I agree this could be probable, but imo Hextall completely failed if this is the roster going into next year. We're we close to second round with our current team? Yes. Are there definite areas where we can improve and retool the roster? 100%.

100% agreed man. I would move on from Heinen/Kapanen, but he said he expects more from Kappy next szn.. not a definite lock but a return seems plausible. I could've signed someone other than Heinen, but I feel like he would just keep who he is familiar with at that point. I personally would like to add someone who plays with a bit of an edge, like Nick Paul, Mason Marchment, Lawson Crouse, Miles Wood.. I think that would be huge. I am okay with this defense honestly.. I think it can do the job.

I think the probable lineup looks something like this. What I am hoping is that of the players the penguins have to resign which are in that lower tier (Erod, Heinen, Kapanen etc.) they don’t bring back too many of them. This would allow them to use either Poulin or Puustinen to open up cap space.

For example, on your roster you have a combined value of roughly 6 million. What you could do is trade (the rights) to the three of them. This would allow you to pay for a very good linemates for geno and let the kids fill out your bottom 6:

Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
*FA winger*-Geno-Rakell
Zucker-Carter-Poulin
Zohorna/O’Connor-Blueger-Puustinen

You may think it’s too risky to hand over the reigns of the bottom 6 to these young guys, which would be valid to an extent. But the thing about the Pittsburgh prospect pool is even though we don’t have much in terms of top end talent (which is why our prospect pool gets **** on so much) we have a lot of mid-low tier prospects who could potentially play in the nhl this year. I’ve already listed multiple guys, but haven’t even mentioned hallander or legare. My point is that even if some of them aren’t ready, I think 3 of hallander, legare, O’Connor, Zohorna, Poulin, or Puustinen will be effective bottom 6 players who can breathe some life into this lineup. This would allow us a truly elite top 6

Hard to see McGinn being dumped honestly. Zucker maybe, but hard to tell. I think Poulin made strides and its time for him to push for a spot, but I dont know how many of those youngsters are truly ready for a full time NHL position.

Me adding mcginn was just to exaggerate the idea of getting rid of 2-3 million dollars to allow for us to sign a strong top 6 and introduce Poulin +

I think Poulin is the most likely one, but Hextall also mentioned Puustinen and Hallander specifically as players who could make the jump

We should 100% get Marchment, perfect for us. I'd like us to get some faster guys as well like Anthanasiou or Nichushkin. I think we either need to retool the bottom 6 no matter what. Would like to trade Carter, but probably won't be able to. McGinn, Kapanen, Heinen, Rodrigues, I wouldn't mind seeing go, although Rodrigues is the one I'd keep out of all of them if I had to chose. I just think we need more youth, speed, and like you said a little bit of an edge.

Sabres need RHD, Maybe Marino??

I don't see the Sabres moving a 2nd for a left d. Now right d...

Problem with that is that we don’t really have a replacement for him. POJ is our best D prospect and he is a LD

Can't see the Sabres doing that. Atleast not for a 2nd

Pens wont be trading Marino.