Guentzel at 3c?

[theicebox]

What are people's thoughts on Guentzel at 3c, for the longer-term?

The NHL stats page lists his 2017-18 face-off % at 50.56%, which was higher than I expected.

Guentzel on the PK? Guentzel on the PP? Guentzel at ES, do we role three offensive lines? Or is this a band-aid solution, until a trade?

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[Night Shift]

Its fine once in a while to put him on the 3rd line for matchup purposes but i think its wasting his talent putting in a permanent bottom 6 role.

 

[Tom Hanks]

He’s a winger.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

The roster is pretty flawed, so he's there as a stop gap. Once JR sorts things out at forward, he'll be a winger again.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think the Penguins want him at winger, but they also like his ability to play center. He won't be a full time center, he's not good enough defensively for what the team needs him to be, but he'll likely move to center in case of an injury to any of their other centers.

 

[Jacob]

I prefer him at wing. It's nice to have the option though. Maybe him getting some time at C now will benefit us some other time when one of the big 2 are out for an extended period. But we need a 3C.

 

[Pens1566]

Temporary solution. Back to L1 LW as soon as a 3C is acquired.

 

[KIRK]

He's a better 3C than Sheahan.

 

[ncm7772]

Eh, it's a decent temporary fix. Think he's looked ok and the team has looked ok since the change. I agree with the consensus, though. He's a winger and the team needs an actual 3C.

 

[ncm7772]

He's a better 3C than Sheahan.

Team has certainly looked better with him there, and Sheahan at 4C.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Temporary.

 

[KIRK]

Eh, it's a decent temporary fix. Think he's looked ok and the team has looked ok since the change. I agree with the consensus, though. He's a winger and the team needs an actual 3C.

This also is true, although I think the move for Jake is to LW on a line with Kessel where they are centered by the magical 3C we're going to acquire by only giving up our crap.

 

[Shady Machine]

With Kessel it works, at least temporarily. Phil controls the puck like a center up the ice. Jake takes faceoffs and plays center in the Dzone.

 

[ncm7772]

This also is true, although I think the move for Jake is to LW on a line with Kessel where they are centered by the magical 3C we're going to acquire by only giving up our crap.

I'd be ok with that.

 

[KIRK]

I'd be ok with that.

Now we just need some magic fairy dust to get a GM to trade us a 3C for our crap.

 

[PensPlz]

If we can't find a center or make a deal for a center... But we can make a deal to get an upgrade on the left side wing... Then sure. Jake at center works for now.

But we should be looking for a center for a long term solution.

 

[Gurglesons]

Like I said against the Islanders, Sheary - Jake - Kessel is basically everything that is great and completely wrong with our line-up.

Honestly, I think Jake is too small and weak for center.

 

[KIRK]

Like I said against the Islanders, Sheary - Jake - Kessel is basically everything that is great and completely wrong with our line-up.

Honestly, I think Jake is too small and weak for center.

He's also a better 3C choice than Sheahan.

 

[ncm7772]

Now we just need some magic fairy dust to get a GM to trade us a 3C for our crap.

Men are weak. Send a GM of a non-contender a couple substantially attractive women. Make sure the present is tagged "Remember this - GMJR"

I kid, I kid. But you know there have been deals sweetened in this manner!

 

[Peat]

I haven't seen enough to comment all that much, but he's gonna have to produce at one hell of a rate to make it worth losing out on his production as a top 6 winger.

Great option to have around though.

Men are weak. Send a GM of a non-contender a couple substantially attractive women. Make sure the present is tagged "Remember this - GMJR"

I kid, I kid. But you know there have been deals sweetened in this manner!

This isn't the oil industry now!

 

[KIRK]

I haven't seen enough to comment all that much, but he's gonna have to produce at one hell of a rate to make it worth losing out on his production as a top 6 winger.

Great option to have around though.

He hasn't exactly been producing as a top six winger. Just saying . . .

 

[Peat]

He hasn't exactly been producing as a top six winger. Just saying . . .

0.52 ppg is good for 47th among NHL.com's left wingers. That kinda sounds like a top six winger to me.

And that's as part of a super underperforming team.

 

[KIRK]

0.52 ppg is good for 47th among NHL.com's left wingers. That kinda sounds like a top six winger to me.

And that's as part of a super underperforming team.

His 200 foot game hasn' been where it was last year.

 

[KIRK]

0.52 ppg is good for 47th among NHL.com's left wingers. That kinda sounds like a top six winger to me.

And that's as part of a super underperforming team.

His 200 foot game hasn' been where it was last year.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Now we just need some magic fairy dust to get a GM to trade us a 3C for our crap.

Why are we only giving up crap? Is that what some delusional posters here believe?

I'd happily give up quality assets for a legit 3C. I would hope that most people 12 and over would agree.