Confirmed with Link: Penguins acquire Erik Karlsson for Granlund, 1st rounder in 2024, Rutta, Petry, DeSmith (more in first post)

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

i haven’t paid too much attention to him since he went to SJ, how is EK defensively these days? I’m sure he takes chances, but can anyone speak to his defensive play?

Terrible!

But this will be a hell of a lot more fun to watch. They should still make the playoffs, too. And so long as the expectation at this point is not a Cup (and it shouldn't be) then Penguins hockey just got to be enjoyable, again.

If you're one of those people who pounds the desk for 2-1 borefests then you won't like this. But if you like 90s style firewagon 7-6 wins/losses then buckle up.

 

[IcedCapp]

Trade is good, but I’m not super stoked about losing Rutta. Especially with Letang and EK out there doing their best “extra attacker” impersonations. Obviously you do it for EK, but I hope the D finds the right balance now

 

[SomeDude]

That new GM Dubas hired did something.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

I hope Tatar signs a 1 year cheap deal here. Would be a solid 2nd-3rd line player

 

[HandshakeLine]

If you're one of those people who pounds the desk for 2-1 borefests then you won't like this. But if you like 90s style firewagon 7-6 wins/losses then buckle up.

Hell yeah, baby. Hop in the cordoba, grandma, the bingo game is about to be raided by the DEA because the olds are doing a ton of ketamine.

 

[Empoleon8771]

As an aside, I'm really interested in seeing how the bottom-6 looks next year with another puck mover on par with Karlsson on the team. We have discussed this before, but I think the bottom-6's performance last year wasn't just entirely "the bottom-6 players became bad". I think they had serious issues moving the puck last year, and it resulted in the players who were starting in the defensive zone getting hemmed in the defensive zone.

It should really help the speedsters like Pitlick, Nieto, O'Connor and Acciari get more chances with having a good puck mover like Karlsson on the blue line. I think that alone should have a pretty dramatic impact on improving the bottom-6, not only offensively but also defensively.

I still want Carter moved out but he's probably the guy I'm most interested in seeing with this. Can Karlsson's skating and puck moving help Carter stay out of the defensive zone enough to be a halfway decent player?

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Philadelphia hasn't made a stupid trade in a while, see if we can interest them in a near mint condition Jeffery Carter reunion tour.

 

[WickedWrister]

I think Penguins fans are unfair to Ruhwedel. His issue is that he's a #6 or #7 type of guy who has had insane longetivity with the Penguins. I don't understand why the Penguins keep bringing him back. But his on-ice results are consistently not bad and he has been pretty good defensively overall. He's just painfully bland and doesn't do anything to stick out.

He's like Ben Lovejoy without the size. I think my biggest issue with him is that I'd rather have someone with his skillset that isn't like 5'10" and 180 lbs, but it's not the end of the world to have Ruhwedel as your 3rd pair RD after Letang and Karlsson.

Yeah, I'd prefer we give that look to Ty Smith like I just said in a previous post, but if he starts hemorrhaging goals against and turning the puck over like POJ at times, Ruh will get the nod. Our 3rd pairing will see limited minutes anyway. I actually think he's a pretty decent skater and makes the smart, simple play more often than not.

 

[HandshakeLine]

LTIR Carter, flip him at the deadline for a pick to a team desperate for leadership.

If Dubas somehow manages to move Carter or convince him to LTIRetire, this will have been one of the best off-seasons since JR's first one here.

 

[pistolpete11]

Yeah Ruhwedel will play on the PK.

Ruhwedel should be the 3rd pair RD anyway. I know people don't like him but he's fine if he's playing 12 minutes a night on the 3rd pair.

If it wasn't for the PK, I'd 1000% play Smith on his offside over Ruhwedel.

Even with needing someone else for the PK, I'm trying to talk myself into POJ being able to handle it. Haven't been able to convince myself yet, but I'm tryin'.

 

[Peat]

You are absolutely right that he is getting the exact roster he wants. At least to my eyes. And that it should be more than enough to be a put up or shut up moment for him.

But I doubt it actually pans out that way. Sullivan will be around longer or as long as the core will IMO.

Let's not go overboard. This is like saying that Shake Shack is exactly what someone wants because they picked it over McDonald's, when they'd drop that Shake Shack to go to Five Guys in a heartbeat if someone was offering.

This roster has real problems with quality. Sure, it's built on Sully's lines, but the money ran out and the depth looks like the Woodstock 99 toilets.

I like Karlsson as a step up but the front office and coaches are going to have their work cut out making the next few steps on top of it.



edit: p.s. re Ruh vs Smith - POJ really needs to be a better defensive player for that to be Smith.

 

[BusinessGoose]

i haven’t paid too much attention to him since he went to SJ, how is EK defensively these days? I’m sure he takes chances, but can anyone speak to his defensive play?

At best he's Letang

So

There are going to be complaints over the season by people lol

Let's not go overboard. This is like saying that Shake Shack is exactly what someone wants because they picked it over McDonald's, when they'd drop that Shake Shack to go to Five Guys in a heartbeat if someone was offering.

This roster has real problems with quality. Sure, it's built on Sully's lines, but the money ran out and the depth looks like the Woodstock 99 toilets.

I like Karlsson as a step up but the front office and coaches are going to have their work cut out making the next few steps on top of it.



edit: p.s. re Ruh vs Smith - POJ really needs to be a better defensive player for that to be Smith.

Five Guys sucks

I'm not eating bag fries

In-N-Out Gang!

 

[Sideline]

This team will be much more fun to watch. I like this trade.

 

[The Old Master]

Great trade.... but I think we are 1 defensemen in depth to short.

ty smith bis 5-19 that's not too short

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Let's not go overboard. This is like saying that Shake Shack is exactly what someone wants because they picked it over McDonald's, when they'd drop that Shake Shack to go to Five Guys in a heartbeat if someone was offering.

This roster has real problems with quality. Sure, it's built on Sully's lines, but the money ran out and the depth looks like the Woodstock 99 toilets.

I like Karlsson as a step up but the front office and coaches are going to have their work cut out making the next few steps on top of it.

I dunno, man. I don't even hate it as much as others but that bottom six looks like it was workshopped in Mike Sullivan's wildest fantasies. Like I keep saying... at least the players finally fit how the coach deploys his lines. I know you guys all wanted to drop like 14M on the third line but I would have liked that even less. And once you guys saw those players buried in 70% DZ starts or whatever and looking more or less just like Kapanen etc. before them you would have, too.

If injuries hit the top six they hit the top six. I don't like planning lineups predicated on injuries that haven't happened, yet.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I like Karlsson as a step up but the front office and coaches are going to have their work cut out making the next few steps on top of it.

I look forward to Sully having to do his job for once.

 

[molon labe]

Well hell yeah.

Dubas - thank you for giving it a 'go' with an exciting product. I'm honestly not thrilled with the net or bottom 6 but hey - this one certainly makes up for most of it going foward. Gives something to get excited about as a Pens fan.

 

[WickedWrister]

Trade is good, but I’m not super stoked about losing Rutta. Especially with Letang and EK out there doing their best “extra attacker” impersonations. Obviously you do it for EK, but I hope the D finds the right balance now

Yeah outside of Pettersson this defensive group is pretty soff lol. From what I've read from Devils fans, Graves is big but not very physical. And the stats support that (83 hits in 78 GP last year). Ty Smith/Will Butcher fit that undersized OFD steretype too.

 

[eXile3]

I think Penguins fans are unfair to Ruhwedel. His issue is that he's a #6 or #7 type of guy who has had insane longetivity with the Penguins. I don't understand why the Penguins keep bringing him back. But his on-ice results are consistently not bad and he has been pretty good defensively overall. He's just painfully bland and doesn't do anything to stick out.

He's like Ben Lovejoy without the size. I think my biggest issue with him is that I'd rather have someone with his skillset that isn't like 5'10" and 180 lbs, but it's not the end of the world to have Ruhwedel as your 3rd pair RD after Letang and Karlsson.

Oh absolutely. He’s been a great 7th guy who can step in on short notice.

 

[BusinessGoose]

I look forward to Sully having to do his job for once.

Remember last summer when Sullivan said he would have to coach Kapanen better

And then last year happened

 

[Lara Emily]

The amount of Sleepy bullshit that Dubas was able to clean up in one single trade.

Wasn't it basically all of it?

 

[SomeDude]

Was very weary of a potential EK trade but I can’t really find anything to complain about. Moved 2 bad contracts, gained some cap space, and only cost 2 picks while picking up the reigning Norris winner.

Not bad, stat guy.

 

[OnMyOwn]

The top 2 pairs have defensively responsible LD mixed with irresponsible RD. I’m hoping with forward help it’ll minimize the gaffs a bit.

I’m just excited to watch the guy play in a pens uni and he’s motivated/healthy.

 

[Lara Emily]

So Montreal lost 1 year of Petry, but in return got Matheson, a 2nd, CDS, a prospect, out of Hoffman's deal, and retention on Petry? For a team that was going to finish at the bottom of the standings last year anyway, not bad.

Montreal did wonderful

 

[Ryder71]

I hope Tatar signs a 1 year cheap deal here. Would be a solid 2nd-3rd line player

Yep, that would really round things out well. We could use a guy like that.