Guentzel to represent the Penguins at the 2020 All Star Game

1. Hi TOR!

   As I write these lines, Guentzel is out for 4-6 months! Really bad timing for him and the Pens. I heard it was a torn labrum. This kind of injury takes a long time to heal.

   Guys, do you think GMJR should trade someone or try to find someone to replace Jake?

   A very happy New Year to all of you!

   1. Hi Jorenz,

      Funny you should ask that question, I was just taking about that with someone as soon as I learned Jake was out. Or I should be saying bemoaning the fact that the team is soooo injured that they have nothing they can trade at the moment. Maybe once Schultz and Dumoulin come back the team could try to deal a D-man or 2 and toss in Bjugstad and Simon for a real NHL Winger.

      Until they come back, Galchenyuk had better be hitting a groove. It would be nice to see Sully actually give Adam Johnson a chance, or even with all of the Left Handed shots playing RW, maybe Angello a chance (With Noessen gone Angello has been taking serious advantage of the better TOI).

      However, barring McCann, Lafferty, Kahun, Galchenyuk, Tanev, really stepping up, I would look to trade as soon as I could.

      And no, I didn’t forget Simon, his name was deliberately left off. Many Simon lovers are praising the ersatz NHLer saying that he is heating up, after 2 goals in 3 game; that is a laugh. To be heating up means that at one time Simon actual was a goal scorer. Truth is at 25 and about 1/2 he has barely managed 16 Goals in 148 games in the NHL – roughly 9 Goals an 82 GP season. What makes that stat all the more pathetic is that roughly 40% of all Simon’s ice time over the last 3 seasons has been with Crosby.

      Maybe Simon will actually learn to score, stranger things have happened, but it won’t be a case of him heating up, it will be a case of him finally learning how to play hockey and breaking out.

      But getting back to a trade – even though he and Malkin got into a tussle JG Pageau is UFA, I may look to deal here. If Ottawa falters anymore, they may look to deal. I don’t know what they would want but it couldn’t hurt to inquire. He may be a Right Handed Shot but he can play W or C can play PK and has speed – and can finish (something Simon hasn’t shown yet).

      Another player about which I may inquire is Athanasiou. He will be RFA and Detroit is falling farther back. He too has tons of speed and can play all F positions. Detroit still may not look to deal, but it never hurts to ask.

      Truthfully, I am hoping that the team can figure out how to pull it off in-house. I am hoping quality TOI will show Kahun, Galchenyuk, Tanev, Laffery, or someone from WBS can pick up the slack, whether one of them or by committee.

      Teams will be trying to over-charge for players and I wouldn’t want to get tied down to a high-priced veteran who could screw up the Cap for years to come or throw away prospects for a true aged rental. With the way Poulin is looking in the Jrs, not to mention that Addison was named to team Canada for the WJCs (even though I don’t see what the fuss is about), the way Legare and Bjorkqvist (Even though he too is injured) played in Preseason, and the way Adam Johnson and Anthony Angello are playing in WBS there is a bit of optimism for the future, at least more so than last year.

      Happy New Decade!!!!

      1. Thanks for your insight TOR! Always informative!

         J.-G. Pageau would be my favourite one. He is a good two-way player and would be a good fit with the Pens. But we’ll see what GMJR is ready to undertake.

         Happy New Decade to you too!

   2. Hey Jorenz

      I forgot about Chris Kreider, that could be interesting. The Pens would have to not be on his NTC list of 11 teams and he may be nothing more than a rental but he could fill the bill. Just like about, I wonder what NYR would ask. Kreider is 28 and UFA so I am not sure how much I would be willing to give up to get him.

      Another name I saw some people throw out that I did think about originally (Mainly because he still is under contract and not a FA) is Brandon Saad. He is 27 but I could see spending a little more for him in terms of trade value since he wouldn’t be a complete rental. Although he is fairly expensive for next year at $6 million. If I did trade for him, unless Galchenyuk really steps up his game, I guess letting AG go would help solve that.

      I am not a Toffoli fan, or should I say I doubt that he would fill enough of the JG loss for what LAK would ask.

2. Hey Other Rick,

   Your boy Simon scored again … 🙂 He’s bound for first-line duty when Crosby comes back (hee hee).

   Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself … 🙂

   Rick

   1. Hey Rick,

      I put my response to your thoughts on Simon above when answering Jorenz.

3. Well deserved – Congrats Jake bring home the car!!

   Go Pens

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