2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[lemieuxReturns]

Geno needs more help on line 2. Playing him with 1 goal Glass consistently is a joke. I know that Sullivan wants to have a defensive presence on line 2 since Bunting and Geno are sub-par defensively, but we need our 2nd line to be somewhat of a force offensively too.

We have had this issue for a while now. DOC, Glass types they aren't top 6 players. With Tomasino out week to week, the team needs to pick up a potential top 6 forward. Or maybe give Jesse P a little run with Geno. I'm sure that won't happen since Sullivan wants a defensive presence on line 2...

I am ok with them not getting someone for Geno this season. I am also ok with them not trying to win this season and accepting that they are not good enough and that a rebuild is necessary. What really sucks though is that we have fans giving Geno a hard time for not producing with guys like Glass, DOC and Bunting. Geno is not even complaining, which I feel like he would have a right to do.

Geno is my favorite Pen. He is just as likable as Jagr was before the drama. He never complains. He is the ultimate team player. Had he played on almost any other team over his career he would have been THE star.

[DeHaven162]

Looks like Jesse is back in the lineup tonight. Line rushes have him on 3RW in place of Beauvillier.

Geno is still being anchored by Glass on the 2nd line however...

Or is Geno anchoring Glass and Bunting...

[largegarlic]

I was looking at current leaders in points. Out of top 50, 38 have only played for one NHL team (76%). Out of top 25, 84% have played for one NHL team. Out of top 10 in points, 90% have played for one team.

Out of current top 50 in points, 38% were top 5 overall picks and 70% were top 15 overall picks. 78% were first round picks, 8% were second round, 4% were third round, 2% were fourth round, 2% were fifth round, 4% were sixth round, and 2% were undrafted.

I know they are near playoff spot, but I am rooting for best draft pick.

Thanks for this breakdown. As I mentioned in another thread, things are really tight in the standings for the teams in the wild card and top 5 draft pick hunts. The Pens are tied for a WC spot now, but they're only 4 points out of 5th worst overall. And every team between them and the current 5th worst team (Seattle) has games in hand. So, I still think they're in the mix for a top 5 pick with even a modest losing streak.

[dark_forces]

TIOPS indicates that a package that includes Pettersson and DOC is being floated out there and that teams are interested in acquiring both.

Other tidbits to be taken with a grain of salt:
- they're growing more pleased with Grzelcyk and may be leaning on bringing him back.
- Beauvillier is likely to be dealt and there was an offer on the table from a western conference team that would return an AHL forward.
- They like Glass and see him being around into next year.
- Koivunen, McGroarty and Broz are lumped together as being decent bets to be on the team next season. Management views them as the top tier potential wise.

[Daniel]

Looks like Jesse is back in the lineup tonight. Line rushes have him on 3RW in place of Beauvillier.

Geno is still being anchored by Glass on the 2nd line however...

Or is Geno anchoring Glass and Bunting...

Or it's a bad line combination and Malkin should have Rust and Rakell

[Victor]

I was looking at current leaders in points. Out of top 50, 38 have only played for one NHL team (76%). Out of top 25, 84% have played for one NHL team. Out of top 10 in points, 90% have played for one team.

Out of current top 50 in points, 38% were top 5 overall picks and 70% were top 15 overall picks. 78% were first round picks, 8% were second round, 4% were third round, 2% were fourth round, 2% were fifth round, 4% were sixth round, and 2% were undrafted.

I know they are near playoff spot, but I am rooting for best draft pick.

Thanks for this breakdown. As I mentioned in another thread, things are really tight in the standings for the teams in the wild card and top 5 draft pick hunts. The Pens are tied for a WC spot now, but they're only 4 points out of 5th worst overall. And every team between them and the current 5th worst team (Seattle) has games in hand. So, I still think they're in the mix for a top 5 pick with even a modest losing streak.

I got curious to see who they were. Out of of the top 15 in points as of today, only Eichel (8th) and Reinhart (15th) moved teams, and both from Buffalo.

[KG]

TIOPS indicates that a package that includes Pettersson and DOC is being floated out there and that teams are interested in acquiring both.

Other tidbits to be taken with a grain of salt:
- they're growing more pleased with Grzelcyk and may be leaning on bringing him back.
- Beauvillier is likely to be dealt and there was an offer on the table from a western conference team that would return an AHL forward.
- They like Glass and see him being around into next year.
- Koivunen, McGroarty and Broz are lumped together as being decent bets to be on the team next season. Management views them as the top tier potential wise.

Can definitely see MP and DOC moving. Beauvillier won't net much of a return. Hopefully we can try to move on from Acciari too. Gryz we should sell "high" on.

[EndO FanEra]

TIOPS indicates that a package that includes Pettersson and DOC is being floated out there and that teams are interested in acquiring both.

Other tidbits to be taken with a grain of salt:
- they're growing more pleased with Grzelcyk and may be leaning on bringing him back.
- Beauvillier is likely to be dealt and there was an offer on the table from a western conference team that would return an AHL forward.
- They like Glass and see him being around into next year.
- Koivunen, McGroarty and Broz are lumped together as being decent bets to be on the team next season. Management views them as the top tier potential wise.

I have a feeling most of us are going to be disappointed with the return on Petterson. Don't know why, just think we'll end up with a 2nd or 3rd and some mid-level prospects like Poulin or Koppanen. I hope that is not the case.

- I want no parts of Grzelcyk going forward. Despite his point production lately, his play is more of a detriment to the team than the production. A solid, well-balanced team can get away with a player like him, but not a struggling, rebuilding team.
- Beau - get whatever you can. AHL prospect or a pick is fine.
- I might be in the minority here, but I actually like Glass on this team. He definitely needs to produce more points, especially if he's getting 2nd line minutes with Geno. However, I like the way he battles and he seems to do a lot of the little things well. I liked when he was on the 3rd/4th with guys like Lizotte & DOC, kind of a speedy crash line that could cause havoc and keep the opponent hemmed in their zone for a while. Wouldn't mind keeping him for a bottom 6 role. But, if you get a worthwhile offer, go for it.
- LOL. I don't believe that for a second. They said the same thing this past offseason about Ponomarev, Poulin, Puustinen, Koivunen (even McGroarty after the trade) getting a legit look. Maybe if Sully is gone, but if not, we'll be lucky if 1 of our WBS Pens from this season are NHL regulars next season.

[Maestro]

“ Beauvillier is likely to be dealt and there was an offer on the table from a western conference team that would return an AHL forward.”

This seems close to happening.

[KG]

WBS with 6 straight wins. Koivunen with the hat trick and 4 points tonight.

KD, start trimming the fat and make some room for the kids.

[Puck-Lurker]

TIOPS indicates that a package that includes Pettersson and DOC is being floated out there and that teams are interested in acquiring both.

Other tidbits to be taken with a grain of salt:
- they're growing more pleased with Grzelcyk and may be leaning on bringing him back.
- Beauvillier is likely to be dealt and there was an offer on the table from a western conference team that would return an AHL forward.
- They like Glass and see him being around into next year.
- Koivunen, McGroarty and Broz are lumped together as being decent bets to be on the team next season. Management views them as the top tier potential wise.

- More pleased with Grzelcyk... Okay.. resign for league minimum as #8D maybe? Not a cent more. So just pass. Bringing him back would be a serious error.
- Beauvillier +4th for 2nd? Uninteresting forward doubt you'd get even that much.
- Glass I like too. But his contract is just bad, which is why we got picks to take him. Sign him just north of 1M and I think that's a good deal. If you make a case for keeping him in the lineup because he plays a good all-round game (without the scoring) and he is good at PK I'll buy that. Just don't overpay
- The kids? Won't get a whiff of a chance with a HC stacking his lines with 30+ nobodies and a GM bringing them in and not stopping his HC.

[largegarlic]

I'd prefer to trade Grzelcyk this year, if we can. He has 22 points and has helped rejuvenate the PP. I keep trying to speak it into existence that a good team looking for some juice on the PP and able to shelter him on the 3rd pairing at even strength will offer the Pens a 3rd or something for him.

That said, I see the case for re-signing him. As I said above, he has been part of the improved PP. If we don't re-sign him, then we're probably looking for some other cheap LD in free agency. Assuming Pettersson and Grzelcyk are gone, the LD depth chart next year looks something like:

Pickering
Joseph (?, he's an RFA)
Graves

That's terrible. We have Pieniniemi, who's looking like a good left-handed D prospect, and that's it in the system, and we probably don't want to throw him in straight from juniors.

[dark_forces]

I'd prefer to trade Grzelcyk this year, if we can. He has 22 points and has helped rejuvenate the PP. I keep trying to speak it into existence that a good team looking for some juice on the PP and able to shelter him on the 3rd pairing at even strength will offer the Pens a 3rd or something for him.

That said, I see the case for re-signing him. As I said above, he has been part of the improved PP. If we don't re-sign him, then we're probably looking for some other cheap LD in free agency. Assuming Pettersson and Grzelcyk are gone, the LD depth chart next year looks something like:

Pickering
Joseph (?, he's an RFA)
Graves

That's terrible. We have Pieniniemi, who's looking like a good left-handed D prospect, and that's it in the system, and we probably don't want to throw him in straight from juniors.

I could see Shea being resigned as well and serving as the new Chad Ruhwedel.

[pekkasteele]

There are an article on the Swedish version of NHL.com where they are talking to EK65:

https://www.nhl.com/sv/news/erik-karlss ... tanley-cup

What I noted from it was that he seems to be open to a trade if, by the deadline, if we are not really contending for a PO-spot.

The question was " if the situation doesn't improve when the trade deadline is at march 7th".

The answer was " It's still up in the air, there are things I can control, and things I cant control, so right now I don't know exactly what will happen"

And he talks a lot about wanting to win the cup, says the "big 3" already have them, but he have none.

[KG]

There are an article on the Swedish version of NHL.com where they are talking to EK65:

https://www.nhl.com/sv/news/erik-karlss ... tanley-cup

What I noted from it was that he seems to be open to a trade if, by the deadline, if we are not really contending for a PO-spot.

The question was " if the situation doesn't improve when the trade deadline is at march 7th".

The answer was " It's still up in the air, there are things I can control, and things I cant control, so right now I don't know exactly what will happen"

And he talks a lot about wanting to win the cup, says the "big 3" already have them, but he have none.

I think KD has viewed the EK acquisition as a last ditch, short term effort to boost the team. Once they are no longer contenders (which they clearly are not) he will look to maximize his return by retaining. This would be a tougher trade to make during the season though with everyone against the cap. Might make more sense to wait until the summer when the cap goes up and teams have more flexibility. I definitely could see EK getting dealt this summer.

[largegarlic]

There are an article on the Swedish version of NHL.com where they are talking to EK65:

https://www.nhl.com/sv/news/erik-karlss ... tanley-cup

What I noted from it was that he seems to be open to a trade if, by the deadline, if we are not really contending for a PO-spot.

The question was " if the situation doesn't improve when the trade deadline is at march 7th".

The answer was " It's still up in the air, there are things I can control, and things I cant control, so right now I don't know exactly what will happen"

And he talks a lot about wanting to win the cup, says the "big 3" already have them, but he have none.

I think KD has viewed the EK acquisition as a last ditch, short term effort to boost the team. Once they are no longer contenders (which they clearly are not) he will look to maximize his return by retaining. This would be a tougher trade to make during the season though with everyone against the cap. Might make more sense to wait until the summer when the cap goes up and teams have more flexibility. I definitely could see EK getting dealt this summer.

Yeah, even if the Pens retain a lot on him, it's hard to see which contender would have cap space for him at the deadline. From a quick look at Puckpedia, it seems like maybe the Jets (they're projected to have $9.7 million at the deadline), but that's about it.

[ahawk9]

Maybe they could move him at next year's deadline or this coming summer. I don't see a scenario where they wouldn't have to retain, so burning another year of the contract would make him a bit more attractive next year... I think, but maybe that contract is just untradeable. At least he's been pretty good lately, maybe playing better than any of his tenure here.

[Antonio]

I think EK has overall been fine and to be quite honest I think the only problem he has had here is MS. That's it. If you know what EK is and what he brings good and bad, I would say that MS amplified his bad and tamped down his good... in typical MS style. I don't think EK has markedly become worse than he's ever been and I think on a team with a non imbecile running the show, he'd be fine... if they're comfortable with his warts and his beauty.

[Puck-Lurker]

I think EK has overall been fine and to be quite honest I think the only problem he has had here is MS. That's it. If you know what EK is and what he brings good and bad, I would say that MS amplified his bad and tamped down his good... in claim MS style. I don't think EK has markedly become worse than he's ever been and I think on a team with a non imbecile running the show, he'd be fine... if they're comfortable with his warts and his beauty.

Karlsson has looked better. Much better. Even if he's still Karlsson in the ugly ways too. The PP has also been terrific of late.

Correlation is not causation, but I'm willing to bet there's a few lines you can draw between those.. that intersect with Quinn.

I'll pass out some props for that. Everyone would be calling for his head if the PP continued last season's performance, so it's only right

[KG]

Another W for WBS. McGroarty with 3 assists. Now has 7 points in his last 6 games.

[FLPensFan]

Another W for WBS. McGroarty with 3 assists. Now has 7 points in his last 6 games.

Interesting to see a lot of our prospects growing under MacDonald compared to JD Forrest. McGroarty was brought along slowly and seems to be putting it all together. Broz has impressed me all year, since the summer. Koivunen is heating up. I haven't seen his defensive aspects, but Kral seems to get into the offense quite often. Only one down there I don't hear a ton about is Ponomarev. Larsson has played really well, and Blomqvist has gotten his GAA below 3 and SV% above .910 after a rough stretch. And Murashov down in the ECHL is showing that he needs to move up to the AHL sooner rather than later.

Some actual good development going on is a nice change, and I heard bringing in MacDonald and making some other changes was all a very high priority for Dubas in improving the teams developmental capacity.

[Daniel]

Another W for WBS. McGroarty with 3 assists. Now has 7 points in his last 6 games.

Interesting to see a lot of our prospects growing under MacDonald compared to JD Forrest. McGroarty was brought along slowly and seems to be putting it all together. Broz has impressed me all year, since the summer. Koivunen is heating up. I haven't seen his defensive aspects, but Kral seems to get into the offense quite often. Only one down there I don't hear a ton about is Ponomarev. Larsson has played really well, and Blomqvist has gotten his GAA below 3 and SV% above .910 after a rough stretch. And Murashov down in the ECHL is showing that he needs to move up to the AHL sooner rather than later.

Some actual good development going on is a nice change, and I heard bringing in MacDonald and making some other changes was all a very high priority for Dubas in improving the teams developmental capacity.

Sam Poulin scored 2 goals and had 5 shots. He hasn't had more than 2 in over a month so nice to see him have a good game. Still have 15 points but has been cold for awhile.

WBS is only 4 points out of 1st with 5 less games played than Hershey. They've scored 17 goals in the last 3 games while giving up 4.

GF 3.41
GA 2.67

Would like the GA to go down a bit, but Blomqvist struggled after he went down after his NHL debut but he's starting to play back to form. I imagine it takes time to get into sync with the defense as a goalie, especially with a new coach, so no big deal. I'm liking what MacDonald has brought to the franchise.

[Puck-Lurker]

Ty Smith on waivers.

[FLPensFan]

Bunting out of the lineup tonight. Got into a car accident right down the street from PPG. Sullivan said he is ok but he will not play tonight. Malkin was put on IR, and Tomasino is likely coming back into the lineup for Bunting tonight.

https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/team ... e711918caf

[BigMcK]

On your lifeboat to sail to safety, you have five (5) spots to fill with this current roster. Who gets a spot, and why:

Crosby - the Captain who provides leadership thru results, never quits, and keeps his goal to pull the boat to safe shores.

Pickering - youth and strength. Will paddle hard with little motivation, seems grounded to ensure he knows that he earned his spot.

Ned - catching fish while on the boat. Reflexes. Keep paddling, and will keep providing protein to burn.

Lizzote - team player, will paddle and probably tell a few jokes along the way.

Bunting - a shark may surface along the journey, but I think he will spear it with his paddle.

I will allow Accairi a small space so when the sharks show ---- bait.

And your lifeboat picks?