Ex-Penguins Update: February 21, 2016

1. Thanks Rick,

   There are many times I wonder what certain ex-Pens are doing but then am too lazy to check.

   Now, the questions are;

   1) Which of those ex-Penguins would you have liked the Pens to keep when they were traded or let go via FA?

   2) Which of those ex-Pens (if any) would you like to see on the team right now?

   1. Great questions, Other Rick. Kind of tough (and fun) ones, too. Without putting a ton of thought into it, here goes:

      1) Even though we couldn’t afford to re-sign them, in a perfect “no restrictions” hockey world I would have kept Jussi Jokinen, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik. Same with Jordan Staal. And I would undo last season’s deadline deals where we exchanged Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo for Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole. And I’m not a Lovejoy hater. In fact, I think he’s done a good job for us this year. It’s just that we’d have a core of young d-men (Maatta, Pouliot, Dumoulin, Despres and Bortuzzo) to go with Letang that would possess a nice blend of attributes. That would have lessened my need to keep Niskanen and Orpik.

      2) This one’s kind of a loaded question. But if I could have anyone I wanted (with no thoughts as to how they’d fit or how I’d pay for them): Jaromir Jagr, Jussi Jokinen, Jordan Staal, James Neal (incredible shot/release), Jake Muzzin (how’d he slip through the cracks?), Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Taylor Chorney (really good spare d-man), Tanner Glass (or Chris Thorburn for toughness), Despres, Bortuzzo, and Zach Sill (tough as nails).

      How about you?

      1. Hi Rick’s,
         Sorry to butt in on your post guys.Other Rick asked a really good question in number 2 above and your answers are very telling of the one’s that got away from us Rick. My question is to both of you in that “If your were JR,what trades would you make to the Pen’s before next week’s deadline of the 29th to help them win a cup.”? I am anxious to see your responses because you are both very intelligent and informed hockey minds.
         Keep in mind that this is possibly the last year the CORE will be kept together if we fail to go far in the playoffs and there is extreme pressure to win now and sell the Team.One of the partners is highly motivated to see this happen!

         Thanks Rick’s,

         1. Hey Jim,

            You ask a really good question, too. I am thinking about it and will let you know in a little later today.

         2. Hey Jim,

            Never feel badly about offering your opinion. That’s what this site for is for … 🙂

            Great question about what to do if you’re JR. Like the Other Rick, I’d need to give it some thought.

         3. Hey Jim,

            I am not all that sure that the Pens need to make any major deals right now. Back around January 1, Vegas had the Pens at 30 or 35 to 1 to win the Cup. This morning when I checked, they had Pittsburgh listed at 17 to 1. The way the team is responding to Sullivan, the mix of the small trades for Daley and Hagelin and the progress of some of these kids have cut the odds in half despite some big injuries to Malkin, Fehr, and Bonino.

            Another part of my reticence to deal is that the Pens have very little in the way of anyone to trade. Dealing Murray would be suicide for the team’s future and although with Hornqvist and Kessel, Sprong may be a little less important, I would think that he should be off limits too. Trading MAF this year instead of Murray would also be a bad move, Murray may be ready to make a Cup run but I wouldn’t want to take that chance. And those are the players likely to get the most return.

            Although in MAFs case, I just may be willing to trade him next year at the trade deadline, depending on Jarry’s development. Don’t get me wrong, MAF is another player that the kid in me would love to see retire a Pen, but for the good of the team, next year, if Jarry looks like he may be less than 2 years from the bigs, I would deal MAF. His stock should still be very high, especially since his contract is very reasonable compared to at least his regular season abilities.

            However, if I could work a deal with what is left, and considering the players from other teams said to be on the block I would try to get;

            At LW – I would go after McGinn, Ladd, Hartnell, or Druoin. All are potentially nothing more than rent-a-players. McGinn, Ladd, and Hartnell could all add a little more scoring touch and Hartnell could certainly add a little more grit. I have seen some rumor mills discussing Ladd and Hartnell. To get either of those 2, the Pens may have to try and get someone to take Kunitz, so that would end up being a push this year, but if the Pens could work that deal, they would be able to get out from under Kunitz contract next year and there is no guarantee that at his age Kunitz could play as well as he has been next year.

            McGinn is less than 3mil hit and much younger than Hartnell or Ladd, so Buffalo may want more for him, but after seeing his name on the trading block and considering the lack of LW depth. Of course, since McGinn is also in the last year of his contract I may want to try and get Ladd or Hartnell now, especially if the Pens can get out from under Kunitz’s last year. Then in the off-season go after McGinn on the FA market.

            I listed Druoin, not so much from the stand point that he could help the team this year, but with the idea of looking to the future and the Pens lack of LW depth and whoever the Bolts trade Druoin too may tie him up with a fairly long contract.

            On D the name I have hear kicked around the most as a potential Pens trade is Hamnuis. He is a 4+ million hit so Pens would have to find room to get him and I am not all that sold on him. As to being better than what we already have.

            However, I just did read a blog suggesting that St Louis may want to move Shattenkirk and the authors suggested that the Pens should look to find a way to make an offer if the Blues do put him on the market. Shattenkirk is also a 4 or 5 mil hit and has 1yr left on his contract. Unfortunately, St Louis would want an offensive forward for him, since the injury bug hit them as well.

            Tying it all up, I guess the only deal I would really look to make is to get Ladd or Hartnell or McGinn. Failing that, I would just go with what I have.

            Sorry I was long winded, I wrote this as I thought and didn’t edit it down to a summary.

            1. Hey Other Rick,

               I like all the guys you mentioned. Love Hartnell’s size and abrasiveness, not to mention his productivity. But at $5M a year I think he’s too pricey. Nor is he the fastest guy in the world. After watching David Perron struggle to keep pace while he was here, I’d be leery of adding a plow horse. Plus, I sense Hartnell’s an old 33.

               I’ve always liked Ladd. Good size, production, and a rep as a good team guy. A touch pricey at $4.5M.

               McGinn intrigues me. He’s younger, cheaper and plays an aggressive, straight-forward game. Good size and a history of fair-to-decent production. While he’s not a fighter by nature, he’ll drop the gloves if the situation calls for it. Doesn’t pick his spots and handles himself fairly well.

      2. Hey Rick;

         The number one player on that list that I would have loved to see retire a Pen is the one player that we never could have kept. I have always thought that Jagr was/is in the top 5 all time players. Unfortunately, he wanted out of Pgh and really messed the team up by going public with his trade demands making it absolutely improssible to even get with 3 or 4 standard deviations of equal talent in the trade; what was it Beech, Lupashick, and Sivik?

         But my list is very similar for I would have liked to keep. Having voiced my opinion on Jagr, in a perfect world, I would have liked the Pens to keep Jokinnen, Niskanen, Orpik, Staal, Despres, Goligoski, Kennedy, and Martin. (Orpik, like Jagr, is one of those players that the kid in me would have like to see retire a Penguin). The down side to that list is that I liked how Niskanen developed, but had the Pens not traded Goligoski they wouldn’t have gotten him, so I would have had to try a different deal to get Niskanen. Staal, especially after growing up and filling out would be the perfect fit right now as the 2/3rd line Center. Kennedy was never a great goal scorer, but he was one of those role players that always found a way to score an important/game winning goal, especially in the play-offs. He served as a great 3/4 line forward, a lot like Troy Loney on the first Cup team.

         As for the second question, looking at those players right now, melding them back on to this team; Despres stands out as the first to pick. I am not a Lovejoy hater per se, but I have been extremely critical of him up until recently when he was demoted to the third pairing. I didn’t know enough about Muzzin when he was in our system, but he is another player I would consider. Not sure how I would work him in yet (Maata, Letang, Dumoulin, Daley, Pouliot, and Despres). As much as I like Pouliot, he may be the odd man out at least in the beginning, until I could see how they worked with one another.

         I could see why you said Neal, Rick. I like him too, despite the random bad penalty, but my hesitations would be, do we still get Hornqvost? and will he be willing or the team willing to play him at LW, Whe he was here, he mostly played on the right side and with Hornqvist, Kessel, and Sprong, the right sided looks pretty good. So I may opt for Jokinnen, since he also worked well with Malkin or Comeau. The Left Wing is my biggest concern.

         That is why I am watching Wilson with interest right now, hoping to see if this streak will become the norm and not the exception.

         Looking at some of these players like a Jagr, Inginla, Martin, etc, they could make a huge impact this year, but impede the growth of some of the Kids by bottle necking them, depending on their contract length.

         1. Thanks Guys. I can not wait to see what you as General Managers would do.It will be interesting for sure!
            I thought to be fair, I had better post my trade ideas before you.
            Two positions,Center and Goal I am happy with! Crosby,Malkin,Bonino and Cullen.No change. In Goal, AMF and Mat Murray…Then trade Jeff Zarkoff in a package..
            On right wing,Kessel with Crosby, New winger for Malkin,Patrick H. with Bonino,and Fehr with Cullen.My first trade would be to Dallas for 6’4 210 pounds,20 year old Russian right winger, Valeri Nichushkin. The kid is playing his final year of a entry level contract so he has a low cap hit.Last year he was injured all year and did not play.He was a projected top 5 in his draft year. Dallas needs a d man and a goalie and they said they would move him for the right deal. ( Poliot and Zarkoff and or another from WBS for right winger VN. He is not a rental.)Malkin and him would shine together. On my left side I would keep Kunitz with Sid,Carl Hagelin with Malkin, and trade Beau Bennett to Toronto for 25 year old,former first rounder,6’2″ 200 # Peter Holland. He has scored 9 goals and has 23 points to date.He is not a rental player however he is in his final year of a 775,000 entry level contract.Toronto wants to help us get into the playoffs to get our 1st round pick.
            I would trade Sergi Plotnikov in a package deal for a new d-man.Now my 4th line left wing would be either Wilson or Tom Kuhnackl. I would keep Rust up with the big club for injuries.
            For my Defense corps,Letang and Maatta,Daley and a new # 4 D man, Brian D. and Ben Lovejoy. So that leaves me Ian Cole,Sergi P., one of the current WBP players and …do not shoot me, Daniel Sprong to package for a new RENTAL d man to play in the 3/4 spot with Daley.Why? Because VN will offset the loss of Sprong and keep Malkin happy.
            In a nut shell, One right winger, one left winger and one D man. Let’s see what you guys would do???
            Thanks again.

            1. Hey Jim,

               I didn’t see VN’s name on any ones trading block but that is an intriguing deal. I love his size and what little I have seen of his play, I have thought about what he would look like in a Pens sweater. I wish I would have read your post before I wrote mine. I may want to amend mine.

               With the play-offs about to start, moving Zatkoff, if we could, is a pretty good idea. I would be more comfortable with Murray as the back-up in the play-offs, anyway. My only reservation is Pouliot. With the way Letang is playing and Daley, Pouliot would seem expendable, but I worry about Letang’s health.

               I understand why you list Sprong, with Kessel and Hornqvist, the Pens have time to look for another RW So I wouldn’t get all that upset. It would be interesting to see if St Louis would go for something like you suggest for Shattenkirk.

               Getting anything for Cole, Bennett, and Plotnikov at this point would be a bonus. I did see a discussion of Bennett getting traded to Carolina, New Jersey, or Columbus. In these trades I the names that most intrigued me were Oliver Bjorkstrand and Sebastian Aho from Columbus and Carolina respectively.

               With Cole, Bennett, and Plotnikov, I didn’t really consider anything because I caouldn’t imagine anyone wnating them. They would have to be throw ins. Well maybe not Bennett, he did look fair until getting injured again. but I am not sure we can trade him right now since he is injured.

Comments are closed.