100%!!!!! JOB/EK/Martin, any of those three and we're cooking with gas.
It's year one of a like 5-7 year rebuild more than likely. They don't need a specific position imo.
It's absolutely not year two yet. It might not even truly be year one if Dubas doesn't trade Rust, Rakell and EK between now and the TDL.
Well it’s either year zero or year two. We’re drafting in almost the same spot, we sent assets out at the trade deadline both years. There really isn’t much of a difference in last two seasons in approach.It's absolutely not year two yet. It might not even truly be year one if Dubas doesn't trade Rust, Rakell and EK between now and the TDL.
I think the only thing that matters is getting quality guys with picks right now regardless of position. Prospect cupboard's looking better but it's still pretty barren as far as blue chip talent goes. I'm high on McG and Koivunen but they seem like middle 6 guys or complimentary, third wheel players on a scoring line. Martone looks like he could be a rich man's version of McG.
There's a difference in trading UFA's and players with term. One suggests a rebuild, the other suggests a retool because you don't want to lose them for nothing.
I personally think it’s not a hard decision to make and I don’t think the arguments for them keeping the 2025 pick are very persuasive. Even if they’re going to be good this season, they’ll want the 2026 pick to improve at the deadline, or for trades this summer, or to make a pick in a much better draft. They will almost certainly be giving us the pick in a few days
Unprotected 1st has more value in a stronger draft. It 'could be' higher. A lower pick in '26 could also produce a better prospect than 12th in '25.
The value will depend on the team. Some GMs are on hot seat so a pick a year earlier is automatically more valuable than a pick into the future and pick certainty is more valuable to most GMs than the upside variable. Penguins, being one of the few rebuilders with a safe GM, extract more value from the potential upside of that pick a year later than pick certainty now.
Probably best to wait until the last minute to see who might be and who won’t be available as far as offer sheets go.
Lackovic A? I read somewhere he's been rising lately and expected to go right around the Pens' pick.
I'd way rather they go for a high risk/reward prospect like Lakovic than what I view to be a safer prospect in Aitcheson. Left handed 4/5 dmen are available every offseason for cheap. Minimal added value at #11/12 if that is all he becomes.
