Honestly I would explore Hoglander as it should be super easy and then it makes room for another youngster down the road. Then in the summer or TDL depending on position you can then sell Garland for proper value and not as a **** we dont got cap move.

So then instead of a 3rd they could potentially get a 1st.

Hoglander has much more value to the team than in a trade. Unless he fetches a 1st, its not close to worth it

With EK off the board the shift now goes to Canada as Noah Hanifin's name should come up more and more and it would not surprise me if before training camp he is on a new team.

Anyone want one of our 10 thousand defensemen?

Rangers and Redwings always get talked about having great futures, but both look like they’ll be mid for the better part of the next decade

I don’t think they will be competitive for another 2-3 years, or until Chiarot-Holl isn’t a thing

Petry is a budget Hanifin lol

I’m late but I haven’t met any NHLers before. However I have met Carlton the bear if that counts. My dad has met Gabriel Landeskog also because he used to teach at the same school as Landy went to in junior and we have his signed jersey.

Randomly hyping the Coyotes.

Some combination of Keller and Schmaltz gives a very lethal skill line that can rival most of the skill in the Western Conference.

Bjugdstadt, Crouse, Maccelli is a lethal, physical, 5v5 200 foot line. Perhaps close to my ideal line if I could sculpt one. Give me infinite possibility and my perfection is pretty close this. Edit: this is very similar to Bostons sometimes 2022/2023 3rd line of Coyle, Hall, Frederic which dominated. A big responsible center who can skate, a speedy shifty finisher, and a big dude who can shoot, not get injured, and hit ppl hard.

The vet experience and presence of Zucker and Kerfoot round out secondary scoring/minute munching.

The forward group benefits from two extremely high skill rookies in Cooley and Guenther, but also proven depth in Sanford. It also benefits from high end talent who have been learning on the job - the previously mentioned Maccelli along with Barrot Hayton, and Jack McBain.

Just a really interesting forward group for the Western Conference. It seems like they will be able to either outcompete at the high end skill or 200 foot game any given night.

Their problem is defense. It’s young. Should result in fun to watch hockey tho.

I think I’d take Edmonton’s forward group over Arizonas, but that’s it. Every other west team is less attractive to me if im thinking more than very short term.

Bjugstad was great on that line, and you're right, Bear could throw them over the boards in any situation. What makes it even more interesting is that after the tdl McBain stepped right in and they didn't fall off much. Of McBain's 26 points last season, 14 came in the 20 games after the deadline when he was promoted from the fourth to replace Bjugstad.
If Hayton is left to do his Rucchin impression between Keller and Schmaltz, and McBain stays between Crouse and Maccelli, then Cooley and Bjugstad center your other two lines between some combination of Zucker, Guenther, Kerfoot, and Boyd.

I don't remember forward depth like that in AZ since the 90's.

You’d have to guess with Cooley that lines will be quite dynamic all season.

Should be terrifying to play against.

Larkin will be 30 YO , the prospect pool doesn’t have many offensive stars. I just don’t see them being contenders any time in the next decade

I don't know about terrifying, but it should be easier for them to create a headache with favourable matchups and mismatches.

Crouse and Maccelli line can go anytime. Keller and Schmaltz line for Ozone face offs.
Then you've potentially got Zucker-Cooley-Kerfoot as your "second line" which should be safe enough to not need sheltering. Leaves a "fourth line" with Bjugstad, Boyd and Guenther which should be able to take fourth line match ups with out a problem.

Or push for more offense with Cooley and Guenther both up top with Zucker, and move Kerfoot down so your fourth line can be thrown out anytime and wears down defensemen on the forecheck all game with O'Brien/Boyd, Bjugstad, and Kerfoot.

Blue line has some talented players, but its still taped together with hopes and prayers until they show otherwise.

i have never seen a bjugstad spelling like that holy moly

I had just figured out PittsburgH.

Would be a big mistake to put Guenther on the 4th line

Could also be a big mistake to ask Cooley and Guenther to be ready to play top six minutes when your first line is already a liability. Bear rolls four lines, so he'll get a fair share of minutes and PP time even if he was on the "fourth" line.

Guenther didn't look ready last year. Needed to polish his game, and Cooley likely will, too. He'll get PP time and situational use giving him offensive starts with decent players. Not really worried about him. Plus, Zucker is likely gone after the deadline. He'll only need to beat out Kerfoot and Boyd for top nine ice time after the deadline. If he can't do that, there are bigger problems than his line mates when he started the season.

Tomas Tatar confirmed in a Slovak interview that he's in talks with #LetsGoPens, when asked if it would be nice to play for PIT:

"It was, but I don't want to develop it further. Keep it to myself. I said a couple of times who I was talking with and it always went the other way


https://twitter.com/Flux_cc/status/1690148868954927104

Leaving the h off is a sure way for people to know you aren’t from anywhere near the city lol.

No idea how we can pay him but sure!

Coolest stories for me ranked by coolness:

1 Having Marcel Dionne pour me coffee at his own diner in Niagara Falls. Super nice guy and you’d never know it was him unless you knew what he looked like because he was just the guy at the diner asking how the food was lol. I look up and am like “umm woah you’re Marcel Dionne!”

2 I didn’t meet him but I was nearly run over by Jagr’s sport car when he was trying leave practice and jerk kids like myself were begging for an autograph. It was an honor to be inches away from the legend!

3 My dad met Rob Brown at a work related party near Pittsburgh. He signed a photo of himself that that my dad brought home and I still have!

4 At pens practices I’ve met Stu Barnes, Patrick Lalime, Chris Tamer, and Ian Moran. I also met former penguin Paul Stanton once when I was like 6.

Pitt cant really afford him though as once Guentzel comes back they over the cap

Unless they move money out dont see how its possible

If they can get Tatar for a 1 year deal under 3m, they can pay another team to take Carter. They don't really care about their future so trading futures isn't hard for them.

Pens will just get older lmao

Issue is I believe Carter got a NMC and I dont think hes gonna agree to waive it

Cause hes probs going why should I go to a non contender I want to try and get one more cup before I retire.