2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[FLPensFan]

One thing of note watching these playoffs:

--The Stars "smallest" d-man is 6'2, 200lbs. They have 2 d-men 6'5 (Petrovic) or over (Bischel)
--The Oilers...6'1, 328 lbs is their smallest d-man. They have 3 guys that are 6'2, a 6'3, 6'4, and 6'5 d-man as well.
--The Panthers have 6'6 Mikkola, 6'4 Ekblad and Jones, and a few 6'1 and 6 foot d-men
--The Leafs have a 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'2, and 2 6'1 d-men
--The Capitals have Rasmus Sandin at 5'11, two 6'3 and one 6'4 d-men.
--The Jets have a 6'7 and two 6'4 d-men
--Vegas has 6'6, pair of 6'4, pair of 6'3 d-men
--Hurricanes have the smallest d-corp remaining in the playoffs...a 6'5, 6'3, and 6'1, plus 3 d-men at 5'11

The Penguins dressed 13 d-men this year:
--6'7 Desharnais is gone
--6'5 Graves has been trash
--6'5 Petterson is gone
--6'4 Pickering only played a little
--6'4 St. Ivany struggled and went to AHL
--6'3 Timmins is new; should be retained
--6'2 Clurman isn't a good go forward option
--6'2 POJ was not good and should not be brought back
--6'2 Kolyachonok was good early then banished by Sullivan; should be retained

Karlsson is 6 foot, Letang is 6 foot, Shea is 6'1, Grzelcyk was 5'10"

The Penguins desperately need to add some skilled d-men with some size. The guys that we did have, with Pettersson the exception, weren't very good.

[Daniel]

One thing of note watching these playoffs:

--The Stars "smallest" d-man is 6'2, 200lbs. They have 2 d-men 6'5 (Petrovic) or over (Bischel)
--The Oilers...6'1, 328 lbs is their smallest d-man. They have 3 guys that are 6'2, a 6'3, 6'4, and 6'5 d-man as well.
--The Panthers have 6'6 Mikkola, 6'4 Ekblad and Jones, and a few 6'1 and 6 foot d-men
--The Leafs have a 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'2, and 2 6'1 d-men
--The Capitals have Rasmus Sandin at 5'11, two 6'3 and one 6'4 d-men.
--The Jets have a 6'7 and two 6'4 d-men
--Vegas has 6'6, pair of 6'4, pair of 6'3 d-men
--Hurricanes have the smallest d-corp remaining in the playoffs...a 6'5, 6'3, and 6'1, plus 3 d-men at 5'11

The Penguins dressed 13 d-men this year:
--6'7 Desharnais is gone
--6'5 Graves has been trash
--6'5 Petterson is gone
--6'4 Pickering only played a little
--6'4 St. Ivany struggled and went to AHL
--6'3 Timmins is new; should be retained
--6'2 Clurman isn't a good go forward option
--6'2 POJ was not good and should not be brought back
--6'2 Kolyachonok was good early then banished by Sullivan; should be retained

Karlsson is 6 foot, Letang is 6 foot, Shea is 6'1, Grzelcyk was 5'10"

The Penguins desperately need to add some skilled d-men with some size. The guys that we did have, with Pettersson the exception, weren't very good.

Pickering 6'4
Brunicke 6'3
Radim Mrtka 6'6
Jackson Smith 6'3

You want youth and size? There you go. Very realistic top 4 in 2027-28

[FLPensFan]

One thing of note watching these playoffs:

--The Stars "smallest" d-man is 6'2, 200lbs. They have 2 d-men 6'5 (Petrovic) or over (Bischel)
--The Oilers...6'1, 328 lbs is their smallest d-man. They have 3 guys that are 6'2, a 6'3, 6'4, and 6'5 d-man as well.
--The Panthers have 6'6 Mikkola, 6'4 Ekblad and Jones, and a few 6'1 and 6 foot d-men
--The Leafs have a 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'2, and 2 6'1 d-men
--The Capitals have Rasmus Sandin at 5'11, two 6'3 and one 6'4 d-men.
--The Jets have a 6'7 and two 6'4 d-men
--Vegas has 6'6, pair of 6'4, pair of 6'3 d-men
--Hurricanes have the smallest d-corp remaining in the playoffs...a 6'5, 6'3, and 6'1, plus 3 d-men at 5'11

The Penguins dressed 13 d-men this year:
--6'7 Desharnais is gone
--6'5 Graves has been trash
--6'5 Petterson is gone
--6'4 Pickering only played a little
--6'4 St. Ivany struggled and went to AHL
--6'3 Timmins is new; should be retained
--6'2 Clurman isn't a good go forward option
--6'2 POJ was not good and should not be brought back
--6'2 Kolyachonok was good early then banished by Sullivan; should be retained

Karlsson is 6 foot, Letang is 6 foot, Shea is 6'1, Grzelcyk was 5'10"

The Penguins desperately need to add some skilled d-men with some size. The guys that we did have, with Pettersson the exception, weren't very good.

Pickering 6'4
Brunicke 6'3
Radim Mrtka 6'6
Jackson Smith 6'3

You want youth and size? There you go. Very realistic top 4 in 2027-28

I don't see anybody in that group as a top pairing guy. Also, size is one thing. Using it to your advantage is another. I've never really seen Pickering as a "punishing" type of defender, and one of the knocks on Mrtka is he doesn't use his size enough to his advantage.

We need a big bodied defenseman that can skate, put up modest numbers, and uses the body. A good example of this would be MacKenzie Weegar. While he is only 6 foot even, he was 3rd in hits by a defensemen while putting up 8 goals and 47 points in the regular season.

[Daniel]

One thing of note watching these playoffs:

--The Stars "smallest" d-man is 6'2, 200lbs. They have 2 d-men 6'5 (Petrovic) or over (Bischel)
--The Oilers...6'1, 328 lbs is their smallest d-man. They have 3 guys that are 6'2, a 6'3, 6'4, and 6'5 d-man as well.
--The Panthers have 6'6 Mikkola, 6'4 Ekblad and Jones, and a few 6'1 and 6 foot d-men
--The Leafs have a 6'5, 6'4, 6'3, 6'2, and 2 6'1 d-men
--The Capitals have Rasmus Sandin at 5'11, two 6'3 and one 6'4 d-men.
--The Jets have a 6'7 and two 6'4 d-men
--Vegas has 6'6, pair of 6'4, pair of 6'3 d-men
--Hurricanes have the smallest d-corp remaining in the playoffs...a 6'5, 6'3, and 6'1, plus 3 d-men at 5'11

The Penguins dressed 13 d-men this year:
--6'7 Desharnais is gone
--6'5 Graves has been trash
--6'5 Petterson is gone
--6'4 Pickering only played a little
--6'4 St. Ivany struggled and went to AHL
--6'3 Timmins is new; should be retained
--6'2 Clurman isn't a good go forward option
--6'2 POJ was not good and should not be brought back
--6'2 Kolyachonok was good early then banished by Sullivan; should be retained

Karlsson is 6 foot, Letang is 6 foot, Shea is 6'1, Grzelcyk was 5'10"

The Penguins desperately need to add some skilled d-men with some size. The guys that we did have, with Pettersson the exception, weren't very good.

Pickering 6'4
Brunicke 6'3
Radim Mrtka 6'6
Jackson Smith 6'3

You want youth and size? There you go. Very realistic top 4 in 2027-28

I don't see anybody in that group as a top pairing guy. Also, size is one thing. Using it to your advantage is another. I've never really seen Pickering as a "punishing" type of defender, and one of the knocks on Mrtka is he doesn't use his size enough to his advantage.

We need a big bodied defenseman that can skate, put up modest numbers, and uses the body. A good example of this would be MacKenzie Weegar. While he is only 6 foot even, he was 3rd in hits by a defensemen while putting up 8 goals and 47 points in the regular season.

I think PIckering and Brunicke will be a top pairing, but I'm higher on Pickering than you are. He reminds me of a better skating Dumoulin and I think Brunicke is a future #1.
I agree that Mrtka doesn't hit but he's also 17 and still learning so who knows. I put Jackson Smith instead of Kashawn Aitcheson because you wanted tall But I'd prefer Aitcheson.

[KG]

Filip Kral going back to Czechia. Signing multi-year deal.

[Antonio]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

[FLPensFan]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

2 years, 1.5M AAV tops. He equaled his rookie season goal total, but was 9 points shy of his rookie season point total. He has to show a decent level of year over year improvement to get any type of significant raise.

1.5M AAV makes him a waiver candidate. Won't clear the full amount, but, one thing the new coach needs to do is stop forcing a bunch of similar, inconsistent players into the lineup. Give them their shot, and if they aren't working after 10-20 games, tell the GM to bring someone else up instead. No more of forcing Acciari, Nieto, Hayes, Tomasino, Heinen, and Novak into the lineup just because they are here.

[Daniel]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

2 years, 1.5M AAV tops. He equaled his rookie season goal total, but was 9 points shy of his rookie season point total. He has to show a decent level of year over year improvement to get any type of significant raise.

1.5M AAV makes him a waiver candidate. Won't clear the full amount, but, one thing the new coach needs to do is stop forcing a bunch of similar, inconsistent players into the lineup. Give them their shot, and if they aren't working after 10-20 games, tell the GM to bring someone else up instead. No more of forcing Acciari, Nieto, Hayes, Tomasino, Heinen, and Novak into the lineup just because they are here.

I think it depends on who the new coach is, like you said stop forcing a bunch of similar, inconsistent players. Tomasino is just that and if the coach wants a different type of player, might as well let him go.

[FLPensFan]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

2 years, 1.5M AAV tops. He equaled his rookie season goal total, but was 9 points shy of his rookie season point total. He has to show a decent level of year over year improvement to get any type of significant raise.

1.5M AAV makes him a waiver candidate. Won't clear the full amount, but, one thing the new coach needs to do is stop forcing a bunch of similar, inconsistent players into the lineup. Give them their shot, and if they aren't working after 10-20 games, tell the GM to bring someone else up instead. No more of forcing Acciari, Nieto, Hayes, Tomasino, Heinen, and Novak into the lineup just because they are here.

I think it depends on who the new coach is, like you said stop forcing a bunch of similar, inconsistent players. Tomasino is just that and if the coach wants a different type of player, might as well let him go.

His main benefit is he'll only be 24 this summer. Younger than most of the other inconsistent plugs we've been using.

[Gunnerfan]

I thought, for the most part, Tomasino played well. His skill passed the eye test for sure. I kind of liked how his game played out. Had a knack for scoring important goals as well. Not sure if that's measurable, but it certainly seems that way.

[Daniel]

I thought, for the most part, Tomasino played well. His skill passed the eye test for sure. I kind of liked how his game played out. Had a knack for scoring important goals as well. Not sure if that's measurable, but it certainly seems that way.

It could come down to he's an RFA and it might be as simple as we have so and so under contract and he's an RFA so opportunity to replace. Might have no thing to do with his play but roster construction.

[FLPensFan]

Reading between the lines for Minnesota...I would not be surprised if Guerin looks to see if there is a center swap trade out there, where Wild send out Marco Rossi and get another similar aged center back.

[KG]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

I would definitely re-sign him. He's young and skilled. 2 things we need more of. Sully never trusted him defensively which impacted his minutes. I would like to see him get an opportunity with the new coaching staff. I would think he could provide cheap offense on a 3rd line.

[Puck-Lurker]

Re-sign Tomasino? If so, how much.

I would definitely re-sign him. He's young and skilled. 2 things we need more of. Sully never trusted him defensively which impacted his minutes. I would like to see him get an opportunity with the new coaching staff. I would think he could provide cheap offense on a 3rd line.

I'd try to sign him to a bridge deal. We don't have that many expensive players to begin next year and the cap's going up; 1.5M x2 sounds about right.

Not sure he's top 6 material, maybe middle 6 at a stretch. If he can pick up some consistency in scoring and round his game out further this is a no-brainer. At the very least, you qualify him. No harm in investing in him.

Don't hate the idea of extending Dewar, but I don't think a raise is warranted there. Think a QO there should be 1.15M; the maximum that wouldn't count against the cap if waived. Just a one or two year deal at most.

[KG]

For the right player that reloads things fast where this team would be back to picking in the early 20’s and also if we have the Rangers 1st in 26 I wouldn’t mind seeing an offer sheet for the right player. But that player needs to be a top 6 center that will be able to replace Sid’s as the best center and be a guy who is putting up 100+ points consistently already.

Does this player even exist?

Only way I would use an offer sheet is if we were getting a top 6 center or a #1 d-man. I've talked up Mason McTavish a lot...but I don't think I would offer sheet him because he needs to show more production. I really like the player, but, he just had a career season with 22 goals and 52 points...that is kind of low end 2C production.

The one player I would have offer sheeted without hesitation was Wyatt Johnston of Dallas...41, 65, and 71 points in his first 3 seasons, plus 24, 32, and 33 goals those seasons. That would be worth the first and other picks, plus the high salary. But Dallas signed him.

Marco Rossi might be the next young player who is in that range. 21 goals and 40 points last year, 24 goals, 60 points this year. And MIN has had issues with him, was playing him on the 4th line in some playoff games....his RFA extension could become contentious. But, I'm not sure I'd give up a 1st for him.

The cap rising as much as it will the next 2 years makes offer sheets even less likely, but, there is still a chance to force a team to make a decision if they want to sign a player for well over their allotted internal budgeting of what they think that player is worth.

I like Rutger McGroarty. But if a team out there loved him, and offer sheeted him at 8M AAV, are you passing up the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick you would get for him? Especially if it was a bad team like SJ, who has a good chance to land you a top 5 pick? Would you really want to be forced to pay RMG 8M AAV today with what he has done to date?

So, it can still be a tool, and with the overall lack of young talent in the league, GMs should be using it much, much more...even if it is used to force other GMs into bad decisions that can effect them down the line.

Rossi is someone that KD should be all over if Guerin is considering moving him. Young centers don't grow on trees. We have some assets to trade finally. Along with Howard in Tampa. There are young players out there, they just won't be cheap to acquire.

[ahawk9]

This is neither here nor there, and it certainly would not have put the Pens over the top by any means, but I felt at the time that the Pens should have re-signed Freddie Gaudreau in 2021. In his short stint in Pittsburgh, he showed a high hockey IQ and an ability to slot in a lot of places in the lineup. He also could kill penalties and work the power play if needed. He was versatile and would have been cheap. That would have helped the center depth immensely, and maybe they would not have signed some of the other anchors later when they were throwing spaghetti against the wall hoping something would stick.

He's just one of those players you kind of root for. He's been very solid for Minny, and they signed him to a team-friendly deal. He's 32 now but he could have been had for a minimal contract in 2021. I didn't look back at their roster to see why they might have let him walk, and there might be an obvious answer in there. Just thinking and surfing hockey sites today.

EDIT: Just looked at their 2021-22 roster, and they still had Rodrigues and Blueger, and they signed Brian Boyle, so guess Freddy was odd man out. It was also when Hallander got his whopping one game in Pittsburgh.

[Puck-Lurker]

This is neither here nor there, and it certainly would not have put the Pens over the top by any means, but I felt at the time that the Pens should have re-signed Freddie Gaudreau in 2021. In his short stint in Pittsburgh, he showed a high hockey IQ and an ability to slot in a lot of places in the lineup. He also could kill penalties and work the power play if needed. He was versatile and would have been cheap. That would have helped the center depth immensely, and maybe they would not have signed some of the other anchors later when they were throwing spaghetti against the wall hoping something would stick.

He's just one of those players you kind of root for. He's been very solid for Minny, and they signed him to a team-friendly deal. He's 32 now but he could have been had for a minimal contract in 2021. I didn't look back at their roster to see why they might have let him walk, and there might be an obvious answer in there. Just thinking and surfing hockey sites today.

EDIT: Just looked at their 2021-22 roster, and they still had Rodrigues and Blueger, and they signed Brian Boyle, so guess Freddy was odd man out. It was also when Hallander got his whopping one game in Pittsburgh.

I was really miffed they just let him walk. He could've slotted in just about anywhere. The roster was a bit crowded, but I'll take players like Freddie over Boyle any day of the week. I guess Penguins didn't feel like offering him a spot on their NHL roster and negotiations stopped there.

Looking at some of the other forwards that got added and subtracted, he's still one of the best forwards of the last five years. Instead.. Acciari, Nieto, Hayes, Hinostroza, Bemström, Nylander, White, Poehling, Archibald, Caggiula, Boyle...


Another guy I didn't like leaving was Lafferty. We traded him for the-wrong-Nylander.

[largegarlic]

This is neither here nor there, and it certainly would not have put the Pens over the top by any means, but I felt at the time that the Pens should have re-signed Freddie Gaudreau in 2021. In his short stint in Pittsburgh, he showed a high hockey IQ and an ability to slot in a lot of places in the lineup. He also could kill penalties and work the power play if needed. He was versatile and would have been cheap. That would have helped the center depth immensely, and maybe they would not have signed some of the other anchors later when they were throwing spaghetti against the wall hoping something would stick.

He's just one of those players you kind of root for. He's been very solid for Minny, and they signed him to a team-friendly deal. He's 32 now but he could have been had for a minimal contract in 2021. I didn't look back at their roster to see why they might have let him walk, and there might be an obvious answer in there. Just thinking and surfing hockey sites today.

EDIT: Just looked at their 2021-22 roster, and they still had Rodrigues and Blueger, and they signed Brian Boyle, so guess Freddy was odd man out. It was also when Hallander got his whopping one game in Pittsburgh.

I was really miffed they just let him walk. He could've slotted in just about anywhere. The roster was a bit crowded, but I'll take players like Freddie over Boyle any day of the week. I guess Penguins didn't feel like offering him a spot on their NHL roster and negotiations stopped there.

Looking at some of the other forwards that got added and subtracted, he's still one of the best forwards of the last five years. Instead.. Acciari, Nieto, Hayes, Hinostroza, Bemström, Nylander, White, Poehling, Archibald, Caggiula, Boyle...


Another guy I didn't like leaving was Lafferty. We traded him for the-wrong-Nylander.

I do wonder how many of these guys weren't re-signed because of Sullivan's preferences as opposed to GM preferences.

[ahawk9]

I think you're spot-on with that. There was a clear pattern with Sully, outside of when he played his guys from WB-S, and no amount of him throwing out Conor Sheary (9 years after the fact) as an example will change my belief that he just didn't trust young players to do anything. It'll be interesting with him in New York because a couple of players talked about that organization's reluctance to use young guys. They're not getting a coach with a track record of championing youth...

[BigMcK]

ESPN normal broadcast team must be livid that the flagship network is still showing Vegas and Edmonton OT live instead of NBA highlights.

[lemieuxReturns]

I have ESPN+, Max, Disney+, HULU, Paramount, Netflix, Prime, but you knoow what I cannot watch? ESPN.
Super dumb.

[FLPensFan]

I have ESPN+, Max, Disney+, HULU, Paramount, Netflix, Prime, but you knoow what I cannot watch? ESPN.
Super dumb.

Same here. I also felt like there were more games NOT on ESPN+ this year than in past years.

[DeHaven162]

I have ESPN+, Max, Disney+, HULU, Paramount, Netflix, Prime, but you knoow what I cannot watch? ESPN.
Super dumb.

Same here. I also felt like there were more games NOT on ESPN+ this year than in past years.

Same here too. The first time I noticed this, I thought for sure I was doing something wrong. How can you have the HULU/Disney/ESPN+, but not have ESPN?

[Toke]

Same......I had to pony up for Sling in just for the playoffs.

[Pens4Life]

Didnt know that Brunicke was added to Canadian WC pre-tournament roster, he was the 8th D on depth chart and eventually didnt make the WC roster, but still - thats nice recognition for his season.