Team: 2023-24 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 19, 2023

Published: Dec. 19, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

OVERVIEW:
If Puustinen can hold down the 2RW spot and we get Rust back healthy, that means our wing depth just got a lot better. If we could move Eller back to the 4th line and find a 3rd line center who can bring some scoring, that would make this team so much better. Rakell and Novak would be a very talented 3rd line duo and these moves would give us 2 very good looking powerplay units. Rust and Smith could do more penalty killing as they are getting less PP time and I'm a big fan of having some scoring threats on the PK to at least give the other team something to think about. May also want to look into adding to the 3rd pairing, but there are enough internal options the Pens have that you hope someone grabs the spot(s) and runs with it. Have to just hope Graves figures it out and starts playing a little more physical.

LINES:
1st Line: Not much of an explanation needed. Have been great this year

2nd Line: If Puustinen can sustain the production and continue to help the PP, this line has looked at least better since he got back and he's helped Smith out of his funk a little bit. Would be nice to get a young player contributing consistently.

3rd Line: Having Novak and Rakell on our 3rd line makes this team look way deeper than it did before any moves were made. As much as I like Eller, he's better suited for a 4C role, and Zahorna has played well, but hasn't been able to sustain it. O'Connor is a big question mark on this team for me. Could be a good player, just can't quite put it all together. Maybe a little skill and speed with him will help him blossom.

4th Line: Eller as your 4C means your center depth is excellent. He's very responsible, kills penalties and will chip in offensively sounds like the description of a perfect 4th line center to me. Putting Acciari on the wing will give him the freedom to be more of the energetic wrecking ball he was brought in to be. I traded for Maroon because one thing this team lacks is nastiness. He and Nieto are interchangeable depending on what you need, but if you're in a playoff series and want to frustrate a goalie or piss off a teams #1D-man, Maroon is a great guy to do it, cause there isn't really anyone else here who would. Can also do PP net front if that becomes an issue again.

DEFENSE:
1st Pair: Don't like Karlsson-Graves pair, so I put him back with Letang as he's at least worked better there. Letang has been awesome this year and can prop Graves up until hopefully he finds some consistency.

2nd Pair: These two have done well together all year. If Karlsson had the PP running hotter from the beginning of the year, than it would be much easier to appreciate how well this pair has played at 5 on 5 all year.

3rd Pair: Not really sure who deserves this spot yet. Like the physicality Ludvig brings, but there's definitely some issues with puck movement. Hoping the injury was holding Ruwhedel back and he comes back and plays like usual. Would love it if POJ finally started living up to the potential a bit more, but hasn't yet, so it may end up being Ludvig.

GOALIES: have been very happy with what we've got from both guys for most of the year. Keep chugging.

SCRATCHES: Carter has played well, just don't think he's a good enough player to be in the lineup on a hopeful contender. Hoping Poulin gets a shot now that he's healthy if there's an injury on the big club.

TRADES:
Maroon for 7th Rounder: Simple trade, Maroon is a UFA, 35 and can only be traded to half the league. Not much leverage for the Wild

Novak for Smith, Nylander, 1st rounder: Novak's cheap contract and age make him pretty valuable and if he signs an extension, it adds to his value more. Smith and Nylander are still young, but need some opportunity to see if they can go be more than what they've shown. A 1st+ seems like a reasonable price for him as a pending UFA.

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