Casuals

Team: 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 3, 2024

Published: Mar. 3, 2024

LTIR Enabled: Yes

Season Days: 192

Days Remaining: 46

Season Remaining: 24%

Projected Cap Hit Prior To Days Remaining : $85,420,818

WARNING there’s a lot I’ll be writing down here

Sell what’s realistic at the deadline

Reilly Smith is out I think. There’s just something that tells me his heart isn’t in Pittsburgh. Still a good player, just not what we’d hoped him to be.
Alex Nedeljkovic 100%. He’d be a great addition to any team. He’s just being wasted on a struggling team.
POJ. Although I feel like he’s been really standing out playing with Letang. Especially defensively on a bad defensive blueline. He still isn’t anything too special but he’s been improving. He’s been getting physical as well. Could become a more outstanding trade candidate if he continues playing decently.
Low key I feel like Rakell could be moved. There’s a decent few teams that could use a winger like Rakell. He’s still got some game in him but with younger players making their case as well to stay on the team I could see both Smith and Rakell moved in the coming week.
Chad Ruhwedel is a nice depth piece for literally every team.
Personally I think there’s a chance Eller becomes a nice trade chip that could bring in a pretty penny. He’s a name I think of that really brings 100% every night outside of the top line. I’d honestly would want to keep him but we’ll see how trade deadline day goes
If Jeff Carter wants a chance at competing in playoff hockey one last time. He should take it. I feel like he still plays with a lot of heart and hustle.
There are reasons why Jake is our biggest trade chip but at the same time I think trading Jake could only become a big mistake. Because realistically he’d of course get us a return that Dubas would want but there is a but. But the reason it’s become a mistake is because of the value Jake would not only hold to Sid but also the team. Everyone has agreed that this core we have should make another run especially when Sid still has in the tank. Trading Jake more so indicates the end. There is no rebounding from that. So if we get the prospect you guys would want, how long? How long till they come in the league. Would they even be NHL ready? Because I’ve seen a lot of Guentzel trades on here that just more so seem like making the trade for the sake of getting a prospect and a draft pick. Which doesn’t mean anything for right now or even 2-3 years down the line. Especially if Sid retires after next season. Keeping Jake could give Sid more reason to continue playing beyond next season.
It has already been said the Penguins met with Rust and told him he’s not going to be moved. Trading Jake could become a deeper problem than you guys would think.
Geno and Letang are retiring as Penguins so you guys can just keep crying about it. They deserve to retire as Penguins after everything they’ve brought for us you spoiled rats. Not to mention they still doing good. Not what they used to be but still guys that are still of service for the team. The only change to the lineup I’d bring is Karlsson on the top pair. If you want the most offensive results from him, he has to be the number one defencemen.
Unrealistic options would be Ryan Graves(I feel like he’s more of a whipping boy)due to term than cap hit I think. Hes still decent but doesn’t exactly live up to $4.5M. I think the problem could be his blueline partners who don’t exactly play a strong defensive game.
Marcus Pettersson is more unrealistic to move cause who the hell gonna be there to actually play defence on the blueline.

In a way we’ll have to be sellers but not sell everything. We sell off some pieces and recoup in the off-season. It’s weird to be in this position as a Pens fan but this year is gonna have to come to a close a lot sooner than we’d hoped. I think playoff’s is out of the equation for this season but not next season. There’s a lot to build from and a lot that can get improved in the off-season.

Another thing that won’t solve anything is firing Sully. The funny thing is how can we go from crying about him not being a Jack Adam’s winner to saying he should be fired? Now remember two years ago we were beating a Rangers team until Sid got injured. 2021 and 2022 could’ve been something else if certain things didn’t happen. Sully is the kind of coach you’d want to have for those long runs. If there’s coaching changes to be made, it’d have to be the other coaches on the bench. Perhaps there’s maybe one coach I’d consider replacing Sully with. That’s have to be Jay Woodcroft.