2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Puck-Lurker]

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.

Most players in the league does better with Sid than Geno; we can't have him center all four lines though. The only exception I can think of, are players in the mold of Hörnqvist and Bunting.

Rust will be stapled to Crosby's wing. With Guentzel not on the roster, those are the two players with the most chemistry on the entire team. Bunting looked good with Geno.

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell

Barring injuries, I don't see a scenario where this isn't a lock for the season opener.

[KG]

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.

Most players in the league does better with Sid than Geno; we can't have him center all four lines though. The only exception I can think of, are players in the mold of Hörnqvist and Bunting.

Rust will be stapled to Crosby's wing. With Guentzel not on the roster, those are the two players with the most chemistry on the entire team. Bunting looked good with Geno.

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell

Barring injuries, I don't see a scenario where this isn't a lock for the season opener.

I agree. Although I'm holding out hope we bring in a LW for Sid and bump DOC down to 3LW.

[100565]

I’d say Grelczyk has a good chance to be great as third pairing D who could move up the lineup.

I am excited to see what Puljujarvi does. It is make it or break it year. I hope for great 3rd liner with 15-20g and 20-30 assists. He flashed some ability last year; he needs to be more consistent.

DOC is on a contract year too. Hoping he continues progressing. If he plays with Sid, it could payoff for him.

Finally, I hope Graves regains form and be a legitimate top 4d.

Puzzling to me is Karlsson. I was thinking he might be tired from so much hockey, but after the season he had a strong showing at Worlds. Tied 7th in points. The issue might be Sully.

[Pitts]

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.

Karlsson will be off the charts this coming season.

[FLPensFan]

I’d say Grelczyk has a good chance to be great as third pairing D who could move up the lineup.

I am excited to see what Puljujarvi does. It is make it or break it year. I hope for great 3rd liner with 15-20g and 20-30 assists. He flashed some ability last year; he needs to be more consistent.

DOC is on a contract year too. Hoping he continues progressing. If he plays with Sid, it could payoff for him.

Finally, I hope Graves regains form and be a legitimate top 4d.

Puzzling to me is Karlsson. I was thinking he might be tired from so much hockey, but after the season he had a strong showing at Worlds. Tied 7th in points. The issue might be Sully.

I'd really like to see Lizotte and Puljujarvi on the 4th line, with either Eller at center in between them, or Lizotte at center and unknown 4LW. Lizotte-Eller-Puljujarvi would be a very solid forechecking 4th line...but Sully's going to have to dress Acciari just because.

I'll be interested to see the effect David Quinn has here on Karlsson.

[KG]

Looking at teams that will need to shed cap. There are quite a few.

https://puckpedia.com/

Capitals
$102.17M
$-14.17M
23/23

Golden Knights
$91.64M
$-3.64M
23/23

Avalanche
$89.34M
$-1.34M
19/23

Flyers
$88.83M
$-830K
23/23

Oilers
$88.35M
$-354K
21/23

Islanders
$87.95M
$50K
22/23

Canucks
$87.83M
$166K
23/23

Predators
$87.40M
$596K
20/23

Lightning
$87.27M
$730K
22/23

Panthers
$87.23M
$767K
22/23

Maple Leafs
$87.04M
$955K
21/23

Caps and Avs aren't really over since they will LTIR players, but there are plenty of teams that need to shed cap space. Avs only have 19 players under contract. A lot more to come this summer. Hopefully we can make a solid trade or 2 to round out the top 6 and also get some future assets.

[FLPensFan]

Caps will LTIR Backstrom and Oshie and be ok.
Vegas will LTIR Lehner and be ok.
Flyers will be ok if Ellis is still unable to play. If he's ok, then they'll have an issue.
Canucks have a 23 man roster, have no outstanding RFAs, and are under the cap. They'll be fine.

Tampa has a 22 man roster and 730K in space (not enough for another league minimum player). If they want to be able to add one more league minimum player, they'll need to send Ylonen down to the AHL for roughly 12 days. That should open up another 45K in cap space for them, allowing Ylonen plus another player to be added to the roster.

Florida is similar to Tampa. They can send someone like Bjornfot to the AHL for 3 days to open up enough cap space to add Bjornfot plus another league minimum salary player.

Colorado, Edmonton, Islanders, Nashville, and Toronto are the teams in trouble here that will need to make a move.
--Colorado is a mess. I don't recall if Nischushkin counts against their cap while suspended. He's 6.1M. Landeskog still hasn't said when he's going to be able to play. Colorado is definitely in the worst cap situation in the league, mainly because of the unknown of 2 high value players. If they trade out someone like Colton, they can only replace him with 3 league minimum type players. They can get some cap relief by Landeskog going on LTIR, but they need to have the space to take him off.

--Edmonton is 354K over the cap at 21 players. They have Holloway and Broberg that need new deals as RFAs. Holloway, they can probably bring back for league minimum with his stats...but he had a strong playoffs. Broberg also had a playoff output better than his regular season. Edmonton may have to trade Holloway, and then move someone else off the roster to add Broberg (Derek Ryan or Connor Brown). Oilers have 3M in dead cap space, which doesn't help them.

--Islanders are currently under, but Oliver Wahlstrom is headed to arbitration. Even a league minimum contract puts them over the cap. If Wahlstrom gets a bigger than expected award, Lou may have to lower his asking cost and move Wahlstrom. If the award is in line with expectations, then maybe Islanders look to move someone else. Pageau's name has been out there a ton.

--Nashville has one player awaiting RFA award, Spencer Statsny. His award will put them over the cap with a 21 player roster. Nashville has 11.8M in dead cap space due to buyouts or retained salary. Moving someone like Cody Glass, who makes 2.5M, seems like an obvious move...as his output isn't in line with his salary.

--Toronto has 2 RFAs, so, both of them at league minimum puts them over the cap. This is where moving out Nick Roberston may come into play.

Ross Colton, Dylan Holloway, Oliver Wahlstrom, Cody Glass, or Nick Robertson....I think Dubas can pickup one of these players to help get a team under the cap. Colton has the best overall output, and would be a strong 3rd liner or a top 6 option for the Penguins.

[KG]

Caps will LTIR Backstrom and Oshie and be ok.
Vegas will LTIR Lehner and be ok.
Flyers will be ok if Ellis is still unable to play. If he's ok, then they'll have an issue.
Canucks have a 23 man roster, have no outstanding RFAs, and are under the cap. They'll be fine.

Tampa has a 22 man roster and 730K in space (not enough for another league minimum player). If they want to be able to add one more league minimum player, they'll need to send Ylonen down to the AHL for roughly 12 days. That should open up another 45K in cap space for them, allowing Ylonen plus another player to be added to the roster.

Florida is similar to Tampa. They can send someone like Bjornfot to the AHL for 3 days to open up enough cap space to add Bjornfot plus another league minimum salary player.

Colorado, Edmonton, Islanders, Nashville, and Toronto are the teams in trouble here that will need to make a move.
--Colorado is a mess. I don't recall if Nischushkin counts against their cap while suspended. He's 6.1M. Landeskog still hasn't said when he's going to be able to play. Colorado is definitely in the worst cap situation in the league, mainly because of the unknown of 2 high value players. If they trade out someone like Colton, they can only replace him with 3 league minimum type players. They can get some cap relief by Landeskog going on LTIR, but they need to have the space to take him off.

--Edmonton is 354K over the cap at 21 players. They have Holloway and Broberg that need new deals as RFAs. Holloway, they can probably bring back for league minimum with his stats...but he had a strong playoffs. Broberg also had a playoff output better than his regular season. Edmonton may have to trade Holloway, and then move someone else off the roster to add Broberg (Derek Ryan or Connor Brown). Oilers have 3M in dead cap space, which doesn't help them.

--Islanders are currently under, but Oliver Wahlstrom is headed to arbitration. Even a league minimum contract puts them over the cap. If Wahlstrom gets a bigger than expected award, Lou may have to lower his asking cost and move Wahlstrom. If the award is in line with expectations, then maybe Islanders look to move someone else. Pageau's name has been out there a ton.

--Nashville has one player awaiting RFA award, Spencer Statsny. His award will put them over the cap with a 21 player roster. Nashville has 11.8M in dead cap space due to buyouts or retained salary. Moving someone like Cody Glass, who makes 2.5M, seems like an obvious move...as his output isn't in line with his salary.

--Toronto has 2 RFAs, so, both of them at league minimum puts them over the cap. This is where moving out Nick Roberston may come into play.

Ross Colton, Dylan Holloway, Oliver Wahlstrom, Cody Glass, or Nick Robertson....I think Dubas can pickup one of these players to help get a team under the cap. Colton has the best overall output, and would be a strong 3rd liner or a top 6 option for the Penguins.

Good stuff!

Do you think Colton has the skillset to play in our top 6? Wouldn't be a bad thing to have another wing that can also play center from time to time for when Geno needs a break.

[Pitts]

Caps will be gaining back $3.9mil in cap space:

[dark_forces]

Caps will be gaining back $3.9mil in cap space:

How did this guy fall so far that he's now out of the league?
He was a consistent nearly point-per-game player. Astonishing.

[FLPensFan]

Caps will LTIR Backstrom and Oshie and be ok.
Vegas will LTIR Lehner and be ok.
Flyers will be ok if Ellis is still unable to play. If he's ok, then they'll have an issue.
Canucks have a 23 man roster, have no outstanding RFAs, and are under the cap. They'll be fine.

Tampa has a 22 man roster and 730K in space (not enough for another league minimum player). If they want to be able to add one more league minimum player, they'll need to send Ylonen down to the AHL for roughly 12 days. That should open up another 45K in cap space for them, allowing Ylonen plus another player to be added to the roster.

Florida is similar to Tampa. They can send someone like Bjornfot to the AHL for 3 days to open up enough cap space to add Bjornfot plus another league minimum salary player.

Colorado, Edmonton, Islanders, Nashville, and Toronto are the teams in trouble here that will need to make a move.
--Colorado is a mess. I don't recall if Nischushkin counts against their cap while suspended. He's 6.1M. Landeskog still hasn't said when he's going to be able to play. Colorado is definitely in the worst cap situation in the league, mainly because of the unknown of 2 high value players. If they trade out someone like Colton, they can only replace him with 3 league minimum type players. They can get some cap relief by Landeskog going on LTIR, but they need to have the space to take him off.

--Edmonton is 354K over the cap at 21 players. They have Holloway and Broberg that need new deals as RFAs. Holloway, they can probably bring back for league minimum with his stats...but he had a strong playoffs. Broberg also had a playoff output better than his regular season. Edmonton may have to trade Holloway, and then move someone else off the roster to add Broberg (Derek Ryan or Connor Brown). Oilers have 3M in dead cap space, which doesn't help them.

--Islanders are currently under, but Oliver Wahlstrom is headed to arbitration. Even a league minimum contract puts them over the cap. If Wahlstrom gets a bigger than expected award, Lou may have to lower his asking cost and move Wahlstrom. If the award is in line with expectations, then maybe Islanders look to move someone else. Pageau's name has been out there a ton.

--Nashville has one player awaiting RFA award, Spencer Statsny. His award will put them over the cap with a 21 player roster. Nashville has 11.8M in dead cap space due to buyouts or retained salary. Moving someone like Cody Glass, who makes 2.5M, seems like an obvious move...as his output isn't in line with his salary.

--Toronto has 2 RFAs, so, both of them at league minimum puts them over the cap. This is where moving out Nick Roberston may come into play.

Ross Colton, Dylan Holloway, Oliver Wahlstrom, Cody Glass, or Nick Robertson....I think Dubas can pickup one of these players to help get a team under the cap. Colton has the best overall output, and would be a strong 3rd liner or a top 6 option for the Penguins.

Good stuff!

Do you think Colton has the skillset to play in our top 6? Wouldn't be a bad thing to have another wing that can also play center from time to time for when Geno needs a break.

He's a 2nd-3rd line tweener. I think they can give him a shot in the top 6 if they were to get him. But, I also think working out a deal that works for both teams is going to be difficult. Colorado is probably going to need/want two cheap roster players back in return, unless they want to try and sign someone like a Sprong on a cheap deal. If we could wash Acciari through another team, and send Acciari and Poulin for Colton, that would work.

I also still would love to see us get Wahlstrom. I like Puustinen, but I feel like, from what I've seen of Wahlstrom, he's Puustinen with some size and physicality to his game. Imagine if we had a top 6 like this:

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
Colton-Hayes-Beauvillier
Lizotte-Eller-Puljujarvi
x-Wahlstrom, Bemstrom

Colton could potentially spell Malkin in the top 6 if he's out, or replace DOC in the top 6....or take over the 3C duties if Kevin Hayes turns out to be too slow. Wahlstrom can slide in for Beauvillier if he struggles, and Bemstrom they've used all over the place.

I feel like this is a much more flexible lineup.

[lemieuxReturns]

Caps will be gaining back $3.9mil in cap space:

How did this guy fall so far that he's now out of the league?
He was a consistent nearly point-per-game player. Astonishing.

Cocaine!

[dark_forces]

Caps will LTIR Backstrom and Oshie and be ok.
Vegas will LTIR Lehner and be ok.
Flyers will be ok if Ellis is still unable to play. If he's ok, then they'll have an issue.
Canucks have a 23 man roster, have no outstanding RFAs, and are under the cap. They'll be fine.

Tampa has a 22 man roster and 730K in space (not enough for another league minimum player). If they want to be able to add one more league minimum player, they'll need to send Ylonen down to the AHL for roughly 12 days. That should open up another 45K in cap space for them, allowing Ylonen plus another player to be added to the roster.

Florida is similar to Tampa. They can send someone like Bjornfot to the AHL for 3 days to open up enough cap space to add Bjornfot plus another league minimum salary player.

Colorado, Edmonton, Islanders, Nashville, and Toronto are the teams in trouble here that will need to make a move.
--Colorado is a mess. I don't recall if Nischushkin counts against their cap while suspended. He's 6.1M. Landeskog still hasn't said when he's going to be able to play. Colorado is definitely in the worst cap situation in the league, mainly because of the unknown of 2 high value players. If they trade out someone like Colton, they can only replace him with 3 league minimum type players. They can get some cap relief by Landeskog going on LTIR, but they need to have the space to take him off.

--Edmonton is 354K over the cap at 21 players. They have Holloway and Broberg that need new deals as RFAs. Holloway, they can probably bring back for league minimum with his stats...but he had a strong playoffs. Broberg also had a playoff output better than his regular season. Edmonton may have to trade Holloway, and then move someone else off the roster to add Broberg (Derek Ryan or Connor Brown). Oilers have 3M in dead cap space, which doesn't help them.

--Islanders are currently under, but Oliver Wahlstrom is headed to arbitration. Even a league minimum contract puts them over the cap. If Wahlstrom gets a bigger than expected award, Lou may have to lower his asking cost and move Wahlstrom. If the award is in line with expectations, then maybe Islanders look to move someone else. Pageau's name has been out there a ton.

--Nashville has one player awaiting RFA award, Spencer Statsny. His award will put them over the cap with a 21 player roster. Nashville has 11.8M in dead cap space due to buyouts or retained salary. Moving someone like Cody Glass, who makes 2.5M, seems like an obvious move...as his output isn't in line with his salary.

--Toronto has 2 RFAs, so, both of them at league minimum puts them over the cap. This is where moving out Nick Roberston may come into play.

Ross Colton, Dylan Holloway, Oliver Wahlstrom, Cody Glass, or Nick Robertson....I think Dubas can pickup one of these players to help get a team under the cap. Colton has the best overall output, and would be a strong 3rd liner or a top 6 option for the Penguins.

Good stuff!

Do you think Colton has the skillset to play in our top 6? Wouldn't be a bad thing to have another wing that can also play center from time to time for when Geno needs a break.

He's a 2nd-3rd line tweener. I think they can give him a shot in the top 6 if they were to get him. But, I also think working out a deal that works for both teams is going to be difficult. Colorado is probably going to need/want two cheap roster players back in return, unless they want to try and sign someone like a Sprong on a cheap deal. If we could wash Acciari through another team, and send Acciari and Poulin for Colton, that would work.

I also still would love to see us get Wahlstrom. I like Puustinen, but I feel like, from what I've seen of Wahlstrom, he's Puustinen with some size and physicality to his game. Imagine if we had a top 6 like this:

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
Colton-Hayes-Beauvillier
Lizotte-Eller-Puljujarvi
x-Wahlstrom, Bemstrom

Colton could potentially spell Malkin in the top 6 if he's out, or replace DOC in the top 6....or take over the 3C duties if Kevin Hayes turns out to be too slow. Wahlstrom can slide in for Beauvillier if he struggles, and Bemstrom they've used all over the place.

I feel like this is a much more flexible lineup.

I spotted an intriguing trade rumor earlier in this thread regarding Taylor Hall having interest from the Penguins. Does anyone think that's realistic?
If it could work, that would really strengthen the left side and give Crosby a new running mate.
I just don't know what a trade would look like given the contract size. Would Rakell be a consideration, Eller?

[FLPensFan]

Caps will LTIR Backstrom and Oshie and be ok.
Vegas will LTIR Lehner and be ok.
Flyers will be ok if Ellis is still unable to play. If he's ok, then they'll have an issue.
Canucks have a 23 man roster, have no outstanding RFAs, and are under the cap. They'll be fine.

Tampa has a 22 man roster and 730K in space (not enough for another league minimum player). If they want to be able to add one more league minimum player, they'll need to send Ylonen down to the AHL for roughly 12 days. That should open up another 45K in cap space for them, allowing Ylonen plus another player to be added to the roster.

Florida is similar to Tampa. They can send someone like Bjornfot to the AHL for 3 days to open up enough cap space to add Bjornfot plus another league minimum salary player.

Colorado, Edmonton, Islanders, Nashville, and Toronto are the teams in trouble here that will need to make a move.
--Colorado is a mess. I don't recall if Nischushkin counts against their cap while suspended. He's 6.1M. Landeskog still hasn't said when he's going to be able to play. Colorado is definitely in the worst cap situation in the league, mainly because of the unknown of 2 high value players. If they trade out someone like Colton, they can only replace him with 3 league minimum type players. They can get some cap relief by Landeskog going on LTIR, but they need to have the space to take him off.

--Edmonton is 354K over the cap at 21 players. They have Holloway and Broberg that need new deals as RFAs. Holloway, they can probably bring back for league minimum with his stats...but he had a strong playoffs. Broberg also had a playoff output better than his regular season. Edmonton may have to trade Holloway, and then move someone else off the roster to add Broberg (Derek Ryan or Connor Brown). Oilers have 3M in dead cap space, which doesn't help them.

--Islanders are currently under, but Oliver Wahlstrom is headed to arbitration. Even a league minimum contract puts them over the cap. If Wahlstrom gets a bigger than expected award, Lou may have to lower his asking cost and move Wahlstrom. If the award is in line with expectations, then maybe Islanders look to move someone else. Pageau's name has been out there a ton.

--Nashville has one player awaiting RFA award, Spencer Statsny. His award will put them over the cap with a 21 player roster. Nashville has 11.8M in dead cap space due to buyouts or retained salary. Moving someone like Cody Glass, who makes 2.5M, seems like an obvious move...as his output isn't in line with his salary.

--Toronto has 2 RFAs, so, both of them at league minimum puts them over the cap. This is where moving out Nick Roberston may come into play.

Ross Colton, Dylan Holloway, Oliver Wahlstrom, Cody Glass, or Nick Robertson....I think Dubas can pickup one of these players to help get a team under the cap. Colton has the best overall output, and would be a strong 3rd liner or a top 6 option for the Penguins.

Good stuff!

Do you think Colton has the skillset to play in our top 6? Wouldn't be a bad thing to have another wing that can also play center from time to time for when Geno needs a break.

He's a 2nd-3rd line tweener. I think they can give him a shot in the top 6 if they were to get him. But, I also think working out a deal that works for both teams is going to be difficult. Colorado is probably going to need/want two cheap roster players back in return, unless they want to try and sign someone like a Sprong on a cheap deal. If we could wash Acciari through another team, and send Acciari and Poulin for Colton, that would work.

I also still would love to see us get Wahlstrom. I like Puustinen, but I feel like, from what I've seen of Wahlstrom, he's Puustinen with some size and physicality to his game. Imagine if we had a top 6 like this:

DOC-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Rakell
Colton-Hayes-Beauvillier
Lizotte-Eller-Puljujarvi
x-Wahlstrom, Bemstrom

Colton could potentially spell Malkin in the top 6 if he's out, or replace DOC in the top 6....or take over the 3C duties if Kevin Hayes turns out to be too slow. Wahlstrom can slide in for Beauvillier if he struggles, and Bemstrom they've used all over the place.

I feel like this is a much more flexible lineup.

I spotted an intriguing trade rumor earlier in this thread regarding Taylor Hall having interest from the Penguins. Does anyone think that's realistic?
If it could work, that would really strengthen the left side and give Crosby a new running mate.
I just don't know what a trade would look like given the contract size. Would Rakell be a consideration, Eller?

Hall is older and has less production than Rakell over the last 4 years. I'm not sure that's really an upgrade. Hall has produced at about 33 points per season (granted, that's counting a season last year which he played only 10 games), versus Rakell averaging about 42 points the last 4 years. Hall is also 1M more expensive cap wise. I just don't see a fit.

[Pens4Life]

Ross Colton trade would be great and Wahlstrom would be nice pickup,even if he starts on 4th line RW.. he had down season last year with Isles,but still good potential.

Colton for Acciari and Puustinen.. cap relief for Avs
Wahlstrom in S&T for Nieto and pick would be great, cap relief for Isles

DOC - Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Malkin - Rakell
Colton - Eller - Hayes
Beauvillier - Lizotte - Wahlstrom
x - Puljujarvi

Would be deep solid team, but then we also completely ignored all the young guys aka Poulin, Ponomarev..

I still dont see a fit for slow Hayes on this roster.. we get the pick with him but I really dont see him fit to Sully's system

[Puck-Lurker]

Ross Colton trade would be great and Wahlstrom would be nice pickup,even if he starts on 4th line RW.. he had down season last year with Isles,but still good potential.

Colton for Acciari and Puustinen.. cap relief for Avs
Wahlstrom in S&T for Nieto and pick would be great, cap relief for Isles

DOC - Crosby - Rust
Bunting - Malkin - Rakell
Colton - Eller - Hayes
Beauvillier - Lizotte - Wahlstrom
x - Puljujarvi

Would be deep solid team, but then we also completely ignored all the young guys aka Poulin, Ponomarev..

I still dont see a fit for slow Hayes on this roster.. we get the pick with him but I really dont see him fit to Sully's system

Sully to Dubas: resign Carter.
Dubas: Can't, Carter retired.
Sully: find me someone just like him
Dubas: an old slow C? There's really no one quite that old
Sully: get me a young 32 year old prospect then
Dubas: ...
Sully: you heard me, I'm in charge of this team.

Presumably how this works in real life

[Sigwolf]

I spotted an intriguing trade rumor earlier in this thread regarding Taylor Hall having interest from the Penguins. Does anyone think that's realistic?
If it could work, that would really strengthen the left side and give Crosby a new running mate.
I just don't know what a trade would look like given the contract size. Would Rakell be a consideration, Eller?

Hall is older and has less production than Rakell over the last 4 years. I'm not sure that's really an upgrade. Hall has produced at about 33 points per season (granted, that's counting a season last year which he played only 10 games), versus Rakell averaging about 42 points the last 4 years. Hall is also 1M more expensive cap wise. I just don't see a fit.

Not to mention the simple fact that filling a need for a top six wing accomplishes absolutely nothing if you create another hole in doing it...

[FLPensFan]

I spotted an intriguing trade rumor earlier in this thread regarding Taylor Hall having interest from the Penguins. Does anyone think that's realistic?
If it could work, that would really strengthen the left side and give Crosby a new running mate.
I just don't know what a trade would look like given the contract size. Would Rakell be a consideration, Eller?

Hall is older and has less production than Rakell over the last 4 years. I'm not sure that's really an upgrade. Hall has produced at about 33 points per season (granted, that's counting a season last year which he played only 10 games), versus Rakell averaging about 42 points the last 4 years. Hall is also 1M more expensive cap wise. I just don't see a fit.

Not to mention the simple fact that filling a need for a top six wing accomplishes absolutely nothing if you create another hole in doing it...

[100565]

Hall recovering from knee surgery.

I’d consider Hall with 35% retained plus a second for Acciari.

I ain’t an insider so I have no knowledge of the surgery nor how recovery has been going.

[Pitts]

No to Hall. The Hall from 4 seasons ago, sure. Not this old broken down version.

[Pruezy11881]

What if Calgary retained money on Huberdeau?

[FLPensFan]

What if Calgary retained money on Huberdeau?

Too expensive, and too much risk. He's had two really down years in Calgary, and has a 10.5M AAV. He's got 4 years left on his deal. Even if Calgary retains 50%, that's a 5M a year cap hit for a 31 year old that has had his two worst non-injury years since his ELC contract. I'd rather roll the dice on Laine before Huberdeau at this point.

[KG]

Huberdau actually has 7 years left on his deal. Only way it makes any sense would be for us to dump Graves and Jarry’s deals as part of it.

Too long and too risky though.

[Pitts]

Huberdeau is exactly the kind of player this team needs to avoid at all costs.

[Puck-Lurker]

Huberdeau is exactly the kind of player this team needs to avoid at all costs.

The return would have to be crazy.. like a slew of first rounders, a prospect and some retention.