Speculation: Pens Offseason

[justafan22]

Obviously the wound is very fresh, but what changes could we see in Pittsburgh this offseason?

No UFAs of note, and only Sheahan and Oleksiak are RFAs.

Do we see a Letang trade to free up money?

Click to read more...

 

[DJN21]

Have to imagine buffalo and pitt talk deals as botts tries to put the old band back together so to speak.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

You need a legitimate backup goaltender.

 

[Headshot77]

At this point, I don't know what team would want to take on Kris Letang and his contract.

 

[orby]

I think Rutherford will try to dangle Letang for a high-ish draft pick.

 

[justafan22]

At this point, I don't know what team would want to take on Kris Letang and his contract.

You'd have to either retain salary (I doubt JR does that), or trade him full value for a less than expected return (Think 2nd rounder + prospect).

if the oilers had cap room they'd be all over him, but they're cap strapped so who else? Vancouver?

EDIT (Montreal is the perfect fit if they strike out on Tavares)

 

[MSSLYNX]

4th straight year without a first rounder. At some point that will sting.

 

[BigHabs]

Hunwick and Sheary offloaded. Try to free up that cap space.

Try to acquire a top 6 scoring forward. Sprong probably used to acquire that top 6 forward. Or use him possibly on his off wing as the amount of RWs the Pens have.

Sign another mobile defenseman maybe a De Haan / Green / Enstrom. Just add more speed as a whole to the backend.


Guentzel Crosby Hornqvist
Sprong/???? Malkin Kessel
Hagelin Brassard Rust
Simon Sheahan Aston-Reese
Kuhnhackl

Dumoulin Letang
Maata Schultz
Oleksiak Green
Ruhwedel

Murray
DeSmith

 

[kerrabria]

Was not a fan of the Brassard trade when it happens, but it just looks bad now. Cole was very valuable, and Brassard didn't bring much of anything to the table. But that's the gamble, it's not always gonna work out.

I think Rutherford will try to dangle Letang for a high-ish draft pick.

Why a high draft pick? How does that help the Pens? I would imagine it's be for a lower end, defensively steady, RD+? Not saying it would happen, but wouldn't something like...

to PIT: Larsson, Strome
to EDM: Letang

be more along the lines of what people would want?

Then trade Sheary, Hunwick and one of their 13th forwards for a new, lower end offensive guy?

Roll...

Guentzel - Crosby - Hornqvist
Brassard - Malkin - Sprong
Hagelin - Strome - Kessel
Kuhnhackl - Sheahan - Rust
Simon/Aston-Reese

Dumoulin - Larsson
Maatta - xxxx
Oleksiak -Schultz

 

[ismelofhockey]

They could try getting some rest this summer. That would be new.

 

[Dominance]

Get Letang the hell out. Dude is straight trash but I bet there would be a lineup of GMs willing to get suckered if he was put on the block. Definitely think youngish, steady top-4 D + significant piece could come back (even if he’s IMO not worth that). Don’t make any other changes other than signing a good top-6 d-man willing to take a short contract for a chance at the cup. We’re still set to be a favourite next year.

 

[GoSenatorsGo]

Ottawa will take Crosby off your hands, a change of scenery should rejuvenate his career.

 

[PensRedwings2887]

Unload Sheary and Hunwick. Field offers for Letang.

 

[Starat327]

They could try getting some rest this summer. That would be new.

It pains me as a flyers fan, but you can have my like here.

 

[domaug]

Ottawa will take Crosby off your hands, a change of scenery should rejuvenate his career.

how about Letang for Karlsson and Ottawa's 1st this year? Karlsson is going to leave after next season anyway and the price for the stability you get with Letang's contract is that high 1st.

 

[EDMOILERS9729]

Letang to Edm with retention or with a cap dump going back ie Russel Sekera or Lucic.

 

[BigHabs]

Would a deal around:

Pacioretty
Petry

For

Letang
Sprong

Work ?

Cap works well for Pittsburgh. 1 final year earlier with Petry’s Contract. Boost the top 6 with another 30g scorer who is defensive responsibly.

Montreal takes on a risk in Letang knock on wood he remains healthy based on his good season this year. Gets Montreal a lot of options on the PP. Sprong would be a young player the Habs might want to get to start getting younger up front.

It’d be ridiculous if the Habs got a line of:

Zadina Tavares Sprong
Galchenyuk Drouin Scherbak

Letangs health questions and Petry almost similar production this passed season and also a year less in contract. The Pens fit Pacioretty in by shedding 2mill in cap space in the difference of the two dmen.

The Pens can still look to shed Sheary and Hunwick.

Obviously add what you think would be needed from both sides as there is given and take on both sides.

 

[Pens x]

Hopefully JR has a more productive offseason summer this upcoming summer compared to last summer.

Last summer:
Reaves (moved down in the draft)
Hunwick
Niemi
Overpaid Dumo and Sheary

We spent half of the season playing 4 crappy forward AHL players every single game.

Rutherford needs to be more proactive. Find a vet backup that isn’t awful. Re-sign Oleksiak and Sheahan, depending on his price. Give up on Sheary and Hunwick if you can find suitors. Land a top 5/6 dman in free agency that isn’t as bad as Hunwick.

 

[voxel]

Was not a fan of the Brassard trade when it happens, but it just looks bad now. Cole was very valuable, and Brassard didn't bring much of anything to the table. But that's the gamble, it's not always gonna work out.



Why a high draft pick? How does that help the Pens? I would imagine it's be for a lower end, defensively steady, RD+? Not saying it would happen, but wouldn't something like...

to PIT: Larsson, Strome
to EDM: Letang

be more along the lines of what people would want?

No way Oilers do that. We love Larsson. You can have Russell though.

 

[GoSenatorsGo]

how about Letang for Karlsson and Ottawa's 1st this year? Karlsson is going to leave after next season anyway and the price for the stability you get with Letang's contract is that high 1st.

That’d be a hard no there chief

 

[Pens x]

They could try getting some rest this summer. That would be new.

This is a bs excuse. These guys are in fantastic shape, this is just an easy-out excuse.

 

[lawrence]

find legit 3rd line players. Bonino and Cullen were awesome grinders for the Pens. Sheahan and Brassard are not bad, but their bottom 6 was just not the same.

 

[domaug]

Hopefully JR has a more productive offseason summer this upcoming summer compared to last summer.

Last summer:
Reaves (moved down in the draft)
Hunwick
Niemi
Overpaid Dumo and Sheary

We spent half of the season playing 4 crappy forward AHL players every single game.

Rutherford needs to be more proactive. Find a vet backup that isn’t awful. Re-sign Oleksiak and Sheahan, depending on his price. Give up on Sheary and Hunwick if you can find suitors. Land a top 5/6 dman in free agency that isn’t as bad as Hunwick.

Dumoulin was their best defenseman this season. that wasn't an overpayment.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Their most important moves this summer will be to free up enough cap room to allow for wrist surgery for Kessel, knee surgery for Malkin, and brain surgery for Letang.

 

[ismelofhockey]

This is a bs excuse. These guys are in fantastic shape, this is just an easy-out excuse.

It was a joke. You can't win it every year. Doesn't mean you need big changes.