2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[dark_forces]

As far as the Pens / Sabres are concerned, Zach Benson's name has also been mentioned as far as younger Buffalo players the Pens are/were interested in.
I'd be open to dealing for him, but am not sure what his value is and if they would accept draft picks, or draft picks coupled with someone like Broz or Ponomarev.

[Cow_Master66]

Byram was a 4th overall pick. He won't come cheap.

His value has dropped since he was drafted. He was traded for Mittelstadt who was traded again a year later. His contract also isn't that high and the Sabres probably won't want to sign him for much of a raise.

He was considered a stud in Colorado until Makar came along. Concussions were also a big issue in 20-21 and 21-22 seasons. There are 4 different concussion or head injury issues listed for him those 2 seasons, with 75 games missed. Not sure if that was 4 separate incidents or he came back too early and still saw symptoms.

He hasn't had any issues for 3-4 years though. He should be viewed as a #2 or #3 d-man who can play 20+ minutes a night. Buffalo is paying almost 20M to Dahlin and Power, plus 4.5 or so to Samuelsson. They don't want to pay Power is what I'm hearing.

Power is a bust. What would you offer for Byram?

Hard to say because what few above average prospects we have I would want to keep. 1st and Broz? 1st and Ponomarev or Harding or Howe. Not really sure what the ask would be, but I would expect a 1st plus, then I would expect a 6-7M AAV contract for Byram. AFP has him at 7.1M AAV for 5 years, or 5.1M on a 1 year deal.

He would fit in perfectly with our already drastically overpaid defense.

[thehockeyguru]

Byram was a 4th overall pick. He won't come cheap.

His value has dropped since he was drafted. He was traded for Mittelstadt who was traded again a year later. His contract also isn't that high and the Sabres probably won't want to sign him for much of a raise.

He was considered a stud in Colorado until Makar came along. Concussions were also a big issue in 20-21 and 21-22 seasons. There are 4 different concussion or head injury issues listed for him those 2 seasons, with 75 games missed. Not sure if that was 4 separate incidents or he came back too early and still saw symptoms.

He hasn't had any issues for 3-4 years though. He should be viewed as a #2 or #3 d-man who can play 20+ minutes a night. Buffalo is paying almost 20M to Dahlin and Power, plus 4.5 or so to Samuelsson. They don't want to pay Power is what I'm hearing.

Power is a bust. What would you offer for Byram?

Hard to say because what few above average prospects we have I would want to keep. 1st and Broz? 1st and Ponomarev or Harding or Howe. Not really sure what the ask would be, but I would expect a 1st plus, then I would expect a 6-7M AAV contract for Byram. AFP has him at 7.1M AAV for 5 years, or 5.1M on a 1 year deal.

If you were to move the Rangers 1st and Ponomarev for Byram to be your top pairing guy I could get onboard with that. You essentially moved out Pettersson for a better younger player.

[Cow_Master66]

30 mill on a lousy defense could make for some fun radio and LGP banter for the season.

[Daniel]

As far as the Pens / Sabres are concerned, Zach Benson's name has also been mentioned as far as younger Buffalo players the Pens are/were interested in.
I'd be open to dealing for him, but am not sure what his value is and if they would accept draft picks, or draft picks coupled with someone like Broz or Ponomarev.

He's pretty small and not sure how he'll handle the rigors of an NHL career. At this point in the Penguins rebuild timeline, I'd probably pass. If he succeeds, he'll make the team just good enough to not get a top 5 pick. if he fails, they wasted assets to get him.

If it's maybe Ponomarev and one of the 2nds or 3rds, sure maybe. Not much to give up. Broz had a nice year, has some size and might end up a useful player. He reads a bit like Guentzel when he came out of college. Might not as good, but could be a diamond in the rough.

[FLPensFan]

As far as the Pens / Sabres are concerned, Zach Benson's name has also been mentioned as far as younger Buffalo players the Pens are/were interested in.
I'd be open to dealing for him, but am not sure what his value is and if they would accept draft picks, or draft picks coupled with someone like Broz or Ponomarev.

I have concerns with Benson. I like the player. I wanted the Penguins to take him if available, but he went 1 pick ahead of the Penguins pick, where we ended up taking Yager. From the 2023 and 2024 drafts, only 10 first round picks have played NHL games. Of those 10, only 4 were taken outside the top 10....Benson, Nadeau, Ritchie, and Luchenko. Benson has played 119 games. The other 3 have 12 NHL games combined.

I just don't think Benson was quite ready for the NHL but the Sabres rushed him because he's young and they sucked. If the Penguins were to acquire Benson, I think he should spend some time in the AHL (he still has some waiver exemption) like McGroarty did. Otherwise, if we were to give up a 1st round for a young guy, there's several others I would probably prioritize over Benson.

[dark_forces]

As far as the Pens / Sabres are concerned, Zach Benson's name has also been mentioned as far as younger Buffalo players the Pens are/were interested in.
I'd be open to dealing for him, but am not sure what his value is and if they would accept draft picks, or draft picks coupled with someone like Broz or Ponomarev.

I have concerns with Benson. I like the player. I wanted the Penguins to take him if available, but he went 1 pick ahead of the Penguins pick, where we ended up taking Yager. From the 2023 and 2024 drafts, only 10 first round picks have played NHL games. Of those 10, only 4 were taken outside the top 10....Benson, Nadeau, Ritchie, and Luchenko. Benson has played 119 games. The other 3 have 12 NHL games combined.

I just don't think Benson was quite ready for the NHL but the Sabres rushed him because he's young and they sucked. If the Penguins were to acquire Benson, I think he should spend some time in the AHL (he still has some waiver exemption) like McGroarty did. Otherwise, if we were to give up a 1st round for a young guy, there's several others I would probably prioritize over Benson.

Great insight. I don't think he's worth a mid 1st, either ours or the Rangers, but I would consider shipping out the 2nd rounder we got from Washington for Beauvillier along with an extra 5th, or something like that.

[KG]

As far as the Pens / Sabres are concerned, Zach Benson's name has also been mentioned as far as younger Buffalo players the Pens are/were interested in.
I'd be open to dealing for him, but am not sure what his value is and if they would accept draft picks, or draft picks coupled with someone like Broz or Ponomarev.

I have concerns with Benson. I like the player. I wanted the Penguins to take him if available, but he went 1 pick ahead of the Penguins pick, where we ended up taking Yager. From the 2023 and 2024 drafts, only 10 first round picks have played NHL games. Of those 10, only 4 were taken outside the top 10....Benson, Nadeau, Ritchie, and Luchenko. Benson has played 119 games. The other 3 have 12 NHL games combined.

I just don't think Benson was quite ready for the NHL but the Sabres rushed him because he's young and they sucked. If the Penguins were to acquire Benson, I think he should spend some time in the AHL (he still has some waiver exemption) like McGroarty did. Otherwise, if we were to give up a 1st round for a young guy, there's several others I would probably prioritize over Benson.

Buffalo totally rushed Benson. There was no reason for him to make the NHL right away. We should absolutely be interested in him.

[FLPensFan]

Shanahan out in Toronto

[FLPensFan]

Love the confidence in this kid "It's my goal to make the NHL this year."

[Puck-Lurker]

Love the confidence in this kid "It's my goal to make the NHL this year."

The confidence isn't misplaced, either.

He got very very close to staying on the roster, at least for a 9 game stint. He's improved since then and had a good season in the W. Haase wrote him up as the #3 prospect in the Pens system. Behind Koivunen and McGroarty. Now those two will likely start in the NHL next season and... our D was crap.

He's a Karlsson (or Letang) and a good camp away at this point. Or if they dont end up signing Timmins, but I think Pens sign him

[KG]

Pens rumored to be very in on Russian free agent Maxim Shabanov. 24 year old Undersized skilled forward.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2025/05 ... banov.html

[Pens4Life]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/3 ... m-shabanov

Small and kinda skinny, but very skilled shifty speedy great player.. get him for Geno's last season.

[Pens4Life]

Love the confidence in this kid "It's my goal to make the NHL this year."

The confidence isn't misplaced, either.

He got very very close to staying on the roster, at least for a 9 game stint. He's improved since then and had a good season in the W. Haase wrote him up as the #3 prospect in the Pens system. Behind Koivunen and McGroarty. Now those two will likely start in the NHL next season and... our D was crap.

He's a Karlsson (or Letang) and a good camp away at this point. Or if they dont end up signing Timmins, but I think Pens sign him

Brunicke should still make the team, even if we dont trade EK.
Timmins could play left side, not ideal,but...
Pickering and Brunicke must be part of top 6 going into new season and I hope Mitch Love as potential new coach will enable that.

[Puck-Lurker]

Love the confidence in this kid "It's my goal to make the NHL this year."

The confidence isn't misplaced, either.

He got very very close to staying on the roster, at least for a 9 game stint. He's improved since then and had a good season in the W. Haase wrote him up as the #3 prospect in the Pens system. Behind Koivunen and McGroarty. Now those two will likely start in the NHL next season and... our D was crap.

He's a Karlsson (or Letang) and a good camp away at this point. Or if they dont end up signing Timmins, but I think Pens sign him

Brunicke should still make the team, even if we dont trade EK.
Timmins could play left side, not ideal,but...
Pickering and Brunicke must be part of top 6 going into new season and I hope Mitch Love as potential new coach will enable that.

Hey I'm all for Brunicke coming up and playing in the NHL, though they would need to give him some time to figure out the game. He needed time to adjust to the AHL and this is a jump up from that again

[Victor]

Mathieu Darche named GM and Executive VP of the NY islanders. Not sure if there's any room for Shanahan.

[Pens4Life]

Love the confidence in this kid "It's my goal to make the NHL this year."

The confidence isn't misplaced, either.

He got very very close to staying on the roster, at least for a 9 game stint. He's improved since then and had a good season in the W. Haase wrote him up as the #3 prospect in the Pens system. Behind Koivunen and McGroarty. Now those two will likely start in the NHL next season and... our D was crap.

He's a Karlsson (or Letang) and a good camp away at this point. Or if they dont end up signing Timmins, but I think Pens sign him

Brunicke should still make the team, even if we dont trade EK.
Timmins could play left side, not ideal,but...
Pickering and Brunicke must be part of top 6 going into new season and I hope Mitch Love as potential new coach will enable that.

Hey I'm all for Brunicke coming up and playing in the NHL, though they would need to give him some time to figure out the game. He needed time to adjust to the AHL and this is a jump up from that again

I agree..but I think he can play at least 50 games upcoming season in NHL. Especially because we can afford that, to develop kids.. we arent winning anything anytime soon.