Jag68Sid87
Sullivan gots to go!
I find it so laughable that this idea that the Pens are going to start getting younger means Sid has to be gone. What a load of crap. There are what, TWO players on this roster under 26? Every journeyman Dubas recalls is either 26 or 25 years old. Hell, even re-signing Guentzel would not necessarily mean we can't get younger. Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Karlsson and Guentzel are five players on a 23-man roster. Throw in Jarry, and we still have 17 roster spots to fill. Can we get younger with those 17 spots? YES! But not if we start the process of trading with P.O. Joseph! Then you are literally going backwards.
Trade:
- Reilly Smith. Another victim of Mike Sullivan, imo. He is this year's Tanner Pearson. Stanley Cups elsewhere mean nothing if you can't play Mike Sullivan hockey. I think we can get a second-round pick and maybe a long-range or AHL prospect.
- Lars Eller. He has value, but that second year on his contract could make it tricky. I would look for a one-for-one deal for a player who can step in and contribute. Aatu Raty in Vancouver would be great. Could we get Nikolai Kovalenko in Colorado? I doubt it. They tried Eller already, and it did not really work. But we can get a deal done here.
- Chad Ruhwedel. For the love of all things unholy, move on from this Mike Sullivan favorite. Get a draft pick and move on. His right-handedness and reputation are selling points.
- Matt Nieto. He is on the comeback trail. Also a player whose reputation is good. Edmonton wanted him last July, but he chose Pittsburgh. Get a late pick and move on.
- Alex Nedeljkovic. I think he has value now. Teams would likely take him over Jake Allen right now, based on 2023-24 performance. But Montreal's GM is pro-active, so will Dubas take advantage of Ned's strong season? Get a pick back, or a young prospect. Then, next year you can maybe try Blomqvist as the backup or bring in a vet. Even Fleury could work for a year. Yeah yeah I know. We need to get younger. But the backup goaltender is the last roster spot where youth is important. Personally, I would just try Blomqvist and have a strong third-string option in WB/S.
- Marcus Pettersson. So far, the decisions were super easy. This one is not. But after thinking about it recently, it would make sense to maximize on Pettersson's career season. He is by far our best left defenseman. He also plays a position where we actually have organizational depth. LD and G might be the only positions where that is the case. Graves is pretty much unmovable, AND you should never sell low. Get his game going and hope he turns it around. Joseph needs to get a shot. Play him as a top four and see what you have. Ludvig can play either side, but he is probably better on the left side, too. And then we have Pickering coming and a few decent prospects behind him (the two Finns, for example). I think we can get a first and a prospect for Pettersson. If you can, do it. If teams want to low-ball, you keep him obviously.
- Bryan Rust. This is the guy we need to find a taker for. I think if we moved Rust, we could then re-sign Guentzel. And that makes sense. You keep the better winger, and you keep the younger winger. But this is up to Rust. Dubas said he has not asked anybody to waive. OK, it is time, Kyle. Ask. Find out. He has value, but you cannot simply trade him to Winnipeg. He has trade protection. You might have to trade him to the Rangers. But the Rangers have a glaring hole at right wing and would probably offer a lot for him. Make the call, Kyle. Find out.
And now Guentzel. Personally, I think we should keep him. BUT, four assets would change my mind. If Edmonton really wants him, Broberg, a first, Holloway/Bourgault/Lavoie and an NHL player is what it takes. He is the best player available. Milk that.
Now, will guys like Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin and Letang hate this? Maybe. But what they probably hate more is having Vinnie Hinostroza, Colin White and Jansen Harkins filling out the roster.
So, Dubas needs to make change. He has been way too patient. Trade the veterans and bring in youngsters. Then you can send those youngsters to the AHL when Sullivan demands White, Harkins and Hinostroza to return to Pittsburgh because they play the right way. Rinse. Repeat.
Also, Dubas's quote regarding Sullivan sounded more like a man whose hands are tied, and has zero power to make a coaching change than a man who is 100 percent behind his coaching staff.
Thank you, Fenway.
Trade:
- Reilly Smith. Another victim of Mike Sullivan, imo. He is this year's Tanner Pearson. Stanley Cups elsewhere mean nothing if you can't play Mike Sullivan hockey. I think we can get a second-round pick and maybe a long-range or AHL prospect.
- Lars Eller. He has value, but that second year on his contract could make it tricky. I would look for a one-for-one deal for a player who can step in and contribute. Aatu Raty in Vancouver would be great. Could we get Nikolai Kovalenko in Colorado? I doubt it. They tried Eller already, and it did not really work. But we can get a deal done here.
- Chad Ruhwedel. For the love of all things unholy, move on from this Mike Sullivan favorite. Get a draft pick and move on. His right-handedness and reputation are selling points.
- Matt Nieto. He is on the comeback trail. Also a player whose reputation is good. Edmonton wanted him last July, but he chose Pittsburgh. Get a late pick and move on.
- Alex Nedeljkovic. I think he has value now. Teams would likely take him over Jake Allen right now, based on 2023-24 performance. But Montreal's GM is pro-active, so will Dubas take advantage of Ned's strong season? Get a pick back, or a young prospect. Then, next year you can maybe try Blomqvist as the backup or bring in a vet. Even Fleury could work for a year. Yeah yeah I know. We need to get younger. But the backup goaltender is the last roster spot where youth is important. Personally, I would just try Blomqvist and have a strong third-string option in WB/S.
- Marcus Pettersson. So far, the decisions were super easy. This one is not. But after thinking about it recently, it would make sense to maximize on Pettersson's career season. He is by far our best left defenseman. He also plays a position where we actually have organizational depth. LD and G might be the only positions where that is the case. Graves is pretty much unmovable, AND you should never sell low. Get his game going and hope he turns it around. Joseph needs to get a shot. Play him as a top four and see what you have. Ludvig can play either side, but he is probably better on the left side, too. And then we have Pickering coming and a few decent prospects behind him (the two Finns, for example). I think we can get a first and a prospect for Pettersson. If you can, do it. If teams want to low-ball, you keep him obviously.
- Bryan Rust. This is the guy we need to find a taker for. I think if we moved Rust, we could then re-sign Guentzel. And that makes sense. You keep the better winger, and you keep the younger winger. But this is up to Rust. Dubas said he has not asked anybody to waive. OK, it is time, Kyle. Ask. Find out. He has value, but you cannot simply trade him to Winnipeg. He has trade protection. You might have to trade him to the Rangers. But the Rangers have a glaring hole at right wing and would probably offer a lot for him. Make the call, Kyle. Find out.
And now Guentzel. Personally, I think we should keep him. BUT, four assets would change my mind. If Edmonton really wants him, Broberg, a first, Holloway/Bourgault/Lavoie and an NHL player is what it takes. He is the best player available. Milk that.
Now, will guys like Karlsson, Crosby, Malkin and Letang hate this? Maybe. But what they probably hate more is having Vinnie Hinostroza, Colin White and Jansen Harkins filling out the roster.
So, Dubas needs to make change. He has been way too patient. Trade the veterans and bring in youngsters. Then you can send those youngsters to the AHL when Sullivan demands White, Harkins and Hinostroza to return to Pittsburgh because they play the right way. Rinse. Repeat.
Also, Dubas's quote regarding Sullivan sounded more like a man whose hands are tied, and has zero power to make a coaching change than a man who is 100 percent behind his coaching staff.
Thank you, Fenway.
