Looks like we aren't getting very far in the "getting younger" department:
Some fiddling with numbers. I took the opening night roster with some mock roster I have in my head for 24-25.
Thirteen guys stayed, they all aged a year since last year (shocker).
F: Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Eller, Acciari, DOC
D: Karlsson, Letang, Graves, Pettersson
G: Jarry, Ned
Adding +13
Mutations:
- Smith (32) --> Beauvillier (27) -5
- Harkins (26) --> Lizotte (26) =0
- Guentzel (29) --> Bunting (28) -1
- Carter (39) --> Hayes (32) -7
- Nieto (31) --> Puljujarvi (26) -5*
- Ruhwedel (33) --> St Ivany (24) -9
- POJ (24) --> Grelczyk (30) +6
Subtracting -21 (or -16, if we don't factor in Nieto immediately going to LTIR again).
We're getting younger - in part. Our stars are getting older.
They probably got a higher age, because they're figuring Aho or Shea is playing over St Ivany. Meh whatever.
Out of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I honestly think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
ON THIS DAY in 2001, the Pittsburgh Penguins TRADED Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals, in exchange for Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek & Future considerations.
... the 3 players received went on to score just 73 points combined.
ON THIS DAY in 2001, the Pittsburgh Penguins TRADED Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals, in exchange for Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek & Future considerations.
... the 3 players received went on to score just 73 points combined.
--yadda, yadda, talking up Yager for 4 or 5 paragraphs....ends with....So, Yager's probably going back to Moose Jaw to start. They want him to get bigger, stronger, faster, "more urgent" as Dubas said. But if he's lighting up the WHL midseason and the Penguins have a run of injuries at forward? Don't rule it out.
--There haven't been any talks at all yet -- even the smallest of preliminary discussions -- between Marcus Pettersson and the Penguins on a contract extension. The sense is the pending Sidney Crosby extension talks are what's holding up all those other talks like the one with Pettersson. Crosby's obviously the priority.
--Talking about Pryor and fans thinking he was a nepotism hire. Talking about Wes Clark. Talking about how FSG has dumped money into development and scouting and those staffs keep growing....The Penguins' Russian scout Alexander Khavanov -- who was hired in July 2021 and around for the Sergei Murashov and Mikhail Ilyin picks -- left the organization last summer to take a scouting position with the Russian National Team. Dubas had increased responsibilities of the scouts when he took over, and Khavanov didn't like it and stepped down. He was quickly replaced by Leonid Vaysfeld, a former longtime KHL general manager with multiple clubs who also worked as an NHL amateur scout from 1990-03 with the Maple Leafs and Rangers. Vaysfeld had been working as a KHL analyst for Russian TV when he was hired by the Penguins. The Penguins then also hired a second Russian scout in Evgeni Bogdanovich, who worked as a scout with the Thrashers/Jets from 1999-2023, including directing the Jets' European scouting for the last 11 years. One guy leaves, they bring in two more with impressive resumes.
--When I spoke with Dubas in Buffalo he confirmed that the Penguins will indeed be participating in the Buffalo Prospects Challenge in September as they have the past few years. Two years ago they only went up to Buffalo for a single game in the tournament, and last year they played the full three. They'll be going up for the full three games again this year.
--yadda, yadda, talking up Yager for 4 or 5 paragraphs....ends with....So, Yager's probably going back to Moose Jaw to start. They want him to get bigger, stronger, faster, "more urgent" as Dubas said. But if he's lighting up the WHL midseason and the Penguins have a run of injuries at forward? Don't rule it out.
Spoiler:
--There haven't been any talks at all yet -- even the smallest of preliminary discussions -- between Marcus Pettersson and the Penguins on a contract extension. The sense is the pending Sidney Crosby extension talks are what's holding up all those other talks like the one with Pettersson. Crosby's obviously the priority.
--Talking about Pryor and fans thinking he was a nepotism hire. Talking about Wes Clark. Talking about how FSG has dumped money into development and scouting and those staffs keep growing....The Penguins' Russian scout Alexander Khavanov -- who was hired in July 2021 and around for the Sergei Murashov and Mikhail Ilyin picks -- left the organization last summer to take a scouting position with the Russian National Team. Dubas had increased responsibilities of the scouts when he took over, and Khavanov didn't like it and stepped down. He was quickly replaced by Leonid Vaysfeld, a former longtime KHL general manager with multiple clubs who also worked as an NHL amateur scout from 1990-03 with the Maple Leafs and Rangers. Vaysfeld had been working as a KHL analyst for Russian TV when he was hired by the Penguins. The Penguins then also hired a second Russian scout in Evgeni Bogdanovich, who worked as a scout with the Thrashers/Jets from 1999-2023, including directing the Jets' European scouting for the last 11 years. One guy leaves, they bring in two more with impressive resumes.
--When I spoke with Dubas in Buffalo he confirmed that the Penguins will indeed be participating in the Buffalo Prospects Challenge in September as they have the past few years. Two years ago they only went up to Buffalo for a single game in the tournament, and last year they played the full three. They'll be going up for the full three games again this year.
Wait. I thought once they were sent back to juniors, they could not be recalled until the season ended?
EDIT: OK, I read the article. So, it's next to impossible for a mid-season recall to the NHL.
Wow, I like the look of this one the best so far....but maybe that's because it literally looks like they took screen dumps of CapFriendly and built their site 95% the same way. Chinese knockoff? LOL
Wow, I like the look of this one the best so far....but maybe that's because it literally looks like they took screen dumps of CapFriendly and built their site 95% the same way. Chinese knockoff? LOL
CapWendy.
There's so many tools that were on CF that it doesn't have (yet), but I like it better than PuckPedia already for the layout.
EDIT: They do have some kinks to work out. They show contracts at 53/50 -- I think that's incorrect and includes the buyouts and retained salaries (don't count against the contracts). They don't have a sub heading for players not yet in minors, Yager, Murashov, Pietila, Brunicke, Lucius etc
But for a website that has existed for all of about 5 seconds, it's a good start.
Looking at the remaining UFA's. Tyler Johnson certainly fits the mold of a Sully Penguin (fast, small, skilled). He definitely wont make the team any younger but he has the skill to play in the top 6. Could be another buy-low option and maybe move at the deadline to a contender for an asset.
I'm sure Dubas would love to add someone younger like McGorarty, Robertson or even Kaliyev, but those will cost assets to acquire. Especially McGorarty. It doesn't seem like that's in the plan. Although, with all of them being younger players they can help now, which would help speed up the re-tool. While Dubas has done a good job in adding prospects to the pool, we don't have many high-end prospects that teams will jump for. Besides Yager.
Looking at the remaining UFA's. Tyler Johnson certainly fits the mold of a Sully Penguin (fast, small, skilled). He definitely wont make the team any younger but he has the skill to play in the top 6. Could be another buy-low option and maybe move at the deadline to a contender for an asset.
I'm sure Dubas would love to add someone younger like McGorarty, Robertson or even Kaliyev, but those will cost assets to acquire. Especially McGorarty. It doesn't seem like that's in the plan. Although, with all of them being younger players they can help now, which would help speed up the re-tool. While Dubas has done a good job in adding prospects to the pool, we don't have many high-end prospects that teams will jump for. Besides Yager.
They have to be 1-year deals so we can trade easily at the deadline.
Canes get out of that $3.9 mill contract for this season. That trade never made sense for them.
Seems to me the Canes are gonna be in a world of hurt this coming season. No way they can replicate the same success with the number of players they just lost this summer. Am i wrong?
Canes get out of that $3.9 mill contract for this season. That trade never made sense for them.
Seems to me the Canes are gonna be in a world of hurt this coming season. No way they can replicate the same success with the number of players they just lost this summer. Am i wrong?
Definitely been a tough start to the off-season for Carolina. They do have the prospect pool to get anyone they want though. I think they will make a move for a top 6. They need to figure out the Necas situation too.
Canes get out of that $3.9 mill contract for this season. That trade never made sense for them.
Seems to me the Canes are gonna be in a world of hurt this coming season. No way they can replicate the same success with the number of players they just lost this summer. Am i wrong?
Definitely been a tough start to the off-season for Carolina. They do have the prospect pool to get anyone they want though. I think they will make a move for a top 6. They need to figure out the Necas situation too.
I think there's a trade out there to made between. Necas to Winnipeg for Ehlers and McGroarty just seems like a fit for both teams.
Don't think this was posted. WBS signed Mats Lindgren to an AHL contract. 4th round pick D man from 22 that Buffalo didn't sign. His father Mats Lindgren played in the NHL back in the 90's. He's only 19 looks. Worth a look.
Don't think this was posted. WBS signed Mats Lindgren to an AHL contract. 4th round pick D man from 22 that Buffalo didn't sign. His father Mats Lindgren played in the NHL back in the 90's. He's only 19 looks. Worth a look.
Never hurts to stock the shelves. Young unsigned guys are a long shot, but so what if it's an AHL deal for now.
Of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself, and subconsciously, the coaching staff is going to want to push him ahead of Graves. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
Of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself, and subconsciously, the coaching staff is going to want to push him ahead of Graves. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
I'll agree with Grelczyk.
On a similar note, who do we think from the returning cast of players, will bounce back the most?
I'm thinking Rakell. Hoping Graves too, but I think Rakell is the surer bet.
Of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself, and subconsciously, the coaching staff is going to want to push him ahead of Graves. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
I'll agree with Grelczyk.
On a similar note, who do we think from the returning cast of players, will bounce back the most?
I'm thinking Rakell. Hoping Graves too, but I think Rakell is the surer bet.
Great question. I'll agree with Rakell; he'll net at least 20 goals. I'm going to go more on a limb and say Jarry. I recall, after his series decimating, 2021 playoff gaffe, he came back really locked in and competitive. Although, that well usually runs dry by February, but we'll see.
Of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself, and subconsciously, the coaching staff is going to want to push him ahead of Graves. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
I'll agree with Grelczyk.
On a similar note, who do we think from the returning cast of players, will bounce back the most?
I'm thinking Rakell. Hoping Graves too, but I think Rakell is the surer bet.
I'd like to think Rakell as well. If his injury is corrected I'd expect him back in the 50-60 point range.
Of the newly acquired Penguins, which one is the best bet to either take a step forward or return to previous levels of play?
I think Grelczyk stands the best chance. He's relatively young and is going to want to reestablish himself, and subconsciously, the coaching staff is going to want to push him ahead of Graves. I could see him playing in the top 4 by the time the season begins, unless Graves comes in and really shows something. I also think Hayes does better with the Pens than he did last season with St. Louis.
I'm bullish on Gryz too. He was partnered with McAvoy for some time and they played well together. I could see MP/EK and Gryz/Letang as the top 4. I think all of the players they brought in on down seasons have a good chance to rebound. Beauvillier is still youngish and was an established player not too long ago. With his speed, he should be very comfortable here. Lizotte is an underrated signing. He will provide speed, energy and some skill to the bottom 6 for sure. Rakell if healthy should bounce back too. Although Rakell does his best when he plays with Sid and not Geno.
