What team do we expect?

[dhayer18]

Thinking back on last season, what do you think we'll see this season?

the team that looked good at the end,
the team that looked bad for most of the season
in between.


If they has a middle of the pack PP and weren't terrible in OT they'd make the playoffs easy.

wonder if they will fix that?

[Ericf]

Thinking back on last season, what do you think we'll see this season?

the team that looked good at the end,
the team that looked bad for most of the season
in between.


If they has a middle of the pack PP and weren't terrible in OT they'd make the playoffs easy.

wonder if they will fix that?

Expecting them to mostly look bad for longer stretches, including the PP. We have numerous problems and one of them is that our best PP players are older and slower and don’t get to spots/pucks fast enough and release the puck quick enough to fool the goalies. The quality of our shooters has even declined with Jake out. We’ll still be decent 5 on 5 but I expect basically the same team as last season— good for short stretches, bad to mediocre for most others. Also don’t see the goaltending improving as we’ve brought the gang back and Ned had a bounce back year last year but goalie voodoo suggests he won’t be as good this season

[Antonio]

Yeah I expect a team that's pretty mediocre to bad most of the year. Even terrible teams often go hot for a minute so I'll expect that but overall, not good. Team is not any better on paper, the same idiot is still behind the bench, nothing really important has changed for the better... key players are yet another year older and we arguably got worse on paper.

[Daniel]

Thinking back on last season, what do you think we'll see this season?

the team that looked good at the end,
the team that looked bad for most of the season
in between.


If they has a middle of the pack PP and weren't terrible in OT they'd make the playoffs easy.

wonder if they will fix that?

I expect a lottery pick next season unless they make a coaching change. But I think the key, as it normally is, will be the power play. If the power play is just bad I think they'll be in the playoff hunt. That said, I don't think the power play will be any better than last year and it was painful to watch. At least the Milan Kraft power play gave effort and it was as good as the talent on the ice. Last years version had too many chefs on the power play and not enough people that want to get their hands dirty.

Has this team become a prima donna team all of a sudden? Or does the coach not allow for any grit or toughness? Either way, the on ice product is a mess.

[FLPensFan]

I expect them overall to be about the same or worse and honestly....I think that is Dubas's plan for this season. I think this is a reset year, gain some picks and prospects, draft well in 2025 with some extra ammo in the top 3 rounds, and setup for the 2025-2026 season.

Be out of a playoff spot come the trade deadline. Dump Eller and Grzelcyk for sure. Move Pettersson for a mini-haul if not signed. Consider moving DOC if there's a good offer out there. Hope that Beauvillier has a bounce back season, increasing his trade value. Play Puljujarvi enough to build up some trade value. I think out of this group, if Eller, Grzelcyk, MP and Beauvillier were moved, I'd be hoping to come away with a 2025 1st, a 2025 2nd, a 2025 3rd, a 2026 3rd, and probably 2 B-level prospects. If that was the return, we'd have two 1sts, two 2nds, two 3rds and two 5th in the 2025 draft (which is thought to be deep), we'd have three 2026 3rd round picks, and right now we have two 2027 2nds and 4ths. That is a very good start to building up a ton of draft capital.

On the ice...the PP absolutely has to improve, and if it doesn't, Sullivan needs to go. There's no excuses. It needs to be at least middle of the pack this year, 15th or 16th.

I think Karlsson will be better, and I hope Graves shows improvement under the new defense whisperer. I think DOC takes a step forward, Hayes ends up being as bad as we think, Grzelcyk surprises us and plays really well.

[Puck-Lurker]

High floor, low ceiling. We'll be in no man's land all season, somewhere around the low end of a playoff birth or outside looking in, chasing a spot.

I expect the team to be slightly worse overall. PP will be a tiny bit improved, but still bad. Honestly, as long as we can make some of the younger players into something while doing it. That'll be a win enough, never mind the playoffs.

Coaching only changed slightly.
Goaltending did not change.
Defence changes are a wash.
Offensively did not replace Guentzel.

Everyone who stayed is now older than last year.

We shouldn't look to the expected roster, but to what we're buying with it. With some decent trading getting picks and prospects we can improve down the line.

[FLPensFan]

High floor, low ceiling. We'll be in no man's land all season, somewhere around the low end of a playoff birth or outside looking in, chasing a spot.

I expect the team to be slightly worse overall. PP will be a tiny bit improved, but still bad. Honestly, as long as we can make some of the younger players into something while doing it. That'll be a win enough, never mind the playoffs.

Coaching only changed slightly.
Goaltending did not change.
Defence changes are a wash.
Offensively did not replace Guentzel.

Everyone who stayed is now older than last year.

We shouldn't look to the expected roster, but to what we're buying with it. With some decent trading getting picks and prospects we can improve down the line.

I stole this from someone I know on Twitter, but this is a fairly good summary of our current prospect pool:

(A+) Prospects:
Yager
(A) Prospects:
Blomqvist
(B+) Prospects:
Pickering
Ponomarev
Koivunen
Howe
Broz (I'd rank Broz lower)
Brunicke
Poulin (I'd rank Poulin lower)
Murashov
(B) Prospects:
Pieniniemi
Lucius
Illyin
Swanson
Plante

We need a few more A+ and A level prospects, and if we want a quick turnaround, we need to get lucky and get a kids with #1 center and #1 d-man potential, as those are the hardest positions to acquire and/or draft. The quicker we can get exceptional young talent at those 2 positions, the quicker this team can turn things around.

[Dynasty1970]

I see an older, slower team, nothing done in this off season will make them a contender. I see a team with the same Head Coach who continues to coach the team like he did in 2016. My expectations are low.

[Daniel]

I expect them overall to be about the same or worse and honestly....I think that is Dubas's plan for this season. I think this is a reset year, gain some picks and prospects, draft well in 2025 with some extra ammo in the top 3 rounds, and setup for the 2025-2026 season.

Be out of a playoff spot come the trade deadline. Dump Eller and Grzelcyk for sure. Move Pettersson for a mini-haul if not signed. Consider moving DOC if there's a good offer out there. Hope that Beauvillier has a bounce back season, increasing his trade value. Play Puljujarvi enough to build up some trade value. I think out of this group, if Eller, Grzelcyk, MP and Beauvillier were moved, I'd be hoping to come away with a 2025 1st, a 2025 2nd, a 2025 3rd, a 2026 3rd, and probably 2 B-level prospects. If that was the return, we'd have two 1sts, two 2nds, two 3rds and two 5th in the 2025 draft (which is thought to be deep), we'd have three 2026 3rd round picks, and right now we have two 2027 2nds and 4ths. That is a very good start to building up a ton of draft capital.

On the ice...the PP absolutely has to improve, and if it doesn't, Sullivan needs to go. There's no excuses. It needs to be at least middle of the pack this year, 15th or 16th.

I think Karlsson will be better, and I hope Graves shows improvement under the new defense whisperer. I think DOC takes a step forward, Hayes ends up being as bad as we think, Grzelcyk surprises us and plays really well.

What scenario would bring a 1st round pick? I can't see MP bringing back a 1st round pick and he's the best asset that has a chance to be traded.

[Puck-Lurker]

Apparently, BJs want picks and prospects for Laine with retention.

Hard pass.

[FLPensFan]

Apparently, BJs want picks and prospects for Laine with retention.

Hard pass.

The highest I would give up would be a 3rd round pick. If they would take a 3rd and Poulin, I'd do it. But something like that would be my max offer. I'd maybe give up Puustinen if they asked for him instead. But I'm would not give up a Yager, Pickering, Murashov, Howe, Brunicke level prospect for him at this point.

He's expensive. He needs a change of scenery. But, aside from last year, he was still scoring 20+ goals. The flip side is, he could end back up in player assistance. A lot of risk, and it appears Columbus is not the place to recover his career or battle his issues. CBJ needs to move him. Take what you can get.

[Puck-Lurker]

Apparently, BJs want picks and prospects for Laine with retention.

Hard pass.

The highest I would give up would be a 3rd round pick. If they would take a 3rd and Poulin, I'd do it. But something like that would be my max offer. I'd maybe give up Puustinen if they asked for him instead. But I'm would not give up a Yager, Pickering, Murashov, Howe, Brunicke level prospect for him at this point.

He's expensive. He needs a change of scenery. But, aside from last year, he was still scoring 20+ goals. The flip side is, he could end back up in player assistance. A lot of risk, and it appears Columbus is not the place to recover his career or battle his issues. CBJ needs to move him. Take what you can get.

Hm, I see your point. Though I'd rather try and ship out a bad contract of our own in return or not bother.

[FLPensFan]

Apparently, BJs want picks and prospects for Laine with retention.

Hard pass.

The highest I would give up would be a 3rd round pick. If they would take a 3rd and Poulin, I'd do it. But something like that would be my max offer. I'd maybe give up Puustinen if they asked for him instead. But I'm would not give up a Yager, Pickering, Murashov, Howe, Brunicke level prospect for him at this point.

He's expensive. He needs a change of scenery. But, aside from last year, he was still scoring 20+ goals. The flip side is, he could end back up in player assistance. A lot of risk, and it appears Columbus is not the place to recover his career or battle his issues. CBJ needs to move him. Take what you can get.

Hm, I see your point. Though I'd rather try and ship out a bad contract of our own in return or not bother.

I mean...I'd be more than willing to go Acciari, a 3rd and Poulin for Laine at 50%. Actually, that would almost be necessary, as I mentioned earlier Laine at 50% retained is 4.35M. Penguins only have 3.5M in cap space, so JUST shipping out Poulin may still prevent us from fitting under the cap.

Laine with 50% retained for Acciari, Poulin, and the Rangers 2027 4th round pick.

[KBone]

Apparently, BJs want picks and prospects for Laine with retention.

Hard pass.

What they want and what they get are 2 different things.

I'd be on board for the Pens making it work somehow. Has to be max retention though.

[Antonio]

No. We need to stop the delusion this team is going anywhere anytime soon. How does sending out any picks or assets at all to bring in a high risk, likely washed up player add to the future? No more nonsense imaginationland fantasy about making this team better for "just one more year". Failing to make decisive, intelligent and tough decisions for years is the reason this team is unlikely to be competitive again for a much longer time than it already should have been.

[FLPensFan]

No. We need to stop the delusion this team is going anywhere anytime soon. How does sending out any picks or assets at all to bring in a high risk, likely washed up player add to the future? No more nonsense imaginationland fantasy about making this team better for "just one more year". Failing to make decisive, intelligent and tough decisions for years is the reason this team is unlikely to be competitive again for a much longer time than it already should have been.

Me personally, I don't have the mindset that giving up a mid pick and a prospect like Poulin, whose skating may hold him back from Sully's system, is a bad thing. I would be looking to acquire Laine, see him improve and get closer to 20g, 60p range, so we can flip him for better assets at next year's deadline.

I have zero playoff hopes this year. Everything should be about ice time for the young guys we got, acquiring guys that we can sell off for picks and prospects, and continuing for the future.

[Puck-Lurker]

No. We need to stop the delusion this team is going anywhere anytime soon. How does sending out any picks or assets at all to bring in a high risk, likely washed up player add to the future? No more nonsense imaginationland fantasy about making this team better for "just one more year". Failing to make decisive, intelligent and tough decisions for years is the reason this team is unlikely to be competitive again for a much longer time than it already should have been.

Me personally, I don't have the mindset that giving up a mid pick and a prospect like Poulin, whose skating may hold him back from Sully's system, is a bad thing. I would be looking to acquire Laine, see him improve and get closer to 20g, 60p range, so we can flip him for better assets at next year's deadline.

I have zero playoff hopes this year. Everything should be about ice time for the young guys we got, acquiring guys that we can sell off for picks and prospects, and continuing for the future.

The problem I see with acquiring Laine, is that the org will remain stuck in a maybe-coulda-woulda-shoulda mindset and keeps trying to draw water from a dry well. I don't see them acquiring a guy like that and flip him to another team; they'd stick to keeping him at all the wrong costs.

Our prospect system is nothing to get crazy about, but I'd rather use it to impact the future more directly instead of trying to massage more out of the here and now

[Pens4Life]

I expect a NON playoff team, just a question of margin.. I would prefer bigger rebuild season already than we did.. It was quick retool somehow,but only pretty much on F.. on D we basically swapped Joseph for Grzelyck.. my wish for new coach wasnt granted yet again,3rd straight season LOL?! I do expect a bit better PP tho..

[pfim]

More of the same. Questionable goaltending, aging stars, playing the same way we always have without the players to do so.

Who's our best player under the age of 28? O'Connor? It's pretty depressing.

[largegarlic]

More of the same. Questionable goaltending, aging stars, playing the same way we always have without the players to do so.

Who's our best player under the age of 28? O'Connor? It's pretty depressing.

Yeah, they missed the playoffs the last two seasons, didn't significantly upgrade the roster, and didn't change the head coach. It just seems like the most likely scenario is that they miss the playoffs again. Of course, it's possible that the PP dramatically improves, one or more of the reclamation projects work out, Graves remembers how to play hockey, etc., and the Pens do make the playoffs. But it feels like a lot of "ifs" have to go in their favor.

I also doubt they'll completely bottom out. They have too much talent to be one of the absolute worst teams in the league. I'd guess they're probably drafting between 10 and 15 again next spring...maybe they sneak into a top-10 pick if things go a bit worse than expected, but I don't think they'll get a top 5 pick unless they get really lucky in the lottery.

[FLPensFan]

More of the same. Questionable goaltending, aging stars, playing the same way we always have without the players to do so.

Who's our best player under the age of 28? O'Connor? It's pretty depressing.

Yeah, they missed the playoffs the last two seasons, didn't significantly upgrade the roster, and didn't change the head coach. It just seems like the most likely scenario is that they miss the playoffs again. Of course, it's possible that the PP dramatically improves, one or more of the reclamation projects work out, Graves remembers how to play hockey, etc., and the Pens do make the playoffs. But it feels like a lot of "ifs" have to go in their favor.

I also doubt they'll completely bottom out. They have too much talent to be one of the absolute worst teams in the league. I'd guess they're probably drafting between 10 and 15 again next spring...maybe they sneak into a top-10 pick if things go a bit worse than expected, but I don't think they'll get a top 5 pick unless they get really lucky in the lottery.

Well, don't blame me jinxing it if it happens but....does anyone really think we are going to get a full 82 games from Crosby and Malkin for the 3rd year in a row? And if one or either goes down for a significant amount of time....the bottom is completely possible. Crosby has missed 5 or fewer games in 11 seasons. Malkin has missed 5 or fewer games in only 6 seasons. They're due to miss some time, which makes this team really bad in a hurry.

[Cow_Master66]

I expect a team that is capable or short winning streaks (3-5 games) but more capable of longer losing streaks (5-8 games).

I expect improved seasons from both Graves and EK.

Overall, I don't think this team is a playoff team. I don't think they have the talent or depth. I don't see any reason the PP methodology will change to a "shoot first" mentality. Even if the PP does change and improve, I still don't think this team makes the post-season, regardless of how many say "with an average PP last year we would have made it".

Top to bottom, they just aren't that good. They are too old, and just don't have enough younger skilled players and capable depth players.

Lastly, I was personally on board with the "win now" approach, and was ok with the 5+ year rebuild. What sucks is they are kicking that can down the road and delaying the inevitable. I remain fearful that if they are "in the hunt" to sneak into the playoffs for a 1st round exit, they will trade more futures to keep these old hags happy.

[KG]

Feels like this is going to be a similar year to last season and become a transition season. Started selling off assets like Jake for futures last season. This year we might do the same with MP and or Jarry etc.. I think the following season is where we will see a lot more change to the roster. Specifically we should see a lot more youth in the lineup. Yager, Koivunen, Ponomarev, Pickering, Blomqvist (maybe Murashov) could definitely be in the lineup the following season.

This season I still expect KD to add a top 6 wing. He might not be the youngest and could be another Hayes type of trade, but they still want to remain relevant. I think they should want that. As long as the team has a healthy Sid we will not be a top 5 pick type of team. You can't do a full rebuild when you're core of Sid/Geno/Letang/Karlsson are all here. Unless they want to move on, then you do a full rip it down and start fresh.

[Cow_Master66]

I don't see Yager making the big squad next season...Can't imagine them letting him jump from the WHL to the NHL...

[KG]

I don't see Yager making the big squad next season...Can't imagine them letting him jump from the WHL to the NHL...

Agreed. I think Yager can make the team in 25-26 season.