Team: 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 29, 2020

Published: Oct. 1, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

TYPICAL DISCLAIMER-I'M EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW IDEAS. DON'T BASH ME IF YOU DON'T AGREE.

First things first.

With the trades of bjugstad and Hornqvist already completed, which many said would be difficult and in Hornqvist's case-impossible...but not all NMCs are created equal (in that some will be waived). I'm not crazy about the matheson contract, but as I've said I won't bash him till I see him play. some people really like some under the radar stuff with him so there is certainly potential for him to take the next step and become a top-4 D.

I am literally 90% sure at this point JJ is GONE VERY SOON. we have 6 LHD. GMJR is using his "talk nice about the player but won't commit to giving them a spot/hinting at a trade/while all the signs point to a trade" routine...

OTT has cap space. whether or not they want Murray IDK. rather then package them together and spark the "how much + value does Murray have" and "how much - value does JJ have" debate simultaneously, I divided them up. Legare is a good 3rd round pick that some teams had ranked ahead of Poulin (our 1st round pick). he fell to us/we traded up to get him but I have a feeling he's the next prospect moved (partially bc we don't have very many prospects...) lindgren-meh and a 2nd complete the trade...I think that's fair based on the recent mark Staal cap dump (only a 2nd for 1 yr, 5.7M).

Sceviour I think is of little impact and either he or ZAR I think is out the door. I don't think he has much value. I do not want to trade ZAR. he is AMAZING defensively and a HUGE PART of one of the best shutdown lines in the NHL. sully wants good D from his bottom 6. ZAR embodies that.
if we traded ZAR to keep Sceviour, that would be utter ridiculousness. ZAR is cheaper and WAY BETTER--not to mention faster, younger, and has more potential.

the BOS trade is a new idea. I don't think Pettersson will be traded unless one of 2 things happens. matheson/riikola/PO Joseph are so good that Pettersson and his new big cap hit isn't needed, or he is underperforming/injured like maatta was the latter part of his tenure in PIT...
IDK what Bjork and Carlo's value is. I think Pettersson is slightly better rn than Carlo probably. but with an excess of LHD and a need for a #3RHD, it makes sense only if one of the two things I mentioned is applicable. Bjork for Lafferty(4th line grinder with upside) , almari (fringe prospect), 3rd and 5th to round it out.

TOR and PIT already made a trade, and that's why I'd be surprised if they made another. but KD knows Murray and you never know. a 2nd + prospect (bracco) + Dermott (bc they need cap space) I think it is a fair return for Murray although it doesn't really meet Pittsburgh's needs--part of the reason TOR and PIT aren't the best trading partners rn.

Bc I got Dermott for no good reason, and bc sully will never play him unless no one with a pulse can play, I traded Riikola to play with his Finnish friend to recoup some late picks so Patrick Alvin doesn't fall asleep at the draft table...

the FA signings just provide depth and fill a hole.

I still think Craig smith is an good option although GMJR said they won't be active and will be looking in the "bargain bin" for players that slip through the cracks. he would be a good 3rd line player to provide speed, tenacity, and goal scoring--just what we need. and he could jump up into the top-6 if need be.
Lundqvist or a another veteran backup I'd get and let him + desmith battle it out with the loser going to WBS.
I would really like a bottom-6 add like maroon, who's been a part of both STL and TBL in their cup wins. he plays the right way and he'd certainly be a better veteran than Patrick Marleau--maybe because he's not 75 years old and has never won anything--except maybe eventually the Games played record--wow Gordie howe jr.--super overrated...I digress.

I do sincerely wonder about Dom Simon's future on this roster, bc GMJR said "Murray and Simon will be hard to keep" specifically...makes me wonder if Simon is reading his goal totals incorrectly. his value IMHO is not over 1.5M MAX.

PP1-Sid87, Geno71, Tanger58, Rusty17, jake59----period. end of story. put them there and leave them there.
PP2-i'd go with zucker16, mccann19, matheson5, Kapanen24, and Smith15 to start but marino6, and Bjork10 would also be options.

for the PK some mix of ZAR, bleuger, tanev, smith, Kapanen, McCann, rust and all the D should be sufficient.

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