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

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What do we think a realistic year looks for him? Another 100 point season would be awesome but hard to replicate.

I’m thinking somewhere in the 80 points range? His struggles the previous seasons were injury related if I remember correctly.
 
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
 
I'd like to see EK lead the first pairing and Letang the second because it will be hard to stop the Pens from breaking out when they have either EK or KL on the ice 90% of the time.
 
Yeah, I have my doubts how they can fit in Tatar too but I guess you can't put anything past Dubas after what he pulled off yesterday. :laugh:

The Friedman thing did seem like just speculation on his part though. I listened to that Friedman interview. His exact words were "I'm wondering if Pittsburgh's going to go after like a Tomas Tatar type player. I think they're going to have room now up front to add somebody like that and I'm wondering if he could potentially be one of the players they target."
 
pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...

Smith was usually a RW in Vegas til recently. I'm assuming he'll play LW here though.

4C with Carter on LTIR, I'm guessing it'd be DOC or a yet-to-be-signed-UFA.
 
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pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...
Tatar-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust
O’Connor-Eller-Acciari
Nieto-Zohorna/Kopponen-Pitlick/Hinostroza

ideally becomes

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust
O’Connor-Eller-Tatar
Nieto-Acciari-Pitlick/Hinostroza

The lineup would become a clear cup contender if Poulin or Puustinen could manage to break out of training camp this year.

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Puustinen/Poulin
Smith-Eller-Tatar
O’Connor-Acciari-Nieto
 
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Gonna Be absolutely terrified the 1st round pick backfires. Like we get 7-9 overall 2024. It slides to 2025 and its a top 3 pick. Doesn't it usually come with a 2nd condition? Like "If the 2025 pick also is a top 10 pick ot becomes a 2nd round pick"
 
As the president of the "this team's era of legitimately competing is over" club--this team's not finishing in a top-10 spot next two drafts. It would take a cataclysmic series of significant injuries to multiple players in the mold of Sid, Geno, Letang, Karlsson and Jake. Like, for a good 6 months. :laugh:
 
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deakka said:
Doesn't it usually come with a 2nd condition? Like "If the 2025 pick also is a top 10 pick ot becomes a 2nd round pick"
Click to expand...

Lol no one would ever agree to that condition.

Also anyone worrying about the 2025 pick is crazy now. I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2025 pick traded at the deadline as well. The team is going for a two year run while Crosby is under contract. Nothing should be unavailable.

Big Friggin Dummy said:
As the president of the "this team's era of legitimately competing is over" club--this team's not finishing in a top-10 spot next two drafts. It would take a cataclysmic series of significant injuries to multiple players in the mold of Sid, Geno, Letang, Karlsson and Jake. Like, for a good 6 months. :laugh:
Click to expand...

I also think they would move the 2025 pick before it got that bad as well.
 
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Randy Butternubs said:
Smith was usually a RW in Vegas til recently. I'm assuming he'll play LW here though.

4C with Carter on LTIR, I'm guessing it'd be DOC or a yet-to-be-signed-UFA.
Click to expand...
The only problem I can see with bringing in Tatar is that all of their top 6 wingers are historically heavy O-zone start guys....except Rust 5 years ago or whatever it's been. If Smith can play RW, then they can keep Tatar in the top 6 and bump Rust to L3.

I don't know how any of them would hold up to Sully's bottom 6 usage. I guess it's a good problem to have, though, and guys shouldn't get too comfortable in their spots in the top 6 if they have Rust, Rakell, Smith, or Tatar waiting in the wings (no pun intended) on L3.

Suter would be a solid add for bottom 6 C duties if Carter is gone. He's kind of vanilla, but he was 'only' a -3 getting 60% d-zone starts last year on a pretty poor defensive Red Wings team.


Dominance said:
Tatar-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust
O’Connor-Eller-Acciari
Nieto-Zohorna/Kopponen-Pitlick/Hinostroza

ideally becomes

Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Smith-Malkin-Rust
O’Connor-Eller-Tatar
Nieto-Acciari-Pitlick/Hinostroza

The lineup would become a clear cup contender if Poulin or Puustinen could manage to break out of training camp this year.

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Puustinen/Poulin
Smith-Eller-Tatar
O’Connor-Acciari-Nieto
Click to expand...
Judging just by faceoffs taken, I didn't realize that Acciari has played that much C in the NHL.
 
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pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...
Smith can do both. LW preferred I believe.
4C Acciari, pretty sure.
Pitlick is an option too, but I can't see Sullivan using the guy that doesn't defend there.
DOC or Z can do it during injuries. It was Z's natural position in Czech.
I may be forgetting someone. We signed a lot of guys.
 
pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...

Smith can play either wing position. Last season, Cassidy switched Smith to LW and Marchessault to RW. Previously, they had been playing on their off-wing.

Personally, I see Smith-Crosby-Rakell as the top line (with or without Guentzel). I really believe it is HIGH time Guentzel and Malkin becomes a permanent thing. If you put Guentzel with Malkin, the top six looks far more legitimate in my view. Rust as the No. 6 forward is OK if he is a complementary winger on line 2. If he is Malkin's "scoring winger", we are in trouble.

If Carter is not centering the fourth line, and I do believe they will sit him out from time to time this season, then we do have options. O'Connor and Pitlick have experience at center; Poulin could eke his way into the rotation with a strong training camp; Zohorna could factor into the equation; Yager might get nine games to see what he has; and the big sleeper here is Koppanen. He could become a factor. I like him.

Acciari could also move to center if required.
 
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pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...
Damndest thing, hearing Carter is suddenly allergic to hockey equipment.
 
eXile3 said:
What do we think a realistic year looks for him? Another 100 point season would be awesome but hard to replicate.

I’m thinking somewhere in the 80 points range? His struggles the previous seasons were injury related if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...

Randy Butternubs said:
I'm saying around 0.85 points per game.
Click to expand...

Letang last year was 0.87 points per game, and that was with only half a year of Geno. Got to believe Karlsson can do more than Letang, no?

I genuinely think ppg is there on the table as a realistic expectation. 100 points, don't see it, arguably means people are working too hard for the regular season - although if he transforms our PP, put it right back on the table.

Much less than .85 and the move would be a disappointment.

pistolpete11 said:
I don't understand why Tatar would sign with the Pens or how the Pens could afford Tatar (without LTIRetiring Carter), but if they can make it work, I'd be all for it. Tatar is a solid player. Only real knock against him is that he has disappeared in the playoffs since leaving Detroit, but playoff production comes and goes for most players. I don't think the past necessarily equals the future.

Assuming for the sake of discussion they sign Tatar and LTIRetire Carter, my 2 questions are:

1. Does Smith play LW or RW? He's a lefty shot, but I see him listed as a RW on a few sites.

2. Who's centering L4?
Click to expand...

Smith was mainly RW in Vegas but he's played LW there a little.

He did also play on a fairly defensive 3rd line in their cup run and do fine. Similarly, Tatar's numbers with McLeod in a defensive role are very good (about 200 minutes). Rakell did fine with Sam Steel in Anaheim in a third line role (again, about 200 minutes). I don't think I'd worry super hard about any of those guys being on a 40-45% d zone start 3rd line as long as the other guys there aren't out of their depth. If anything, that's the sort of quality that lets the 3rd line play a bit more out of its own zone.

Also if there's no Carter, then one of Acciari and DOC are the obvious guys on the roster, with promotions for Zohorna, Koppanen, or even Poulin also possible.

Also also, since you mention Suter, that would seem to be a fairly obvious hole cover addition albeit not as cool as Tatar.

edit: p.s. the possibly needlessly aggressive way to fit in Tatar or whoever without needed to LTIR anyone is to give him the same contract as Connor Brown.
 
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deakka said:
Gonna Be absolutely terrified the 1st round pick backfires. Like we get 7-9 overall 2024. It slides to 2025 and its a top 3 pick. Doesn't it usually come with a 2nd condition? Like "If the 2025 pick also is a top 10 pick ot becomes a 2nd round pick"
Click to expand...
I think I read that if the pick is top 10 in 2024, the Pens have the option to send the 2024 or 2025 pick. In that case the team can evaluate if missing the playoffs was a case of injuries/bad luck or a continued downward trajectory
 
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