Still need to address the high-danger position.
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22 Comments
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You keep both Rust and Rakell on the roster to see if we can compete through Oct-Dec. Then, if we fall back, which we will, most likely, then they should trade one or both of them at the trade deadline, when their values are highest. Case closed!
DK, I love ya man. I listen to you almost everyday while walking to work(I live in South Korea). I have my long term girlfriend here, but even though I've been abroad for 15 years, the Penguins are still the love of my life. The fans that want to see the team "totally suck" mean it, because they love the Penguins. Enough to endure a few horrid seasons for a chance to draft another Jagr, Malkin, Lemieux, or Crosby. I agree with a lot of what you say, but you saying, "These Penguins are not going to finish in any meaningful lottery slot", I think you might be wrong on this one. We're not better than last year, and if we shed the Rust and/or Rakell contracts(before the trade deadline) in return for a 1st round pick for one of both of them, then we'll be sitting pretty in a Top 3 or 4 Lottery slot. Now is the time to look at the Big Picture. If you want to win championships, you have to draft elite players who will turn into stars. Otherwise, what are we doing, just hanging out in the mushy middle like the Steelers for another decade?
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I don’t wanna see the team suck DK … I’ll be watching all 82 games like always … at work … I don’t have high hopes as a contender – but I know they’ll be competitive as long as Sidney P. & Geno are there . & it’s gonna be nice to see the young guys develop & see what they can do in a full NHL season . honestly think the 4 forward lines are better than last year’s or even the one before .
if Brunicke is on the squad right away or given the 9-game sample – I think the D is a step better . these guys arent getting traded – Dubas wants another 2/3 of a season to get someone like EK65’s value even higher so that desperate teams at the trade deadline offer the Moon . he’s a very good player – give him another run . shit … these guys might surprise us & be very good . Idk … all I know is I want to see a lot of moral victories … even when they lose – & that’s there’s a difference between sucking & seeing those ⬆️ ⬆️ (moral victories)
Also – I made sure I commented that before your response to the J1Q on purpose – & you pretty much said the same thing 😂
No don't want to see them suck. An I want to keep Alot these guys an no tanking..
All this dumb talk comes out of Canada cause they make up stuff cause they have nothing else to talk about since their own teams .. suck
Honestly comparing just forward groups. I’ll take the pens over a lot of the east. Now defense and jarry… can he resurrect his game can letang and karlsson turn back the clock. It’s not not possible. Plus no one even know’s muses coaching style.
So whats better, a top five pick or a 10th pick whose ceiling is 2C in five years and the best guy Dubas ever drafted was Knies?
Who’s the fanbase coming to watch in 2030 when the vets are long gone?
I really dont believe this team will be awful. We still have Sidney freaking Crosby. That's enough for me to believe that this team will not be a true bottom feeder.
Hey Dejan, Any updates on the Mario front?
Thank you DK, this team has too much talent and a " winner " for a captain. There is no bottoming out and fans should not want to see/go through that. Losing is hard to overcome once you start doing it consistently. This team needs a few tweaks and more growth from their prospects. Its not going to happen over night but it should be quicker than a tear down and less damaging.
* Plus, the metro is wide open this year and could be any ones.
At this point, you just hold on to Rust and Rakell and see where you are at the trade deadline. 2026 would have been a great draft to have that extra 1st.
Regarding the J1Q; I might be wrong but when it comes to player values and alleged bubble teams, those teams might be more inclined to give more at the deadline than they would in the offseason. That being said i wouldn’t want to give up rust or rakell without a big or meaningful return either right now when we don’t even know who the penguins are this season yet
DK – I'll offer a rebuttal to your rebuttal from his rebuttal. The reason I think teams like Buffalo and Columbus would trade with the Pens, or any team for that matter, instead of free agency, is they're not desirable destinations for free agents. Teams like Buffalo, Columbus(Johnny Hockey being the exception), Winnipeg, etc… have largely struggled to attract big name free agents. That said, I'm in the keep Rust and Rakell camp.
I agree totally DK, They can score points , but if they can't stop those breakaway plays and other teams from coming back and winning. We will have some of the same problems. Thank you DK, great show
Gryzl was a nice surprise last season after all the trashing he took to start. He and Sid connected on so many plays and he was actually a good D.
Karlson is a used-meat turnover machine who makes more gaffs than plays.
Exactly, DK. We need to see them play. Right now, there's nothing to show this team is an improvement over the one that ended last season without even hitting the ice.
People getting lost in the weeds with this: Playoff teams don't have top 10 draft picks. Exceptions will prove the rule, but they just don't. And when they do, by trades, you're not getting them for next years draft, or probably any draft. A stud young player? Nope that's the key to their franchise. Same with prospects. You might get a Koivunen type if you trade well. But that's not some elite player. I like him, don't doubt he'll be good, but that's not elite.
So any trade is lateral for Rakell and Rust at the very best. Older player going out, unproven commodity back in that has some scratches on it, despite being new.
the ONLY way karlson gets traded is if the pens eat a lot of his contract ! its doubtful any team would see the value karlson brings for what they would have to pay him! pens fans need to look no further than the caps who turned their team into a playoff contender WITHOUT tearing it down ! as the pens got worse last season the attendance continued to fall , team management knows that fact ! trading rust and or rackell is insane both are proven producers and rust is a proven playoff performer !
The perfect landing spot is Carolina. Deep prospect pool, ample picks, remaining cap space and an apparent need to do more to get past the ECF.