Penguins/NHL
Latest Expansion Draft Buzz Surrounding the Penguins
Pittsburgh’s resigning of center Teddy Blueger this week to a 2 year, $4.4 million extension fell right into the ballpark of what a Teddy Blueger extension was projected to be.
“Teddy has proven to be a versatile, two-way center, as well as a fixture on the penalty kill. He’s a valuable player for our team,” said General Manager Ron Hextall of Blueger.”
Pittsburgh bought out a UFA year and known for his defensive metrics, the new regime see’s Blueger as an ascending player where they think the offensive numbers can fall into the range of 15 goals, 35-40 points next season, though, that might be an optimistic view.
Pittsburgh’s top-5 forwards to be protected have been set for a while now, while the final two forwards to protect has been a different story. Sounds like the organization came to an agreement on the sixth forward earlier this month with the seventh forward still being debated as of late last week.
On which direction to go, management has leaned on Mike Sullivan who has been around a lot of these players more than them. Sources say Seattle has left some teams including the Penguins guessing a bit on what direction they’re going but the Penguins went into organizational meetings on Thursday and Friday last week with intel that To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”! as Kraken Assistant GM Jason Botterill is a big Teddy Blueger guy.
Is Blueger one of the Penguins best seven forwards?
No he’s not and I’d argue you could always go out and find a Teddy Blueger, type but with Evgeni Malkin potentially sidelined as long as To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
MORE BUZZ
— Not certain he would be their selection if left unprotected, but the Penguins brass is aware that the Kraken have done a lot of homework on To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Rival executives say Pittsburgh leaving [hide] Brandon Tanev exposed would be a monstrous risk by the organization.
“I’d select him [Tanev] in a heartbeat,” one exec said of Seattle. He’d be a fan favorite.”[/hide]
— It would be a stunner around the league if Pittsburgh left Tristan Jarry unprotected.
— The Penguins coaching staff have been strong advocates in wanting to see the team resign To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
McCann can leave. The dude is a ghost in the playoffs. I hope he gets picked so the stench of that McCann/Bjustad trade can be over with.
I would rather lose Jarry, Zucker or Pettersson before McCain. He fit in well on the top PP unit and with Geno out he will be able to stay there for a while.
I agree he does disappear in the playoffs. I just think Malkin is going to be out longer than they say and Mccann gives us a viable option at third center. Carter will move to second center and Blueger is going to be picked by Seattle.
If he gave us a viable option, we wouldn’t have traded for a 3c at the deadline last year. I wouldn’t trust McCann as anything more than a middle 6 wing.
I’m wondering how did New Jersey get young, physical lefthanded defenseman Ryan graves from Colorado for next to nothing. Graves is only 26, is tough to play against, and only makes $3.18 million. He is just what the Penguins (supposedly) are looking for tough to play against character guys.
— A He is young
– He is tough to play against
– He is totally affordable
– Blocks shots /Character
– Good defensivley
Where was Hextall/Burke on this guy ? He was asleep at the wheel!
He would slot in nicely to our second pair defense with John Marino..??
The Avs’ would have lost him to Seattle for nothing, Maltsev is only 23 yrs old, it was a salary dump for Colorado and the Hextall does not want to part with what little draft picks he has left. Hextall already said he is following a plan. He is not going trade crazy like JR. Besides, the Pens need to shed massive amounts of cap space.
They will Carrod !Look one way or another they are going to lose Zucker, Petersson and Zach Aston Reese. I hear they are trying to move Jusso Rikola too.
Graves was a $3.18 cap hit that small. If the Avs were going to lose him lose him to us ..LOL
Please don’t roast me on this (tbj233) just passing this Penguins protected list from
ROB ROSSI PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE His list from what his sources are in Pittsburgh (not me got it)
I don’t want to have to get a play station…..LOL
Forwards Crosby Rust Buentzel Malkin Kapanen Blueger Tanev
Defense Dumoulin Letang Friedman
Goalie DeSmith
notables left unprotected Jarry / Carter / Mccann (hate to lose)
Zucker/Petersson expected
I’m fine with that list provided we’re able to manage to keep Carter. RW on hockeybuzz is crying because McCann is an analytic darling. He casually forgets to mention that he’s always hurt, wildly inconsistent and was a healthy scratch in the playoffs a couple years back. He’s soft. He continues to say that he’s a capable center. If he were, they wouldn’t have traded for one and just resigned another. That clown lives his life through fancy stats. He’s probably the most insufferable Pens writer (blogger) out there.
He also said you’re a neanderthal if you think fighting belongs in hockey. That’s his mindset.
Agreed Mccann while statistics are good your point about inconsistency, a healthy scratch, and being soft are valid. I just hope they don’t lose Carter in the expansion draft. A couple sources one the Athletic saying Penguins are in on Zack Hyman. He is a perfect type of player that we need but not at $ 5 million per for 8 years. (which is what he is asking 8 year max contract).
Agreed… Tanev is a solid, gritty, emotional type player that we just don’t have enough of!
There are enough goalies out there we can get ! Like you said make a play for Dreidger or I like Linus Ullmark who had a terrific year with Buffalo.
27, 6 ft 3 220 9-6-3 917 save % 2.85 GAA The Penguins need more stability in goal period.
I would expose Jarry before Tanev. The Pens could make play for Chris Driedger. He is a UFA.