Quoting: Marcsnack
Hard to move Jarry without taking a goalie back. Obviously, I would like to run Blomqvist, but wouldnt mind one more year.
The problem with this is they are trying to bring in the russian, and there isn't room down there for both. I'm pretty sure the plan is to move Bloom up if he comes over.
Quoting: Marcsnack
I could defo see that. Just dont see that many 3C options that are available, barring Monahan, Stephenson & Domi. I dont know if the Pens trust Poulin to run that 3C spot. Yager probably needs a year in the AHL, but hey, I wouldnt be against them being on the team if they are ready.
why do you think they need to add a 3C?
You have both Eller and Acciari still on contract, and you didn't trade either here. Don't get me wrong, I don't think either is great at 3C, but either one is capable of playing it in a bridge year if you are unwilling to play Poulin, Yager or Ponomarev there. Either way the last thing they need is a guy signed to a 5 year deal there. It just doesn't match up.
I honestly think if this team could pull it's head out it's backside and give it's youth a real chance next year could be interesting.
You got Yager who might be able to fill a top 6 role, Koivunen who might be able to do the same or middle 6. You got Poulin who could play 3C.
While I'm sure there will be some growing pains, I'd rather have those and let them grow and hope the legs make up for it. They could use the cap to shore up other areas like 3rd pair on short term deals.
I don't think outside of a few of these prospects taking off there is anything they can do to become a legit contender. There simply isn't enough depth there and not enough cap space to totally rebuild the team without moving a lot of bodies out. That isn't really feasible. They will be lucky to move one of either Smith, Eller and Acciari out. I wouldn't expect more than that if any.
What I do know is it's unreasonable to expect the type of super human effort out of Crosby to carry the team on his back at 37 for 82 games. They can't bring in enough from the outside in limited cap space.
If they are going to spend big they should focus on someone like Reinhart. As they will need a real difference maker to put in the top 6. As they have no chance with the 2nd line performing like it did this year.