Penguins/NHL
Penguins sticking with the core, have to find ways to improve winger group
The Penguins front office is not deterred that the current core has four straight first round exits. They put a lot of value on regular season performance, compared to former GM Jim Rutherford who put more stock in short windows such as postseason performance. Many others don’t see it this way, but Hextall and Co believed the 2021-2022 club was a three round level team if the injuries in goal didn’t happen. And they still feel running it back with the core and few tweaks can give them a chance for the next couple seasons.
From a PR Standpoint, Ron Hextall is winning the off-season in going three for three in resigning Bryan Rust, Kris Letang and now franchise icon Evgeni Malkin. Last season the three cost $20.25 million against the cap. In 2022-2023 they will count $17.3 million against the cap.
But, will these moves be as popular a year from now?
Probably not….
— What to expect from the Penguins today.
They’d like to add another top-9 level forward today and probably need to find ways to add two more capable wingers. Among the top-9 level wingers on the current roster, it’s just not a good enough group beyond Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
And improving the winger group has to become a focus when your second and third line centers are 36 and 37 years old.
Jason Zucker who the Penguins truly like a lot in what he brings to the table with his all around game, can never stay healthy and is not consistent enough offensively at this stage of his career. Kasperi Kapanen if he sticks around is so hit or miss. He can’t be counted on. While Danton Heinen and Evan Rodrigues are replaceable level you can always find elsewhere, that’s still some 70 + combined points among the two you have to find ways to replace.
NHL FREE AGENCY BUZZ
Anywhere by Philly or New Jersey for Gaudreau would be a Stunner
Johnny Gaudreau broke the hearts of the Calgary Flames Tuesday night after the Flames made attempt after attempt to try to get the start winger to sign on the dotted line, offering close to $90 million over eight years. It wasn’t about money as Gaudreau has wanted to move back East.
Gaudreau is headed to the Metropolitan Division but where?
The first choice has always been Philadelphia. The Flyers cap situation is awful, but you don’t need to be cap compliant today. Still, there is a lot of chatter that Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils are primed to win the Gaudreau sweepstakes when the clocks strikes noon. Jack Hughes and Gaudreau would be quite a tantalizing combo.
Anywhere but Philadelphia or New Jersey will be a stunner……
MORE BUZZ
— Seattle or the Rangers for Trocheck?
Had Evgeni Malkin tested free agency, there was going to be considerable risk for the Malkin camp as Vince Trocheck was going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin and probably by 12:15 pm. They knew this…….
Now What for Trocheck?
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Seattle plans a run at Trocheck whose first priority has been to stay on the East coast, so we’ll see on that one.
Elliotte Friedman continues to link the Rangers to Trocheck. The Rangers are in a lot of things and have also emerged as a dark horse team for Nazem Kadri.
— Hearing Carolina is in on former Penguin David Perron who has a big market developing.
— Pending UFA Evan Rodrigues fired agent To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
incase you guys worry where is npl time to time
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/p3P-_hHd_6Q
Soooo WTF is the deal with Larsson?
Maybe waiting on a dman trade to make it official?
That would make a ton of sense. I like the idea of that addition overall
Wonder if they are also looking for a suitor for a McGinn type too
Detroit did a lot of moves yes the team is still weak but the are on the right track. Good job Stevie Y
Leafs planing another first round exit
Let’s see how many games Fraud murray will play this year
Johnny Hockey to CBJ!! Wow
8 years 84million
This contract will hunt them in the long run
Contracts that can hunt are dangerous
Now new report contract is 7 years 68.25 million
Flames dont want to sign Johnny Hockey anymore.
They offered him 8 yrs at $10.5 per, he turned it down.
Did you guys go on menu and check penguins prospect lines surprise we don’t have ZeroTool’s favorite player there TK
Perron to Red Wings
The Vegas Golden Knights have traded sniper Max Pacioretty and defenseman Dylan Coghlan to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations
Ahahaha that fraud been traded again where are the droolers of that bum
Now he will cancer canes locker room
How is that not salary cap circumvention?
Archibald finishing his career where he started in WBS
If you go on menu and check prospect chart we still have a lot of players lollllll
Tokarski suckss
He is small and plays small in net
Sometimes you wish you have a Fat goalie like Npl
Did we crash yett
Miller is a pipe dream
Sam I totally agree, he loves Marino an Kapanen, ship them both for Miller, Miller plays Wing an Center. Do it Hexy
Quinn….. Agree with you but if Kapanen and Marino go to Vancouver it will be for 25 year old winger Connor Garland.
Also heard Ottawa for Marino for 20 goal scorer Connor Brown ??
We will see..
Time to be on the other end of a JR hosing. Send a dman or two to VAN for JT.
Overpaid american pp specialist take vacations fraud only care about money
Jan Rutta is big an physical, I would move Marino for someone like Garland or Josh Anderson.
Hes big but not that physical. More physical than Marino and Ruhwedel tho.
Players just skate up to Marino and he gives up the puck.
Jan Rutta to the Pens. 3/2.75 per. Have to imagine a dman is being moved. He’s a really solid dman and I think a nice upgrade over hanging chad.
2 dmen need to be traded now.
Trotman
Totally agree with you…love Jan Rutta 6 foot 3 205 + 25
Gudbranson got 4/4m per. Fucking insane. There should be no reason whatsoever the Pens aren’t able to unload a dman.
That is insane who gave him that/ Columbus / ??
The Pens need to trade a Dman, we have the depth. That’s 4 for million to our cap space. We would have a little over 8 million in space an could add two quality forwards. They should have moved one of them already.
I like to see Sonny Milano or Lindbolm on the third line
I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing Milano and Rackell on a line with Geno. I like Milano and those two had a lot of success with Zegras. Might find something there for a small cap hit and it would add depth.
Wouldnt mind Tyler Motte in the bottom 6 on the real cheap. Between him and Zucker, you could probably get a full season.
Be nice to see Milano and Motte really solidify that bottom group…
Tokarski?
Puljujarvi took a step forward this year. Wouldn’t mind seeing us take a flyer on him to fill out forward depth and they need dmen.
Sergachev for 8/8.5, Cernak 8/5.2 and Cirelli for 8/6.25. I haven’t looked at their cap situation for the following season, but that seems insane.
Npl sucksss
So does his Hot dog cart
This season, Canada will enter its third decade of not winning the Stanley Cup. Congratulations.
New update Malkin injures his wrist after signing his contract. He will go back on his annual vacation
wow thats harsch… LOL
A player penguins missed out is Copp
But wings overpaid him
No surprise you would like the worst contract of FA so far.
Did we crash yet ?
Would love to see Dylan Strome as a 3c for 3-4m/year
Pens are stuck with Carter.
I’m not a fan of Carter’s contract, but he still had 19 goals and 45 points last year. I think he’d be fine on the wing with solid 3c and Zucker.
Zucker will get hurt as soon as he wakes up on opening day.
Pens getting a 3c and moving Carter to wing would be a nice move. Strome would be a nice fit in that role.
True, it’s wishful thinking. He’s going to end up being on the roster though and would make a really good 3rd liner if healthy. If we got a 3c, that would push Blueger and McGinn to the 4th and I don’t mind that lineup. I’m sure with injuries though, it will all go to hell within the first couple weeks of the season anyway. Decent depth though.
He looked solid in the post season. Gotta hope the surgery fixed the major issue.
Reason Carter had that numbers is becsuse Crosby and the Russian were injured last year so I doubt he will put numbers like that unless our russian goes back to his annual vacation
If they can manage his minutes he will be ok. His conditioning doesn’t seem to be the greatest as he gassed due to the extra work covering last year.
Malkin and Sid around to open the year should be good for Carter’s game
Trocheck to NYR. Yikes
That was a great signing by them, especially the aav. Not good for the Pens.
Trade Petterson or Dumo, sign Copp. Championship.
Copp is going to Detroit
That Copp contract is brutal. I really like him as a player, but 5/5.625 is a ton of cheddar.
Louie Dominique signs with the Rangers that trader…LOL
at this point the pens should have brough back the saint in goal. they can’t win in the 1st round now, so how are they going to win in the 1st round when they are 36,37,38,39,40, and 41?