Confirmed Trade: [MTL/PIT/SJS] Karlsson, Pitlick, Hamaliuk, SJS'26 3rd to PIT; Granlund, Hoffman, Rutta, PIT'24 1st to SJS; Petry, DeSmith, Legare, PIT'25 2nd to MTL

[Luigi Lemieux]

When’s the last time that old of a core has won the Cup?

Pens core is not a normal core, it's one of the best in history. They were the youngest core to win a cup, why not be the oldest as well.

 

[ijuka]

A defender defends foremost and a forward goes forward in my easy read book of hockey.

Nope. In hockey everyone attacks, and everyone defends. It's not like football(not handegg), where only a part of the team is taking part in the action at any one time.

 

[66-30-33]

I think if the Pens are serious about making a run next season, they need to find a way to get a true stay at home top 4 dman. Carolina has a surplus, flames too, they are out there. Teams need to follow Vegas foot steps and have big physical mobile blue lines. The Pens lack a Brayden McNabb. The Pens already took the first step by now having two elite PMD who can log close to 30 mins a night each. That’s a huge luxury that very few teams have.

We should trade for Dumo.

 

[Turin]

Datsyuk, Zetterbeg, Franzen, and Kronwall were all in their late 20’s.

Lidstrom, Shanahan, Yzerman, Hull, Chelios and Robitaille were all over 30 in 2002.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Datsyuk, Zetterbeg, Franzen, and Kronwall were all in their late 20’s.

The Wings that year had an average age of 32.1. The Penguins average age right now is 30.2.

Their two goalies were Osgood (35) and Hasek (43). Their top pair was Lidstrom (37) and Rafalski (34). Of the 20 players who played in 40 or more games on that team, 9 of them were 34 or older (the 4 previously mentioned, Chelios, Draper, Drake, Maltby and Holmstrom).

For comparison, the Penguins have 5 players who are 34 or older (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Carter and Eller). Their goalies are 28 (Jarry) and 27 (Nedjelkovic) respectively. Their defense beyond Karlsson and Letang have a 28 (Graves), 27 (Pettersson), 24 (POJ) and 23 (Smith) year old. The majority of the Penguins' forwards are between 28 and 31.

Lidstrom, Shanahan, Yzerman, Hull, Chelios and Robitaille were all over 30 in 2002.

Plus the 2008 team had an average age of 32.1. They were old as well, they just had a prime aged core.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Datsyuk, Zetterbeg, Franzen, and Kronwall were all in their late 20’s.

Correct. I would go back to the Ducks in the 2010s area where they had Selenne Neids etc to show a team that was up in age that had success.

That was also 10-15 years ago, these guys today have a lot more going for them as far as recovery and training so I would say they age a little different as I expect that to continue into future generations.

This is also a rare thing to look at as well. You have 2 generational players on the same team with the best offensive Dman of this generation all together. Not really much to compare it too. You can say they are old or whatever but they are still very good and I can assure you NHL players know what they are capable of despite what some on the board might think

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Spezza and Karlsson re-united in Pittsburgh.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think if the Pens are serious about making a run next season, they need to find a way to get a true stay at home top 4 dman. Carolina has a surplus, flames too, they are out there. Teams need to follow Vegas foot steps and have big physical mobile blue lines. The Pens lack a Brayden McNabb. The Pens already took the first step by now having two elite PMD who can log close to 30 mins a night each. That’s a huge luxury that very few teams have.

I think that’s the last of our concerns tbh.

I’d hope we can acquire DeMelo and a higher impact top nine wing.

 

[Peat]

We should trade for Dumo.

If you could see the look I'm giving you right now.

 

[Bumpus]

When’s the last time that old of a core has won the Cup?

2024.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Pens are finally exciting again, which means HFB’s inferiority complexes are flaring up.

 

[66-30-33]

If you could see the look I'm giving you right now.

Smiling ear to ear I’m sure.

 

[Buck Naked]

Datsyuk, Zetterbeg, Franzen, and Kronwall were all in their late 20’s.

I'm sure they were during later seasons, yes.

In other news, the average age of the top 10 scorers in the playoffs for the Red Wings in 01/02 was 34.3 years.

 

[Zbynek]

I think if the Pens are serious about making a run next season, they need to find a way to get a true stay at home top 4 dman. Carolina has a surplus, flames too, they are out there. Teams need to follow Vegas foot steps and have big physical mobile blue lines. The Pens lack a Brayden McNabb. The Pens already took the first step by now having two elite PMD who can log close to 30 mins a night each. That’s a huge luxury that very few teams have.

We may try and get someone mean for the 3rd-pairing but Graves and Petts are both bonified top-4 defensive d-men. If you're arguing otherwise I'd have to wonder if you're familiar with these players or not.

I also think there's a bit of recency bias with Vegas winning the Cup. If you look only to the year previous Colorado wasn't exactly "mean" all throughout their blue-line. The identity of a Cup winning team can and does change pretty much every single year. Barring injuries, Pens top-4 is set.

 

[Synergy27]

The Wings that year had an average age of 32.1. The Penguins average age right now is 30.2.

Their two goalies were Osgood (35) and Hasek (43). Their top pair was Lidstrom (37) and Rafalski (34). Of the 20 players who played in 40 or more games on that team, 9 of them were 34 or older (the 4 previously mentioned, Chelios, Draper, Drake, Maltby and Holmstrom).

For comparison, the Penguins have 5 players who are 34 or older (Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Carter and Eller). Their goalies are 28 (Jarry) and 27 (Nedjelkovic) respectively. Their defense beyond Karlsson and Letang have a 28 (Graves), 27 (Pettersson), 24 (POJ) and 23 (Smith) year old. The majority of the Penguins' forwards are between 28 and 31.



Plus the 2008 team had an average age of 32.1. They were old as well, they just had a prime aged core.

The league has changed A LOT since then. That was peak dead puck era. Speed not nearly as important as it is in today’s game.

I’m very much enjoying Pens fans optimism. It’s going to be very fun to watch this team crash and burn.

Did the Red Wings miss the playoffs in 2001?

 

[Empoleon8771]

The league has changed A LOT since then. That was peak dead puck era. Speed not nearly as important as it is in today’s game.

I’m very much enjoying Pens fans optimism. It’s going to be very fun to watch this team crash and burn.

Did the Red Wings miss the playoffs in 2001?

No, this was the 2008 Red Wings team. The one that beat the Penguins.

 

[Beau Knows]

2008 was "peak dead puck era"? What?!

 

[Synergy27]

No, this was the 2008 Red Wings team. The one that beat the Penguins.

I was responding to a post that seemed to be about the 2002 DRW.

 

[Peat]

I'm not sure we're even that optimistic. I think most of us are aware that our roster has flaws, and that balancing everything on the shoulders of four injury prone guys in their 30s has a big ol' risk factor.

But it's ambitious, it should be fun, and if it goes wrong we've already seen more cups than most fans will see in the rest of their lives. Every team crashes and burns sooner or later, not all of them get to go like this.

 

[Mafoofoo]

I'm not sure we're even that optimistic. I think most of us are aware that our roster has flaws, and that balancing everything on the shoulders of four injury prone guys in their 30s has a big ol' risk factor.

But it's ambitious, it should be fun, and if it goes wrong we've already seen more cups than most fans will see in the rest of their lives. Every team crashes and burns sooner or later, not all of them get to go like this.

Nah, the Pens will never truly crash and burn. Once Crosby retires the league will do everything in its power to send them another generational player (either through the draft or somehow forcing Edmonton to trade them McDavid)

 

[Empoleon8771]

Nah, the Pens will never truly crash and burn. Once Crosby retires the league will do everything in its power to send them another generational player (either through the draft or somehow forcing Edmonton to trade them McDavid)

From your lips to God's ears.

I pray that this ends up true just so I can read the tears of fans on this site.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Great addition for the Pens that will allow them to just hang in there.

 

[Brent Burns]

This is immense for the Pens, now that I've had more time to think about it. These are some of the hungriest players on the planet when it comes to motivation. This team is built to go far in the playoffs BUT only as long as the big 4 can remain healthy. The issues will arise if/when one of them is injured as their depth is quite slim. If that happens, it will require at least one of the depth guys to put up an unsung performance. Still, that's a good place to be. Whoever keeps bringing up age is just being childish.

 

[Gold Diamond]

The league has changed A LOT since then. That was peak dead puck era. Speed not nearly as important as it is in today’s game.

I’m very much enjoying Pens fans optimism. It’s going to be very fun to watch this team crash and burn.

Did the Red Wings miss the playoffs in 2001?

The only way this team crashes and burns is if Crosby, Malkin, and Letang fall off a cliff with their production.

 

[Frank Drebin]

A defender defends foremost and a forward goes forward in my easy read book of hockey.

Do you say other cute things like "we won 2-5" and "he five holed the goalie"?