2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Posterboy]

Question about Brunicke. Can he be placed on the NHL roster after the Blazers' season ends? The Blazers play their last game of the '25 season on 3/22 and almost certainly aren't making the WHL playoffs. The Pens have 11 games after that starting on 3/23. So are the following true:

He has no AHL eligibility and cannot join WBS
He can play in 9 games at the end of the Pens' season without activating his ELC

If so do you think the Pens might get him a few practices then into some games? Since I don't believe he's eligible for the AHL next year it might be beneficial in determining if his strong play in training camp and preseason was a fluke, if he's progressed though out the year and what they may do with him next year as far as returning him to Kamloops. I think they could shelter him for the sake of not ruining his development/confidence and give him a taste of the pro game experience. Thoughts?

[pens_CT]

Question about Brunicke. Can he be placed on the NHL roster after the Blazers' season ends? The Blazers play their last game of the '25 season on 3/22 and almost certainly aren't making the WHL playoffs. The Pens have 11 games after that starting on 3/23. So are the following true:

He has no AHL eligibility and cannot join WBS
He can play in 9 games at the end of the Pens' season without activating his ELC

If so do you think the Pens might get him a few practices then into some games? Since I don't believe he's eligible for the AHL next year it might be beneficial in determining if his strong play in training camp and preseason was a fluke, if he's progressed though out the year and what they may do with him next year as far as returning him to Kamloops. I think they could shelter him for the sake of not ruining his development/confidence and give him a taste of the pro game experience. Thoughts?

Pickering played 8 games at the end of the 22-23 season at WBS. He was also 19 at the time. So Brunicke can sign with WBS after his Junior Season is over to play for the remainder of the AHL season. Pickering went back to Junior the following season, so that might be the path of Brunicke as well.

[Posterboy]

Question about Brunicke. Can he be placed on the NHL roster after the Blazers' season ends? The Blazers play their last game of the '25 season on 3/22 and almost certainly aren't making the WHL playoffs. The Pens have 11 games after that starting on 3/23. So are the following true:

He has no AHL eligibility and cannot join WBS
He can play in 9 games at the end of the Pens' season without activating his ELC

If so do you think the Pens might get him a few practices then into some games? Since I don't believe he's eligible for the AHL next year it might be beneficial in determining if his strong play in training camp and preseason was a fluke, if he's progressed though out the year and what they may do with him next year as far as returning him to Kamloops. I think they could shelter him for the sake of not ruining his development/confidence and give him a taste of the pro game experience. Thoughts?

Pickering played 8 games at the end of the 22-23 season at WBS. He was also 19 at the time. So Brunicke can sign with WBS after his Junior Season is over to play for the remainder of the AHL season.

Ah, many thanks. So if I understand correctly, while he's not eligible to play a full season in the AHL until '26-27, he can still join WBS after his junior season is finished this year and next.

[Victor]

WBS with another productive game, beat Belleville 8-3.

Poulin had a hattrick and an assist for 4 points. Koivunen had a goal and 2 assists. McGroarty, Broz and Ponomarev each had a goal.

Murashov in net, Larsson as backup.

Nieto keeps making a case to reclaim his NHL roster spot with another assist

[KG]

WBS with another productive game, beat Belleville 8-3.

Poulin had a hattrick and an assist for 4 points. Koivunen had a goal and 2 assists. McGroarty, Broz and Ponomarev each had a goal.

Murashov in net, Larsson as backup.

Nieto keeps making a case to reclaim his NHL roster spot with another assist

WBS leads the AHL in goals scored. Really hoping Koivunen, McGroarty, Ponomarev can make the team and produce next season. A 3rd line of McG-Novak-Koivunen looks fun on paper.

[pens_CT]

WBS with another productive game, beat Belleville 8-3.

Poulin had a hattrick and an assist for 4 points. Koivunen had a goal and 2 assists. McGroarty, Broz and Ponomarev each had a goal.

Murashov in net, Larsson as backup.

Nieto keeps making a case to reclaim his NHL roster spot with another assist

WBS leads the AHL in goals scored. Really hoping Koivunen, McGroarty, Ponomarev can make the team and produce next season. A 3rd line of McG-Novak-Koivunen looks fun on paper.

I think Broz also has a chance to make the team. He probably would be leading WBS in goals had he not missed a month with mono.

[Puck-Lurker]

WBS with another productive game, beat Belleville 8-3.

Poulin had a hattrick and an assist for 4 points. Koivunen had a goal and 2 assists. McGroarty, Broz and Ponomarev each had a goal.

Murashov in net, Larsson as backup.

Nieto keeps making a case to reclaim his NHL roster spot with another assist

WBS leads the AHL in goals scored. Really hoping Koivunen, McGroarty, Ponomarev can make the team and produce next season. A 3rd line of McG-Novak-Koivunen looks fun on paper.

I think Broz also has a chance to make the team. He probably would be leading WBS in goals had he not missed a month with mono.

Likely not relevant for next season. Cruz Lucius 16GP 2G 7A 9pts since coming back from injury (ASU / NCAA)

The injury was to the shoulder and required surgery

[Pens4Life]

Pens finally signed Chase Pietila, our 4th round draft pick last year..
3 years entry deal contract of course! I have high hopes for him, I think he can be steady shutdown 3rd pair RHD for Pens in next years.

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/pengu ... m_medium=x

[DelPen]

If my math is right Sid needs 12 points if he plays all of the final 16 games of the season, 80 points gets him to 1 PPG.

Hopefully he hits 80 in half that so he’s not forcing anything.

[Puck-Lurker]

If my math is right Sid needs 12 points if he plays all of the final 16 games of the season, 80 points gets him to 1 PPG.

Hopefully he hits 80 in half that so he’s not forcing anything.

12 points is the magic number.

Sid will refuse to sit though, if his PpG stat is threatened. He's a pure competitor. He'll grin like a kid scoring some goal in a game that matters not at all in Minnesota.

[DeHaven162]

Its kinda mindblowing we didnt sort out goalie issue.. at least one of Ned, Gauthier, Jarry, Blom to be traded..

At the moment Murashov should be untouchable for future and our best goalie is Larsson imho, just because of more experiance and maturity compared to Murashov.

Totally agree we have a bit of a goalie jam at the moment, but who would want to trade for any of those guys?

[FLPensFan]

If Dubas is serious about wanting to compete for one more Cup (really, just one more playoff run) with Sid (and maybe Geno and Letang), I think he's going to need to add one of Marner, Boeser, or Ehlers in UFA, trade EK65, find a way to move Graves even if we have to retain 50% (cheaper than a buyout), and rebuild the defense.

[VA Fan]

I 100% Agree with that assessment that if Dubas is serious about trying to give Crosby one more try he will need to swing big in free Agency and also address the defense. We can only hope that if he can not sign on of the impact players mentioned he will stay the course with the rebuild.

I also think next year we will know depending on what Dubas can do to quickly improve the team and get them into playoff contention on whether or not our captain retires as a Penguin. I think at that point Crosby will make it plain if he wants another shot at a 4th cup or whether he wants to play his whole career as a penguin.

[KG]

I 100% Agree with that assessment that if Dubas is serious about trying to give Crosby one more try he will need to swing big in free Agency and also address the defense. We can only hope that if he can not sign on of the impact players mentioned he will stay the course with the rebuild.

I also think next year we will know depending on what Dubas can do to quickly improve the team and get them into playoff contention on whether or not our captain retires as a Penguin. I think at that point Crosby will make it plain if he wants another shot at a 4th cup or whether he wants to play his whole career as a penguin.

I don't love taking big swings in free agency, especially unrestricted free agency. KD has a much better track record at trades than free agents. Last thing we need is to sign the next Graves, Acciari, Jarry. I think KD will try to trade for younger players and use some of the assets he's collected the last year. We really need to give an opportunity to these kids if they are deemed ready. Koivunen doesn't seem like he has much more to gain from being in WBS. He's the top rookie scorer and top 5-6 scorer in the league. Surely he's better than Acciari etc. Ponomarev is going to need to clear waivers next season if he doesn't make the team. Sullivan is going to continue to play his vets until he's given a mandate that we need to develop these players. Not play them 5 minutes a game when they're up here.

Hopefully KD can continue to shed some veterans this summer like Hayes and Acciari. That's $5.5 mill right there. Not even mentioning Graves and his $4.5mill. I don't think we will see KD take on cap dumps for picks any more. That gets old quick and we already have too many picks.

[Pitts]

I 100% Agree with that assessment that if Dubas is serious about trying to give Crosby one more try he will need to swing big in free Agency and also address the defense. We can only hope that if he can not sign on of the impact players mentioned he will stay the course with the rebuild.

I also think next year we will know depending on what Dubas can do to quickly improve the team and get them into playoff contention on whether or not our captain retires as a Penguin. I think at that point Crosby will make it plain if he wants another shot at a 4th cup or whether he wants to play his whole career as a penguin.

I don't love taking big swings in free agency, especially unrestricted free agency. KD has a much better track record at trades than free agents. Last thing we need is to sign the next Graves, Acciari, Jarry. I think KD will try to trade for younger players and use some of the assets he's collected the last year. We really need to give an opportunity to these kids if they are deemed ready. Koivunen doesn't seem like he has much more to gain from being in WBS. He's the top rookie scorer and top 5-6 scorer in the league. Surely he's better than Acciari etc. Ponomarev is going to need to clear waivers next season if he doesn't make the team. Sullivan is going to continue to play his vets until he's given a mandate that we need to develop these players. Not play them 5 minutes a game when they're up here.

Hopefully KD can continue to shed some veterans this summer like Hayes and Acciari. That's $5.5 mill right there. Not even mentioning Graves and his $4.5mill. I don't think we will see KD take on cap dumps for picks any more. That gets old quick and we already have too many picks.

Marner is none of those you mention. He would certainly not be a "miss."

[KG]

I 100% Agree with that assessment that if Dubas is serious about trying to give Crosby one more try he will need to swing big in free Agency and also address the defense. We can only hope that if he can not sign on of the impact players mentioned he will stay the course with the rebuild.

I also think next year we will know depending on what Dubas can do to quickly improve the team and get them into playoff contention on whether or not our captain retires as a Penguin. I think at that point Crosby will make it plain if he wants another shot at a 4th cup or whether he wants to play his whole career as a penguin.

I don't love taking big swings in free agency, especially unrestricted free agency. KD has a much better track record at trades than free agents. Last thing we need is to sign the next Graves, Acciari, Jarry. I think KD will try to trade for younger players and use some of the assets he's collected the last year. We really need to give an opportunity to these kids if they are deemed ready. Koivunen doesn't seem like he has much more to gain from being in WBS. He's the top rookie scorer and top 5-6 scorer in the league. Surely he's better than Acciari etc. Ponomarev is going to need to clear waivers next season if he doesn't make the team. Sullivan is going to continue to play his vets until he's given a mandate that we need to develop these players. Not play them 5 minutes a game when they're up here.

Hopefully KD can continue to shed some veterans this summer like Hayes and Acciari. That's $5.5 mill right there. Not even mentioning Graves and his $4.5mill. I don't think we will see KD take on cap dumps for picks any more. That gets old quick and we already have too many picks.

Marner is none of those you mention. He would certainly not be a "miss."

I agree with that. Marner would be great. I just don't see him coming here. He hasn't won a Cup yet. Have to think he will go to the best contending team that offers him the most money.

[FLPensFan]

Unfortunately, I think Hextall really killed this team far more than realized...he is the one that royally effed up the defense. When Hextall came in, we had the following defense:

Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Marino
Pettersson-Ruhwedel
with Friedman, Riikola, and POJ in the mix

That group finished 5th in GA with 222. Hextall then dumped Matheson and Marino for Petry, Rutta, Smith, and Kulikov at the deadline. That 2022-2023 team finished 19th, with 263 GA.

In 2023-2024, we moved out Petry, Rutta, Smith, and Kulikov...and brought in Graves, Karlsson, Ludvig, and St. Ivany. 23-24 team finished 13th in GA with 248.

This year, St. Ivany played minimally, we brought in Grzelcyk, Ludvig replaced by Shea. We are 31st in the league in GA with 237, with 18 games still remaining.

Long story short...there was zero need for Hextall to overhaul the defense. Matheson had a career year in Pittsburgh. Marino had faded a bit, and Dumoulin was no longer a first pairing guy. Hextall could have done a few minor things to fix this defense (coupled with Sullivan)...Pettersson with Letang, Dumoulin to 3rd pair (which did eventually happen, but it was way past time by then), move Marino down the lineup, and find another RD.

One way this could have been accomplished is if Hextall went all in on Chychrun. He could have moved Matheson to RD, where he played often for Florida, and slid Marino down to 3rd pairing until he regained his form.

Instead, he moved out the better players for worse players, and our team has been chasing a decent defense since. Goaltending hasn't helped either.

[KG]

I would think Marchand would be a potential target in UFA. He's already won his Cup. Him and Sid are close. Maybe he takes a short 1-2 year deal to play with Sid and we can flip him at a deadline to a contender, or maybe we surprise and are better than expected over the next year or two. I don't think KD is going to be a huge UFA spender this summer. Maybe the following year.

[longtimefan]

Marner would be the only play in free agency I'd be excited about. It reminds me of the Rangers rebuild. I was surprised they went out and signed Panarin. Even though they haven't got there, it was a great signing. And they weren't contenders when he signed. The connection is that Dubas gave him his current contract. He's likely got a relationship of some sort with several members of the organization. Marner is the only guy potentially available I'd consider a potential game changer.

[thehockeyguru]

Marner would be the only play in free agency I'd be excited about. It reminds me of the Rangers rebuild. I was surprised they went out and signed Panarin. Even though they haven't got there, it was a great signing. And they weren't contenders when he signed. The connection is that Dubas gave him his current contract. He's likely got a relationship of some sort with several members of the organization. Marner is the only guy potentially available I'd consider a potential game changer.

Or Chychrun

[FLPensFan]

Marner would be the only play in free agency I'd be excited about. It reminds me of the Rangers rebuild. I was surprised they went out and signed Panarin. Even though they haven't got there, it was a great signing. And they weren't contenders when he signed. The connection is that Dubas gave him his current contract. He's likely got a relationship of some sort with several members of the organization. Marner is the only guy potentially available I'd consider a potential game changer.

Or Chychrun

I think Chychrun would be a great add, but, I don't see the Caps letting him go. He's fit in very well there. Even though it may be short term, after losing with Arizona and Ottawa, I have a feeling he'll want to stay.

One other player I would throw a pile of cash at, but again, I don't think he'll leave his current team...is Sam Bennett. Hard to believe he's been with Florida for 4 years already. He isn't going to max out like a normal 2nd line center, but with his grit and playoff performance, I'd offer him 6-7M AAV without hesitation.

Give me Marner. Give me Bennett. Give me Chychrun. Give me Jack McBain. Send out EK65. Send out Hayes. Send out Graves with 50% retained and a 3rd. Give Koivunen, McGroarty, and Brunicke a solid chance to make the team. Find a trade for a solid 2nd pairing RD to replace EK65, until Brunicke is ready....maybe take a run at Nemec or someone similar via trade.

Doubtful Bennett and Chychrun get to UFA though.

[KG]

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/pengu ... m_medium=x

Daniel Laatch 7th round pick from 2021. 6'5 D man

[Puck-Lurker]

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/pengu ... m_medium=x

Daniel Laatch 7th round pick from 2021. 6'5 D man

I like Laatsch as a late pick, happy to see he's got some interest.

Someone will know.. but do collegiate and juniors players count towards the contract limit? My thinking was they don't.

[KG]

Wow. Aaron Ekblad suspended 20 games for violating the leagues performance enhancing drug policy.

[FLPensFan]

Wow. Aaron Ekblad suspended 20 games for violating the leagues performance enhancing drug policy.

I had to laugh at Chris Johnston's tweet saying the last player to be suspended for PEDs was Nate Schmidt in 2018. Schmidt signed a 1 year deal with the Panthers this season. Wonder if that's where Ekblad got his "quick healing" advice.