Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh

[gopens66]

I gave him a B-.......but at the same time, really too early to grade.

Jarry: As has been said, no goalies have been moved, and UFA options weren't an upgrade. No one likes the cost or term. Hands pretty much tied and hoped for the best. No one has faith in Tristan, so we'll see.

I really like the Smith trade, along with signing Acciari. Smith is a neutral move replacing Zucker. Acciari brings something the team is in short supply of.
I think signing Graves will prove to be huge. (unless he proves to be a true Penguin and injures himself getting off the plane....)
The Eller signing did not thrill me, but I don't think he will kill the Pens' season either.
Letting Dumoulin walk was huge. He was trash two seasons ago and worse this year. Until I saw it, I wasn't entirely sure it was going to happen.

Dubas' hands were tied in many ways when he stepped into the job 6 weeks ago. Anyone who thought he would fire Sullivan in the first few weeks is delusional. The countless comments here and all around hockey media about Dubas' weakness of not ever being able to get a solid goaltender continuing is just simple, easy-take commentary. Anyone objectively looking at the goalie market can see that.

I honestly was surprised Dubas would want to come to Pittsburgh. Given the state of the team on the decline, and the task of fixing this HORRENDOUS mess left behind, not to mention the term recently given to Sullivan, I think he has done pretty good overall. Now go get EK.

 

[Jobeycool]

I would have given him a c + so far if there was a c +.

 

[Zbynek]

At 28 years old he’s reached his peak. The only way he’s going from here is down but I think we probably got 3-4 years before that happens.

After the Pens the Devils are my next watched team. Graves is a late developer (2 years in juniors after getting drafted, then 3 full seasons in the AHL before making the move up to the NHL). When he came to the Devils in 2021 he was very clearly a player who was still developing - he only had 150 games under his belt at the NHL level from Colorado and in his 2 seasons with NJ, only played another 150 more. What I mean to say is in just 2 years he made a lot of strides in New Jersey even though he was entrusted with top line mins from Day 1.

I think the more telling stat with Graves, given his development, is the 300 GP and not 28 years of age. He's shown absolutely nothing to suggest he only has 3-4 years to go.

Penalty killing wins cups. It’s the only thing that matters in today’s NHL. Screw respectable goaltending or any sort of depth in the bottom six. Penalty killing is the most important skill to possess in today’s NHL, at least to our crack coach and GM.

Sully's teacher pet PKers are annoying I agree but Ryan Graves is a f***ing awesome fit for our D.

 

[Gurglesons]

After the Pens the Devils are my next watched team. Graves is a late developer (2 years in juniors after getting drafted, then 3 full seasons in the AHL before making the move up to the NHL). When he came to the Devils in 2021 he was very clearly a player who was still developing - he only had 150 games under his belt at the NHL level from Colorado and in his 2 seasons with NJ, only played another 150 more. What I mean to say is in just 2 years he made a lot of strides in New Jersey even though he was entrusted with top line mins from Day 1.

I think the more telling stat with Graves, given his development, is the 300 GP and not 28 years of age. He's shown absolutely nothing to suggest he only has 3-4 years to go.



Sully's teacher pet PKers are annoying I agree but Ryan Graves is a f***ing awesome fit for our D.

I think the other telling stat is Graves partners over his career have basically been Cale Makar, Dougie Hamilton and John Marino.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the appealing thing with Graves is that he survived on a heavy defensive pair last year and has had success with skilled puck movers in the past. He is a guy that has shown to be good on his own but has also shown to be a great complement for a high end offensive partner. Isn't that pretty much exactly what fans want as a partner for Letang?

I think the more telling stat with Graves, given his development, is the 300 GP and not 28 years of age. He's shown absolutely nothing to suggest he only has 3-4 years to go.

See, Dumoulin wasn't all that different. Through his age 27 season, he played in only 319 games. I also think Dumoulin and Graves are both in the same mold of players who decline similarly.

With that being said, I'm not going to give a shit about years 5 and 6 if he can be decent for years 1-4. If Graves is just a 27 year old Dumoulin that will age the exact way as Dumoulin, then I'm super happy with what he'll provide for the last 3 years with Crosby and Malkin.

 

[eXile3]

After the Pens the Devils are my next watched team. Graves is a late developer (2 years in juniors after getting drafted, then 3 full seasons in the AHL before making the move up to the NHL). When he came to the Devils in 2021 he was very clearly a player who was still developing - he only had 150 games under his belt at the NHL level from Colorado and in his 2 seasons with NJ, only played another 150 more. What I mean to say is in just 2 years he made a lot of strides in New Jersey even though he was entrusted with top line mins from Day 1.

I think the more telling stat with Graves, given his development, is the 300 GP and not 28 years of age. He's shown absolutely nothing to suggest he only has 3-4 years to go.



Sully's teacher pet PKers are annoying I agree but Ryan Graves is a f***ing awesome fit for our D.

It’s not a Graves thing, it’s a physical thing. Players exit their physical prime around that age. Happens to everyone.

I can’t think of any late bloomer at 28 or older besides maybe Martin St. Louis. I guess you could say Dupuis but I think that had more to do with going from a 4th liner to be stapled to Sid.

It would be different if you told me he would be more effective player here because of his usage and role but to suggest he can out run time I have trouble believing.

 

[Zbynek]

It’s not a Graves thing, it’s a physical thing. Players exit their physical prime around that age. Happens to everyone.

I can’t think of any late bloomer at 28 or older besides maybe Martin St. Louis. I guess you could say Dupuis but I think that had more to do with going from a 4th liner to be stapled to Sid.

It would be different if you told me he would be more effective player here because of his usage and role but to suggest he can out run time I have trouble believing.

I think this whole point is moot anyway because the Pens are gonna suck ass in 4 years from now.

I think the appealing thing with Graves is that he survived on a heavy defensive pair last year and has had success with skilled puck movers in the past. He is a guy that has shown to be good on his own but has also shown to be a great complement for a high end offensive partner. Isn't that pretty much exactly what fans want as a partner for Letang?



See, Dumoulin wasn't all that different. Through his age 27 season, he played in only 319 games. I also think Dumoulin and Graves are both in the same mold of players who decline similarly.

With that being said, I'm not going to give a shit about years 5 and 6 if he can be decent for years 1-4. If Graves is just a 27 year old Dumoulin that will age the exact way as Dumoulin, then I'm super happy with what he'll provide for the last 3 years with Crosby and Malkin.

I feel confident he will, this signing is my favorite Dubas move by far. If you consider the Pens got within 1 point of the playoffs last year with Marcus the f***ing Dragon Pettersson being our only productive shutdown guy, then adding Graves (and subtracting Dumo) should do us solidly.

Oh and one more thing about Graves. He's an athletic son of a bitch. I never remember saying that about Dumo, as solid as he was at that age (27-29). Not that you can ever predict injuries, but being a beast in the gym certainly helps in that department.

 

[Pens x]

I think this whole point is moot anyway because the Pens are gonna suck ass in 4 years from now.


I feel confident he will, this signing is my favorite Dubas move by far. If you consider the Pens got within 1 point of the playoffs last year with Marcus the f***ing Dragon Pettersson being our only productive shutdown guy, then adding Graves (and subtracting Dumo) should do us solidly.

Oh and one more thing about Graves. He's an athletic son of a bitch. I never remember saying that about Dumo, as solid as he was at that age (27-29). Not that you can ever predict injuries, but being a beast in the gym certainly helps in that department.

Being the best Dubas free agent signing this summer isn’t impressive. That’s like saying Jarry was the best Pens goalie last season. Someone had to be…

 

[pistolpete11]

C

Some good (Smith, Graves), some standard non-needle moving depth (Eller, Acciari, Nieto), some bad (Jarry, keeping Sullivan).

Probably bump him up to a B+ if he's able to land Karlsson or someone like that without giving up tooooo much while also dumping Granlund/Carter in the process (which would almost have to happen).

Overall, though, just not enough significant moves for a team that says they are trying to win the Cup, but missed the playoffs last year. The biggest culprits in my mind are coach and goalie. He stuck with both of them. Pretty hard for me to put him in the A range with that regardless of whatever other moves me makes.

 

[Turin]

I think the other telling stat is Graves partners over his career have basically been Cale Makar, Dougie Hamilton and John Marino.

Well Marino is awful according to you, so he must have carried that paring.

 

[Gurglesons]

Well Marino is awful according to you, so he must have carried that paring.

Graves and Marino got absolutely crushed in the playoffs.

Graves 1 - 7 at 5v5 GF/GA.
Marino 6 - 12 at 5v5 GF/GA.

So, yeah. They weren't great. But his statistical profile the two previous years was definitely inflated IMO.

 

[HandshakeLine]

It rules how much of this board loves our bad on-ice product.

 

[Pens x]

I think you are seeing Dubas struggling working for a team that doesn’t attract free agents. I think he likely underestimated the draw of the Toronto market has on players.

 

[eXile3]

I think you are seeing Dubas struggling working for a team that doesn’t attract free agents. I think he likely underestimated the draw of the Toronto market has on players.

I don’t think that’s it all. I think he’s just a bad GM.

 

[Pens x]

I don’t think that’s it all. I think he’s just a bad GM.

Well that too.

 

[DAChampion]

Has Ryan Poehling been a positive contributor to the Penguins or is he just a warm body?

 

[Gurglesons]

Has Ryan Poehling been a positive contributor to the Penguins or is he just a warm body?

I'm annoyed we let him walk.

Especially to sign Lars Eller and Matt Nieto.

 

[pistolpete11]

Has Ryan Poehling been a positive contributor to the Penguins or is he just a warm body?

He was arguably the best of the bunch in the Pens bottom 6 last year IMO. Pretty low bar to clear, but still. He did have some injury concerns and he's probably not anything more than a 4th liner, but I was surprised they let him go.

 

[Pens x]

Has Ryan Poehling been a positive contributor to the Penguins or is he just a warm body?

He was far too young for the Pens. Your age has to start with a 3, not a 2.

 

[66-30-33]

Now that we got Karlsson are you guys going to update your ratings?

 

[BusinessGoose]

Now that we got Karlsson are you guys going to update your ratings?

A now

The fat trimming and big fish is great to see

 

[66-30-33]

A now

The fat trimming and big fish is great to see

If he gets rid of Carter A++++ off season regardless of the bottom 6, that was mostly because that's the players Sullivan wants for his bottom 6.

 

[Andy99]

A now
A+ if he takes an iron pipe to Carter’s patella
A++ if he also fires the coach in December so we can win another Cup

 

[tom_servo]

Now that we got Karlsson are you guys going to update your ratings?

Excellent start but still waiting on a Sullivan extension.

 

[Turin]

A+ when he gets Karlsson, which is happening

This.