Next year IF a few things pan out

Team: 2021-22 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 17, 2020

Published: Nov. 24, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

A few BIG Ifs.

(qualifiers for the below roster moves)

IF--The D solidifies.
If matheson turns out to be a viable 2nd pairing option who stabilizes with marino, then either Pettersson or dumoulin are expendable. Pettersson has more value for sure as Dumoulin isn't young anymore but I would guess dumoulin would be more likely to be traded. If POJ is ready to fill the #3LHD spot that makes a Dumoulin/Pettersson trade easier. Hopefully Marino will be reasonable with contract demands. the market if a bit down so $4M x 5 or 6 seems close to fair. a veteran RHD like Demers could be signed to stabilize the young and reckless POJ. ruhwedel/Riikola/maniscalso/Lee provide depth.

IF--The 3rd line once again is garbage. then another reconstruction would be needed. I signed Jankowski if he's half decent for a 13th forward/centre depth that will probably play at least 60 games bc of injuries. McCann shifts back to C for this example because of an overload of wings and Poulin hopefully making the team would provide the ability to flip other wingers around.

IF--Both of the above combined happen in some form..... Pettersson should fetch either a 2nd line winger or a #3C... I've seen ACGMs from BOS/NYR interested in Pettersson...

IF--Jarry stabilizes as a #1, and DeSmith doesn't get shelled then no other goalie is needed.

NO more IFs--maybe...


Lines....notes.
-if Poulin comes up I'd like to give him a top-6 shot and not see him "flounder" on the 4th line aka sprong but nothing like him as a player...
-pls stop putting tanev on the 3rd line. I like the buzzsaw. period. leave it alone.
-IDK about Buchnevich but he might be a good fit somewhere in the top-9. anyone know what type of player he is?
-Centre depth is preserved. Sid/Geno/McCann/Blueger/Jankowski/Martinook
-the lines have tons of versatility with or without injuries.
-puck moving D in abundance (Letang/marino/matheson/POJ)
-lots of PK options I wonder if even 3 PK units could be used (or just swap out forwards) because there aren't alot of defensive D but there are lots of better defensive F options. is it a horrible idea to put 3F+1D on a PK bc the Pens don't want Letang/matheson/POJ tuning the puck over while shorthanded??? PIT has been pretty good about not taking PIM recently...
-PK forwards options include (ZAR/Blueger/Tanev/McCann/Rust/Poulin/Zucker/Kapanen/Buchnevich and even Sid and Jake at the end of a PK just for kicks...
-If Rust gets PP1 time + some PK time he could be the next third line RW sniper who drives play. it's an idea although I do want to see 59-71-17 again...

Most likely lines I think:
59-87-24
16-71-17
Poulin-19-Buchnevich
12 (ZAR new #)-53-13

but just look at the flexibility. Guentzel can play with either HOF centre. Kapanen/Rust/Zucker/Buchnevich/Poulin can move up and down and some of them can even play their off wing...