with him.
- Victoro311

I think that's what they signed Aho to do. If they were happy enough with Shea or Ludvig as the seventh D, they don't bring Aho in on a multi year deal.

Is this the year the Sabres make it to the post season? I think it might be...and I bring this up because I believe they could be a big factor in the Pens not making it in. Impossible for me not to think the Devils are going to be way better this season, as well. Flyers, Caps and Sens all tried to upgrade. Going to be very hard to get in, very tight.

I think that's what they signed Aho to do. If they were happy enough with Shea or Ludvig as the seventh D, they don't bring Aho in on a multi year deal.
- Tojo.

Aho got 775k. I think I read he's comfortable on either side. If I had to guess, the pecking order for that 7th spot will be Aho, Shea, Ludvig. Brunike playing so well clouds things. If they think EK needs to miss a handful of games, putting him on IR makes all the sense in the world.

I agree with RW (and many of us continue to propose) I think having Malkin and Crosby together would be awesome! I wish Hayes was in his prime.

Malkin -Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Hayes - Rakell
DOC - Eller - Glass/Puljujarvi
Beau - Lizotte - Acciari

Having lines like this would be awesome (again if Hayes was a solid 2nd line center option).
- 123Kid

You could play Accairi with Crosby and Malkin, then give Eller Rust and Bunting. Malkin and Crosby should just be linemates for the rest of their time in Pittsburgh.

You could play Accairi with Crosby and Malkin, then give Eller Rust and Bunting. Malkin and Crosby should just be linemates for the rest of their time in Pittsburgh.
- Grinder47

Why do you do this every year?

Why do you do this every year?
- Victoro311

hahaha