Confirmed with Link: Pens trade Eller to Washington

SomeDude

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Mar 6, 2006
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I agree he should have targeted later picks. Said that about our drafting before he was even hired.
He's course correcting, based on having more evidence now of where they're at for the foreseeable future. He's done a lot of that since coming here.
When he first arrived he was talking about winning the division. Now he's shaken off any remaining delusions.
It's fine getting immediate picks if you end up flipping them later again. But that's sort of a dice roll approach, where you can come out better or worse for it.
That's why I prefer the higher percentage route.
Also, he made the Yager/Rutger deal like 2 months before the season. So, you're thinking that Dubas thought this year wasn't going to be this bad heading into it and yet he still didn't think maybe he should try firing the coach before re-routing his entire plan and map for the future?

The guy has no plan.
 

Andy99

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Jun 26, 2017
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I think Dubas was worried that his value would only go lower as this ship keeps sinking. Ellers been quiet lately. I’m kind of annoyed more for Crosby and Malkin’s sake. They’re officially on a fully tanking team now if it wasn’t already apparent.
If he was worried about that then he should have fired the coach first lol
 

wheelz87

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Jun 28, 2011
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Try to help me understand.. this is a guy we could have dealt at the deadline for this package. We are admitting defeat a month into the season. And we have who to take his minutes the remainder of the year? We have which Wilkes barre center banging on the door for ice time? (Pono?? Poulin at freakin center??). You trade him at the deadline, you need to fill 15 games with whatever. Fine. I.. don’t understand this.
 

AuroraBorealis

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Oct 16, 2018
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Also, he made the Yager/Rutger deal like 2 months before the season. So, you're thinking that Dubas thought this year wasn't going to be this bad heading into it and yet he still didn't think maybe he should try firing the coach before re-routing his entire plan and map for the future?

The guy has no plan.
I think he just decided on his plan.
I'm pretty sure he wants to keep Sullivan to handle development of the prospects. Not that I agree with that.
He thinks really highly of him.
 

Freeptop

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Jun 17, 2009
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Many of us have been wanting the Pens to make space for prospects to play in the NHL. Eller was the vet that they could move now.

Maybe they could have gotten more for Eller if they'd waited, but that's certainly no guarantee. In the meantime, they've gotten something for him, guaranteed, and they've made room in the roster for at least one prospect to play for at least a few games.

Is this a great move? No, but it's not a bad one either. I mean, the players have already made it clear that they're going nowhere this year, so I see no problem with moving out older players for picks. 2nd vs 3rd rounder isn't all that different in terms of quality, and at least this wasn't Tarnstrom at peak value for Jani Rita and Cory Cross (not that Tarnstrom had much value, even at peak, but draft picks would have had a better chance of turning into something useful than Rita and Cross!)

Mostly, I'm just hoping that this is a sign that the Pens are finally accepting reality and starting a rebuild for real. At least this way, we get a chance to see some more prospects play.

Now go unload more veteran players, and get some more prospects up here. They'll still lose, but at least the prospects are going to try.
 

Empoleon8771

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Aug 25, 2015
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I do wonder if Eller gave the Penguins some sort of indication that he wanted to be moved. He seems like an ultra competitive leader type and I feel like the general apathy this team has wasn't sitting well with him. I figure he still wants to win and this team definitely made him realize it wasn't going to happen here.
 
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AuroraBorealis

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You can't keep kicking the can down the road, though. This isn't going to be some gradual and graceful easing into the pool type of rebuild. We're cannonballing right into the bottom. We're already just about there now before actually selling things off. There is no need to mind **** it, just stock up on picks in the next 2 drafts and see what you can get.
Almost there mentally, yes. But too much cap is blocked now to properly execute scorched earth this year. If I was GM I'd still do as much as possible.
But what I'm saying is this isn't a clean rebuild year, like the Sharks had last season or w/e. You can't max it. You can't weaponize as much cap as you'd like to, to get a bevvy of 2025 or 2026 picks.
So that affects the timeline for resurgence. That's why I'd aim for picks with that timeline in mind.

Try to help me understand.. this is a guy we could have dealt at the deadline for this package. We are admitting defeat a month into the season. And we have who to take his minutes the remainder of the year? We have which Wilkes barre center banging on the door for ice time? (Pono?? Poulin at freakin center??). You trade him at the deadline, you need to fill 15 games with whatever. Fine. I.. don’t understand this.
Could have also deteriorated in value. 1 assist in the last 10. Could have gotten injured.
It's possible he requested a trade too.
 

Pancakes

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I do wonder if Eller gave the Penguins some sort of indication that he wanted to be moved. He seems like an ultra competitive leader type and I feel like the general apathy this team has wasn't sitting well with him. I figure he still wants to win and this team definitely made him realize it wasn't going to happen here.
Possibly. It seemed like he cared a lot last year, and watching the team backslide into even worse mediocrity this year can't have sat well with him.

Lines right up with Sullivan's retirement as a coach into ownership of the Pittsburgh Penguins.


Funnier knowing that and the coach is still not fired.
You just gave me a mental image of Mike Sullivan at 80 years old giving his insight on things in the Pens press box just like Eddie Johnston still does.

And I'm mad at you for it lmao
 

Empoleon8771

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Aug 25, 2015
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Possibly. It seemed like he cared a lot last year, and watching the team backslide into even worse mediocrity this year can't have sat well with him.


You just gave me a mental image of Mike Sullivan at 80 years old giving his insight on things in the Pens press box just like Eddie Johnston still does.

And I'm mad at you for it lmao


This was also a quote from him earlier today. I wouldn't claim that he 100% asked for a move but it sure as hell wouldn't surprise me if he basically just said "get me out of here".
 

DesertedPenguin

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Mar 11, 2007
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I do wonder if Eller gave the Penguins some sort of indication that he wanted to be moved. He seems like an ultra competitive leader type and I feel like the general apathy this team has wasn't sitting well with him. I figure he still wants to win and this team definitely made him realize it wasn't going to happen here.
Could explain making the move now, that's for sure.
 

Pancakes

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This was also a quote from him earlier today. I wouldn't claim that he 100% asked for a move but it sure as hell wouldn't surprise me if he basically just said "get me out of here"
Could be.

I don't think he necessarily has to ask out for the Pens to want to move him either though. They suck, he's old. There's players in WBS that could take his spot. It could be as simple as that.
 

Turin

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Feb 27, 2018
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Try to help me understand.. this is a guy we could have dealt at the deadline for this package. We are admitting defeat a month into the season. And we have who to take his minutes the remainder of the year? We have which Wilkes barre center banging on the door for ice time? (Pono?? Poulin at freakin center??). You trade him at the deadline, you need to fill 15 games with whatever. Fine. I.. don’t understand this.
Poulin has been playing C if I understand right, and has been doing well. Ponomarev hopefully stops getting injured and then he'll probably be called up later in season.
 

SomeDude

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Mar 6, 2006
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Almost there mentally, yes. But too much cap is blocked now to properly execute scorched earth this year. If I was GM I'd still do as much as possible.
But what I'm saying is this isn't a clean rebuild year, like the Sharks had last season or w/e. You can't max it. You can't weaponize as much cap as you'd like to, to get a bevvy of 2025 or 2026 picks.
So that affects the timeline for resurgence. That's why I'd aim for picks with that timeline in mind.
We can be a bottom 3 team this year. We are that bad. High cap hits do not correlate with ability. Tristan Jarry, Ryan Graves, Michael Bunting, etc are not going to keep this team from the bottom. Sid isn't either unless we light a fire by firing the coach which isn't going to happen.
 

Pancakes

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We can be a bottom 3 team this year. We are that bad. High cap hits do not correlate with ability. Tristan Jarry, Ryan Graves, Michael Bunting, etc are not going to keep this team from the bottom. Sid isn't either unless we light a fire by firing the coach which isn't going to happen.
Yeah the nice thing about the Pens at this point is Dubas and Sullivan might not be able to f*** this up. The Pens/Sullivan might just be bad enough to get a lottery pick even if they don't make any moves lol.

So those that are desperate to tank...you may get your wish even though the Pens aren't blowing it up.
 
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