With the 14th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins select…

[SEALBound]

I agree. The Pens have a very shallow prospect pool in general but they are particularly bare at center. Crosby, Malkin, and Carter are all in their mid to late 30s now, and the next NHL capable guy behind them is...who? Poehling? Those are pretty dire straits.

Sort of.

Just thinking it through: Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

I would say you have a solid 7 NHL-capable centers in that group with 5-6 being 3C or above. 4C's are easy to snag in FA for cheap. What they are indeed missing in the future 2C once Sid/Geno retire but that's not for another 3-4 years. But after that, we are going to blow ass hard. And we NEED to as well. Once those guys retire, you ship off Letang and everything else not bolted down for picks, you put a salary floor team together and you hop you hit the cycle just right and get your next batch of high-end picks. You just hope they are the Malkin/Sid/Ovi type and not the Hall/RNH/Yak type.

 

[Gurglesons]

Sort of.

Just thinking it through: Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

I would say you have a solid 7 NHL-capable centers in that group with 5-6 being 3C or above. 4C's are easy to snag in FA for cheap. What they are indeed missing in the future 2C once Sid/Geno retire but that's not for another 3-4 years. But after that, we are going to blow ass hard. And we NEED to as well. Once those guys retire, you ship off Letang and everything else not bolted down for picks, you put a salary floor team together and you hop you hit the cycle just right and get your next batch of high-end picks. You just hope they are the Malkin/Sid/Ovi type and not the Hall/RNH/Yak type.

Uh.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Taylor Haase keeps saying Hallander is expected to sign in Sweden this off season.

I don't really get that decision on his part. He's one of our best prospects and a new GM might be inclined to actually give him a shot at the lineup soon. Yeah yeah Sully etc but if a new gm wants him to get a shot, he will.

I think you overrate the power of the new GM, tbh.

I totally get why Hallander would consider it, this team sucks as a development and career furthering team for young players now and there's no guarantee that's going to change. Dude's got to think about his career not just for this season, but long term.

It's just insanely dumb that we spent assets to reacquire him and then never used him.

 

[SEALBound]

Uh.

Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

1. Sid - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
2. Geno - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
3. Carter - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
4. Poehling - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
5. DOC - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
6. Hallander - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
7. Poulin - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?

Not that hard. DOC looks better at wing but could absolutely be a 3C for us. I think Hallander and Poulin would be just fine there as well, especially Poulin who already skated there early this year.

Not the best center depth in the NHL but it's not like it's Sid, Geno, Craig Adams x 6.

 

[Gurglesons]

Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

1. Sid - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
2. Geno - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
3. Carter - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
4. Poehling - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
5. DOC - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
6. Hallander - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
7. Poulin - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?

Not that hard. DOC looks better at wing but could absolutely be a 3C for us. I think Hallander and Poulin would be just fine there as well, especially Poulin who already skated there early this year.

Not the best center depth in the NHL but it's not like it's Sid, Geno, Craig Adams x 6.

I do not think Hallander or Poulin play more than 100 NHL games in their career.

 

[Jacob]

I'm pretty sure Hallander has to clear waivers to be sent down, so even if he doesn't make the NHL club, he's going to be free for anyone.

So maybe it's best he go to Sweden if he doesn't make the big club, lest he get claimed?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Yeah, I mean we get to keep his rights, but realistically he doesn’t make the team out of camp, he’s done as an NHL prospect.

I dunno, just weird aaset management for a team that desperately needs bottom 6 help

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yeah, I mean we get to keep his rights, but realistically he doesn’t make the team out of camp, he’s done as an NHL prospect.

Well we all know training camp is 100% merit-based on this squad so surely if he shows himself capable he will definitely make the team!

 

[eXile3]

Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

1. Sid - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
2. Geno - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
3. Carter - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
4. Poehling - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
5. DOC - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
6. Hallander - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
7. Poulin - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?

Not that hard. DOC looks better at wing but could absolutely be a 3C for us. I think Hallander and Poulin would be just fine there as well, especially Poulin who already skated there early this year.

Not the best center depth in the NHL but it's not like it's Sid, Geno, Craig Adams x 6.

Poulin needs to be an AHL caliber player before he can be an NHL one.

I would also say Carter is borderline at this point.

Hallander can probably be an average 4C that’s completely replaceable.

 

[Gurglesons]

Poulin needs to be an AHL caliber player before he can be an NHL one.

I would also say Carter is borderline at this point.

Hallander can probably be an average 4C that’s completely replaceable.

Hallander is largely a wing in my eyes. Probably make the same argument for DOC at the NHL level at this point.

I think you overrate the power of the new GM, tbh.

I totally get why Hallander would consider it, this team sucks as a development and career furthering team for young players now and there's no guarantee that's going to change. Dude's got to think about his career not just for this season, but long term.

It's just insanely dumb that we spent assets to reacquire him and then never used him.

Mike Sullivan.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I mean, I know, it’s just amazing to watch it repeat over and over.

Meanwhile, good thing we’re going to go into next season with Carter as the 3C! Again!

 

[Deport Ogie]

I mean, I know, it’s just amazing to watch it repeat over and over.

Meanwhile, good thing we’re going to go into next season with Carter as the 3C! Again!

You underestimate our coach. Once Zucker leaves in UFA Carter will be 2nd line LW. But he'll take all the face-offs because....face-offs.

 

[orby]

Sid, Geno, Carter, Poehling, DOC, Hallander, Poulin, Gruden, Glover/Fraska.

1. Sid - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
2. Geno - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
3. Carter - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
4. Poehling - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
5. DOC - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
6. Hallander - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?
7. Poulin - do you not think he is NHL capable? Yes or no?

Sid and Geno, yeah. Carter is old but he could be a functional 4C on the right team. Poehling and DOC are fairly marginal players; they seem like they can hang with NHLers, but so do lots of players who fizzle into nothing within a couple of seasons - Scott Wilson, Tom Kuhnhackl, etc. - so it's hard to say they're truly NHL-capable centers. Hallander and Poulin are absolute question marks and I think it's folly to pretend otherwise.

 

[Pancakes]

I think you overrate the power of the new GM, tbh.

I totally get why Hallander would consider it, this team sucks as a development and career furthering team for young players now and there's no guarantee that's going to change. Dude's got to think about his career not just for this season, but long term.

It's just insanely dumb that we spent assets to reacquire him and then never used him.

I don't think the new GM is going to demand Mike Sullivan do this or that, but they do have the power to kinda nudge him in the right direction by providing him certain options and/or calling these guys up.

Sullivan also does typically play the callups. The issue is when a call up actually plays well (DOC, Nylander, etc) it takes Sullivan forever to recognize it and start making that player a regular or giving them more responsibility.

I mean, I know, it’s just amazing to watch it repeat over and over.

Meanwhile, good thing we’re going to go into next season with Carter as the 3C! Again!

I know there's no cap relief for buying out Jeff Carter, but there's genuinely a case to be made that it should happen.

If he's here, Sullivan is going to play him 82 games. And that could cost us a playoff spot even if the new GM hits homeruns elsewhere.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I am totally 100 serious when I say the best case situation is Carter catching a slap shot to the instep in camp that just doesn’t heal right.

 

[Pancakes]

I am totally 100 serious when I say the best case situation is Carter catching a slap shot to the instep in camp that just doesn’t heal right.

I can't f***in believe we've got to watch another season of him playing.

I don't think it's a situation that can be fixed short of not playing him. Anyone they put with him is gonna crater.

 

[Gurglesons]

I can't f***in believe we've got to watch another season of him playing.

I don't think it's a situation that can be fixed short of not playing him. Anyone they put with him is gonna crater.

A good coach could find a role for him.

Sadly we do not have a good coach. We have a coach who plays players based on their previous achievements and the name on their sweater as well as their country of origin.

 

[Pancakes]

A good coach could find a role for him.

Sadly we do not have a good coach. We have a coach who plays players based on their previous achievements and the name on their sweater as well as their country of origin.

What role is there? He was an embarrassment whether Sullivan put him on the wing or center, third or fourth line, low minutes or high minutes.

Give Carter the cushiest o-zone starts you want and butter soff matchups. I think he'd still suck even with those deployments.

He showed a little life here and there but he can't play anything close to 82 good games a season any more.

The only role he should have is healthy scratch who comes in if there's injuries or someone playing badly. Maybe that'd keep him fresh and motivate him to play well.

Short of that...not seeing it. Mike Sullivan sucks for so many reasons, but Jeff Carter is not one of them.

 

[Gurglesons]

What role is there? He was an embarrassment whether Sullivan put him on the wing or center, third or fourth line, low minutes or high minutes.

Give Carter the cushiest o-zone starts you want and butter soff matchups. I think he'd still suck even with those deployments.

He showed a little life here and there but he can't play anything close to 82 good games a season any more.

The only role he should have is healthy scratch who comes in if there's injuries or someone playing badly. Maybe that'd keep him fresh and motivate him to play well.

Short of that...not seeing it. Mike Sullivan sucks for so many reasons, but Jeff Carter is not one of them.

He's fine as a 4th line winger without defensive responsibilities and a PP2 guy.

If he isn't then you need a coach who will scratch him.

 

[Pancakes]

He's fine as a 4th line winger without defensive responsibilities and a PP2 guy.

If he isn't then you need a coach who will scratch him.

I think he'll still get caved as a 4th line winger. Just to a lesser degree than if he's at center or playing more minutes.

But yeah either way we know that Sully isn't gonna scratch him and he'll probably play him way too many minutes and we're all gonna hate it

 

[BusinessGoose]

Carter off the third was better than on it

 

[SEALBound]

I am totally 100 serious when I say the best case situation is Carter catching a slap shot to the instep in camp that just doesn’t heal right.

I want him to eat, just not at my table.

Him electing to retire or terminate the contract after being told he will be 13F is the best case scenario. You just can't continue to give the guy a roster spot if he hasn't earned it.

 

[vodeni]

I am totally 100 serious when I say the best case situation is Carter catching a slap shot to the instep in camp that just doesn’t heal right.

the worst thing that happened to Pens this year that Sid and geno and somehwat Carter went through the season withou injury, thats the only thing that Sully would give a chance to show something. however I still don't trust him to make right decsions, thats how he killed McCann's and ERod's momentum when they were so hot, but with some guys coming back he dropped them in TOI and role wise and totaly deflated them..

 

[Jacob]

I think we're going to have to squeeze the life out of Carter next year. That means using him for like every D or N zone right side draw and PKing a lot. Make him take a beating in front of the net on PP2. And probably sit him on some back-to-backs to save his legs.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I think there is a possibility Carter could be fine in the role pixies is talking about. But I would also add that he must see the bench. A lot. And that just ain't gonna happen.