Ryan Wilson: One more to go One more to go

This would be the 3rd coach Drury fires in 4 year as GM, right?

He fired Quinn when he became GM in the 2021 offseason, but that wasn't his hire -- I don't believe? I dunno.

Kreider has fallen off a cliff this year, but is this a one off? I feel like he might bounce back next year.

The season definitely lies in Igor -- and I think that's what happened this season, didn't he start the season really poorly before inking his extension?

Based on my understanding of the NHL draft lottery rules - if either the Sharks or Blackhawks win this year's draft lottery, it takes them out of next year's lottery since that will be the second time in 5 years they won it?

Yeah, Quinn wasn't his hire, but still, firing the coach when you take over, then firing the coach you hired after 2 seasons, then again firing the next coach you hired after 2 seasons ... not a good look for a GM.

After watching some McKenna highlighted dubas should gut the team in the offseason. Screw making the playoffs for Sid.

After watching some McKenna highlighted dubas should gut the team in the offseason. Screw making the playoffs for Sid.
- 10inchTerror

Well that just isn’t happening

After watching some McKenna highlighted dubas should gut the team in the offseason. Screw making the playoffs for Sid.
- 10inchTerror

The absolute chaos in the NHL if we go into that lottery without the best odds and walk away with the #1 pick to take McKenna.

It is the lame collective effort of the past three GM’s (Rutherford, Hextall, Dubas) in not being able to give proper scoring depth.
I'd say GMJR burning through all our assets to win while the core was still in their prime inevitably led to this. They just didn't have any young assets to sustain through their careers. Right call, but the organization was going to flame out before they retired.

The absolute chaos in the NHL if we go into that lottery without the best odds and walk away with the #1 pick to take McKenna.
- SuperHenderson13

The chaos wouldn't be in the NHL, it would be from social media fans...and fvck those idiots. Pay no mind.

It is the lame collective effort of the past three GM’s (Rutherford, Hextall, Dubas) in not being able to give proper scoring depth.
I'd say GMJR burning through all our assets to win while the core was still in their prime inevitably led to this. They just didn't have any young assets to sustain through their careers. Right call, but the organization was going to flame out before they retired.
- Tojo.

Should have started retooling after the back to backs. Stopped trading away 1sts. Get some draft capital back as the cupboards were bare back then. Can’t go hard for 10+ straight years.

Yohe didnt have a lot to report in his latest rumors. He said:

-Expect Dubas to trade a bad contract this summer using draft capital
-Karlsson could be traded if he approves the move and the Penguins retain some salary which he thinks they would
-Big concern in the organization about Letang's longevity and level of play. Mentions him as a trade candidate, but I (I meaning me, not Yohe) dont see it
-Dont be shocked if Jarry is the opening night starter next year
-Even with the bad contracts, Penguins have a ton of cap flexibility over the next 2 years
-Never replaced Pettersson as a LHD, look for that position to be a priority this summer

Does anybody know how Brunicke has looked in WBS?

This D corps is just terrible. Not sure how they get it to be even mediocre next year.

Does anybody know how Brunicke has looked in WBS?

This D corps is just terrible. Not sure how they get it to be even mediocre next year.
- MickV

I scanned DK's site. Haase usually does some good reporting on the AHL/ECHL. Couldn't find anything on Brunike.

Agree on the D. Letang has played some awful hockey at times this season. He needs less minutes. He's not a #1 anymore. If EK is traded, that's another huge hole. You can't drop Brunicke and Pickering into this group and expect much of an improvement. Anybody know what's available in the D UFA market?

Does anybody know how Brunicke has looked in WBS?

This D corps is just terrible. Not sure how they get it to be even mediocre next year.
- MickV

Yohe referred to Brunicke as near NHL-ready.

Guess he will be given an opportunity to make the NHL roster next season. He is only going to be 19 when training camp starts so its another year of NHL or CHL which sucks.

I scanned DK's site. Haase usually does some good reporting on the AHL/ECHL. Couldn't find anything on Brunike.

Agree on the D. Letang has played some awful hockey at times this season. He needs less minutes. He's not a #1 anymore. If EK is traded, that's another huge hole. You can't drop Brunicke and Pickering into this group and expect much of an improvement. Anybody know what's available in the D UFA market?
- madmike71

The D market is pretty bad this year.

Agree, Letang needs the sheltered role EK is getting. They just can't keep running him against top lines. Not that we have anyone better.

And I also agree you can't ask a couple rookies to fix that. Gryz has had a nice season for what he is, but they need a shutdown guy far more.

I'll say this a thousand times I'm sure. I can see a path to respectable forward group. You can hope someone emerges in net because there are enough possibilities. But fixing this defense in one off-season seems like a tall task. They basically need to find a top pair, drop EK so Letang slides down, and hope they have a couple successes from the minors.

Yohe referred to Brunicke as near NHL-ready.

Guess he will be given an opportunity to make the NHL roster next season. He is only going to be 19 when training camp starts so its another year of NHL or CHL which sucks.
- SuperHenderson13

If we didn’t have a million bottom pairing d men this year I think Brunicke would have made the team. I’m pretty confident Pickering and Brunicke are ready to contribute next year, the question is whether either can handle being Letang or Karlsson’s partner which is a lot more questionable.

If we didn’t have a million bottom pairing d men this year I think Brunicke would have made the team. I’m pretty confident Pickering and Brunicke are ready to contribute next year, the question is whether either can handle being Letang or Karlsson’s partner which is a lot more questionable.
- Victoro311

Brunicke is a RHD so I'd assume if both Letang and EK are back he'd be competing with guys like St. Ivany and maybe Timmons to start as the third RD.

Pickering you'd like to ease in as well, but I doubt Sully starts two rookies together. So if both make it, Pickering I think has to be your #2 LHD.

I'm not going to assume Brunicke gets a spot. We made that mistake with McGroarty who was more hyped, a year older, and at an easier position to break in early. Not impossible, I just won't have him anywhere besides competing for #3 RD. Pickering feels more likely coming off a strong year at the AHL.

Brunicke is a RHD so I'd assume if both Letang and EK are back he'd be competing with guys like St. Ivany and maybe Timmons to start as the third RD.

Pickering you'd like to ease in as well, but I doubt Sully starts two rookies together. So if both make it, Pickering I think has to be your #2 LHD.

I'm not going to assume Brunicke gets a spot. We made that mistake with McGroarty who was more hyped, a year older, and at an easier position to break in early. Not impossible, I just won't have him anywhere besides competing for #3 RD. Pickering feels more likely coming off a strong year at the AHL.
- Tojo.

Brunicke had a much better camp than McGroatry though. Do you remember the hype around him at camp? It was short lived cus he was eventually sent down to the CHL and got hurt, but he looked like an NHLer. It was like Maatta

I think someone answered this but when is NY required to tell us if they are keeping the pick or not?

I think someone answered this but when is NY required to tell us if they are keeping the pick or not?
- Brownsoldier

There’s a deadline I’m pretty sure

I think someone answered this but when is NY required to tell us if they are keeping the pick or not?
- Brownsoldier

48 hours before the draft I believe.

Brunicke had a much better camp than McGroatry though. Do you remember the hype around him at camp? It was short lived cus he was eventually sent down to the CHL and got hurt, but he looked like an NHLer. It was like Maatta
- Victoro311

It's probably a bad comparison, but I can remember significantl hype for Paul Bissonette at a similar age. We sometimes overhype our prospects because we have so few..

Brunicke has had an unbelievable year. He's gone from a possible reach to a top 100 prospect. But he's at what could be the most competitive position the Pens have as a 19 year old. I do hope he makes it and progress quickly, just not ready to make plans that count on it.

48 hours before the draft I believe.
- SuperHenderson13

Yep that's it.

Interestingly the Rangers already traded away their 2nd and 4th picks in 2026 (and 2027), so if they give us that one, they'd be down to just a 3rd. In 2025 they have both and an extra 4th, so this would be the easier year to lose a 1st. Not sure if that would factor in. They get a high pick this year, they might trade that for a quick fix.

Yep that's it.

Interestingly the Rangers already traded away their 2nd and 4th picks in 2026 (and 2027), so if they give us that one, they'd be down to just a 3rd. In 2025 they have both and an extra 4th, so this would be the easier year to lose a 1st. Not sure if that would factor in. They get a high pick this year, they might trade that for a quick fix.
- Tojo.

Good context. Definitely interesting.

It's probably a bad comparison, but I can remember significantl hype for Paul Bissonette at a similar age. We sometimes overhype our prospects because we have so few..

Brunicke has had an unbelievable year. He's gone from a possible reach to a top 100 prospect. But he's at what could be the most competitive position the Pens have as a 19 year old. I do hope he makes it and progress quickly, just not ready to make plans that count on it.
- Tojo.

I’m not going to pretend to remember Biz as a prospect but I will say that a player like Biz is very capable of generating hype for reasons that have nothing to do with playing good hockey and can sometimes trick people into thinking he’s playing good hockey due to that same hype. Brunicke was making waves for playing great hockey at camp