I can’t think of anyone on the Pens without trade protection I would be interested in.
Hopefully a bunch of other teams are interested in our NHL ready prospects.
One team that should definitely be interested in Buffalo's NHL ready prospects, is the Sabres!!!
9, 20, and 48 are three of the more reliable players on this roster. Watching all three returning to D zone has been encouraging (especially Kulich, very impressive)... there are few free-skate forechecks permitted, they are clogging up space and giving the D that split second longer to make a read and play. All three get after it on the forecheck too (Benson is putting on clinics).
And yeah, they need veterans to support and take pressure off the young guys, but says a lot when 3 of your most reliable players are young rookies (or <20 in the case of Benson, not a rookie). Interestingly, or not, all three are top 10 on the Sabres in xGF%. Kind of takes away the excuses from the young but not as young guys.
Again, interesting or not, Gilbert, Beck (2nd rd pick), and Lafferty ($4M) are all in the bottom 4 in xGF% on the team (Lower than Quinn and Bryson... yep!). The forwards are worse than Okposo and Girgs were last year (in fairness, more D-Zone starts too), hardly the upgrade it was sold to be (they hit more, that would come in handy in a playoff series maybe).
Anyway, the young guys look good.