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2019-20 Penguins and NHL Offseason

Malkin was fine when he and Kessel were together. Split them apart, and both had what most consider to be ****** seasons. I think you solve Malkin and Kessel's problems by putting them back together.
 
I've heard rumors of them maybe bringing Hags back. I'd be ok with that.
 
Yeah, 4 years at $11 million. Sure it is a pay cut from what the Pens paid him. I just think the Pens have greater needs.
 
Caught GMJR on the radio twice today. He was on the Fan and Madden had him later. He thinks Kauhn could be top 6 because he has played with some good linemates. He is still listening on Kessel but not actively shopping him. He also prefers to keep the #1 pick. The rest of both interviews were softballs.
 
Malkin was fine when he and Kessel were together. Split them apart, and both had what most consider to be ****** seasons. I think you solve Malkin and Kessel's problems by putting them back together.

Rossi talked about this on the radio today. He said Kessel wants to play with Malkin more than Malkin wants to play with Kessel. Sully wants balance and that puts Kessel down to the 3rd line. Rossi comment " it becomes problematic for Phil when he is on the 3rd line".

I didn't catch the whole interview as I actually had to do some work. Hopefully someone caught the rest.
 
I get why Sully wants balance, but this team doesn't have the same depth it had a couple of years ago when they had the HBK line and it won't be easy to replicate that. I'd rather see two really good lines then put together a third line of hustle players who can produce with their energy.
 
I get why Sully wants balance, but this team doesn't have the same depth it had a couple of years ago when they had the HBK line and it won't be easy to replicate that. I'd rather see two really good lines then put together a third line of hustle players who can produce with their energy.
Yes!
 
Rossi talked about this on the radio today. He said Kessel wants to play with Malkin more than Malkin wants to play with Kessel. Sully wants balance and that puts Kessel down to the 3rd line. Rossi comment " it becomes problematic for Phil when he is on the 3rd line".

I didn't catch the whole interview as I actually had to do some work. Hopefully someone caught the rest.

This team is better when Malkin is the go to guy the 2nd line, which is why Phil isn't on that line. I like Rust-Malkin-Horny on that 2nd line.
 
This team is better when Malkin is the go to guy the 2nd line, which is why Phil isn't on that line. I like Rust-Malkin-Horny on that 2nd line.

I like Horny with Malkin, especially since Sid doesn't think he is a match. Horny does the dirty work and good things happen. Rust has never been consistent. Scores in streaks and the goes silent. I don't know if we can afford that on a 2nd line. The good thing is we have options for that role. It may be a platoon until the right guy emerges.
 
I like Horny with Malkin, especially since Sid doesn't think he is a match. Horny does the dirty work and good things happen. Rust has never been consistent. Scores in streaks and the goes silent. I don't know if we can afford that on a 2nd line. The good thing is we have options for that role. It may be a platoon until the right guy emerges.

I agree about Rust, as the roster is constructed he'd be the guy I'd try first because he has shown the ability to score and he can skate, but yes he is very streaky and inconsistent.
 
I like the first line better when Sid actually shoots for the net.
 
seems like the cap is geeting the better of the Pens. GMJR stated the reason Ollie was traded was partly money. Not that I'm against the trade, but I don't think Jack Johnson and his handsome contract was needed then.
 
The Jack Johnson signing and contract will be an albatross around the neck of the Pens organization for years. Only way they will be able to unload that mess is if they give away something of value with it, like when they gave up Sheary to get rid of Hunwick. It is a shame because there was no need to sign him in the first place. Yes he play solid for a couple stretches, but in the end, Jack is gonna Johnson. Maybe you can buy it out, but good luck getting rid of that contract.
 
The Jack Johnson signing and contract will be an albatross around the neck of the Pens organization for years. Only way they will be able to unload that mess is if they give away something of value with it, like when they gave up Sheary to get rid of Hunwick. It is a shame because there was no need to sign him in the first place. Yes he play solid for a couple stretches, but in the end, Jack is gonna Johnson. Maybe you can buy it out, but good luck getting rid of that contract.

This is exactly it. No one wanted the Penguins to make this move last year outside of Rutherford and everyone said it was for too long and too much money. Maybe they still would have needed to trade Maatta, but it would have been nice to have a bit more flexibility without Johnson's bad contract.
 
This is exactly it. No one wanted the Penguins to make this move last year outside of Rutherford and everyone said it was for too long and too much money. Maybe they still would have needed to trade Maatta, but it would have been nice to have a bit more flexibility without Johnson's bad contract.

Yes, and this is that disconnect I'm talking about between Rutherford and Sullivan. Rutherford obviously thinks we should play a different style than Sullivans system. Johnson is definitely not a fit for that system, Reaves was not a fit, Oleksiak not a fit.
 
Seems over his career, Jack Johnson hasn't been a fit for any system. I guess he is okay for 5-6 defenseman, but he is not suited for the role in which he is cast. I still don't understand the signing, especially the term and cost, considering his age and track record. It was just a dumb signing.
 
Seems over his career, Jack Johnson hasn't been a fit for any system. I guess he is okay for 5-6 defenseman, but he is not suited for the role in which he is cast. I still don't understand the signing, especially the term and cost, considering his age and track record. It was just a dumb signing.

He and Sid are very close friends, that probably had a little to do with the signing.
 
On Johnson, No doubt Sid did his bankrupt buddy a good turn. I'm sure Sid gave it the "he wasn't used right". For a 3rd overall pick, he is a failure. He had a few moments last year but they were damn few. He will hit and block shots, that's about all that is left. Gonchar had a full season to fix him and nothing really changed. Send his *** down to Wilkes Barre. If someone claims him, oh well. Sending him down save about $1.1 M on the cap. I don't think it's wise to buy him out until we see the cap. Rumors are that it will be less than expected and that's not good news for us.

The disconnect is there. Sully and GMJR are both stubborn. Sully believes in the fast/skill scheme. Sully was right and everyone copied it. Problem is they got younger faster and we got old and slower. I like some of our recent adds, Blueger,McCann, Bjugstad, Petterson they all skate well. I even like Gudbranson, he certainly isn't fast but he does play a role.

I would ramble on but let's wait and see what happens this weekend. There will some moves. We are against the cap, still have a few to re-sign.
 
I don't know if any of you read hockey books ? I highly recommend Behind The Bench by Craig Custance. He does some great coaching interviews. Sully was interviewed as well as Torterella, Babock, Hitchcock and others. Anyway I enjoyed it.
 
Rangers are making moves, adding Trouba with more moves to come, and Philly is shoring up their defense adding Niskanen and Hayes. Division is going to be a meat grinder this year. Caps are tough, Jackets if they can keep it together, Carolina is improved, Isles are tough and the Rags and Flyers are trying to get better.

One thing for sure, can’t go into the season half-cocked this year, that’s for sure.
 
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Rangers are making moves, adding Trouba with more moves to come, and Philly is shoring up their defense adding Niskanen and Hayes. Division is going to be a meat grinder this year. Caps are tough, Jackets if they can keep it together, Carolina is improved, Isles are tough and the Rags and Flyers are trying to get better.

One thing for sure, can’t go into the season half-cocked this year, that’s for sure.

Hate to say it, but the caps are going to be a force this season.
 
Hate to say it, but the caps are going to be a force this season.

craps got better, Flyers got better, Rangers got better, Islanders and Canes are were already tough for us. The Pens are on a downward spiral. Most of this is a function of consistently winning. You deplete the farm and sooner or later, here we are. The window isn't shut but it really close.
 
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craps got better, Flyers got better, Rangers got better, Islanders and Canes are were already tough for us. The Pens are on a downward spiral. Most of this is a function of consistently winning. You deplete the farm and sooner or later, here we are. The window isn't shut but it really close.

Part of it is winning and part of it is bad to horrible trades. Washington won the cup last year and has been in the thick of things for years. Winning isn't putting them on a downward spiral. The Pens problem is because of horrible trades and a massive disconnect between Sully and Rutherford.
 
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