2024-2025 Season Random Penguins Fodder

[Daniel]

The Athletic recently ranked which teams improved the most this offseason. Penguins came in at 19, with basically a net zero improvement. The main comment...

Technically the Penguins finally improved on Jeff Carter in the bottom six. Technically Kevin Hayes is a sizeable upgrade. Technically.

Perhaps they should’ve aimed higher though as Hayes isn’t a great answer. The downgrade from Reilly Smith to Anthony Beauvillier nullifies whatever advantage is earned on that upgrade.

This probably won’t be a fun season for Sid and friends.

I still believe they'll live/die on PP success. If the PP is top 12-15, they probably are like this past year's Isles or Caps—they get in, but lose in 6 games to their first round opponent.

I can't remember the exact math, but about midway through last season I played with numbers and if the PP was just mediocre it would have added I think 10-15 points at the time. I'm sure we can do the math with X more PP goals potentially equaling X more points. Another sore spot is giving up leads.

I think if the team played a defensive posture and tried for 2-1 3-2 games with a good PP the team can be much better. While the skill isn't great, better coaching could make it a playoff team. Going into the playoffs with a defensive posture that relies on opportunities, who knows what'll happen.

[Cow_Master66]

They aren't going to play a defensive posture. They are going to play the way they've always played.

[Wyopen]

Sign Mirashov NOW!

[Pruezy11881]

Sign Mirashov NOW!

This

[Puck-Lurker]

Sign Mirashov NOW!

This

And sign that Murashov guy too!

[KG]

Between Blomqvist and Murashov we don’t need to draft a goalie anytime soon!

[Daniel]

They aren't going to play a defensive posture. They are going to play the way they've always played.

I know and that's sad but it is what it is.

[KG]

Suter to the Blues . See if he gets bought out for a third time.

[KG]

Wonder why the Pens signed Tanner Howe already ? Yager still unsigned.

[Sigwolf]

Between Blomqvist and Murashov we don’t need to draft a goalie anytime soon!

If the Pens don't manage to keep Murashov in North America, that is no sure thing.

[FLPensFan]

Zohorna signs in Switzerland per Taylor Haase

[largegarlic]

Between Blomqvist and Murashov we don’t need to draft a goalie anytime soon!

If the Pens don't manage to keep Murashov in North America, that is no sure thing.

Yeah, it just seems like with the geopolitical situation, if Murashov is willing, they should get him under contract somehow and keep him in the U.S. We don't want to potentially miss the next Shesterkin because he's stuck behind the new Iron Curtain.

[KG]

Neil Smith just tweeted Pens and Sid are far away on a new contract according to people who know….

[lemieuxReturns]

Neil Smith just tweeted Pens and Sid are far away on a new contract according to people who know….

This makes more sense than what Rossi said. The fact this is not done yet is more an indication that there is a problem.

[Ericf]

Neil Smith just tweeted Pens and Sid are far away on a new contract according to people who know….

This makes more sense than what Rossi said. The fact this is not done yet is more an indication that there is a problem.

Yeah and Sid should have a problem if he wants to win. The team is essentially cap dump fodder now

[FLPensFan]

Between Blomqvist and Murashov we don’t need to draft a goalie anytime soon!

If the Pens don't manage to keep Murashov in North America, that is no sure thing.

Yeah, it just seems like with the geopolitical situation, if Murashov is willing, they should get him under contract somehow and keep him in the U.S. We don't want to potentially miss the next Shesterkin because he's stuck behind the new Iron Curtain.

I'm really torn on what the best path forward is for Murashov. If Russia wasn't so busy being Russia, it would be easy choice to say he needs to go back to Russia IF he is going to play in the KHL and not the MHL. KHL is better than the AHL, and definitely better than the ECHL, so playing against tougher competition would be good for him.

The other half of me says even with the log jam, keep him here, let him start the season in the ECHL and be the main guy there, reward him with some AHL games if he plays well or if one of Gauthier or Larsson plays poorly. At some point in the season, I think the Penguins will need to decide to move on from Larsson or Gauthier. Larsson signed a 2 year deal. Maybe the Penguins can parlay Gauthier's good ECHL season into a decent prospect swap if he can show a little bit of that in some AHL games.

Murashov, by the way, is still in town. Taylor Haase says she saw him this morning at the practice rink, so there's a chance he might get on the ice with Crosby, Smith, and Dumoulin today. Tanner Howe is supposed to skate with them, maybe Pickering and a few others that haven't cleared out of town yet after the dev camp.

[Pitts]

Neil Smith just tweeted Pens and Sid are far away on a new contract according to people who know….

This makes more sense than what Rossi said. The fact this is not done yet is more an indication that there is a problem.

Yeah and Sid should have a problem if he wants to win. The team is essentially cap dump fodder now

Spector's just had an article today saying Sid signing soon is NOT BS. So, who to believe? And to be truthful, Neil Smith has always been a whacko, especially as GM.

[FLPensFan]

Neil Smith just tweeted Pens and Sid are far away on a new contract according to people who know….

This makes more sense than what Rossi said. The fact this is not done yet is more an indication that there is a problem.

Yeah and Sid should have a problem if he wants to win. The team is essentially cap dump fodder now

Spector's just had an article today saying Sid signing soon is NOT BS. So, who to believe? And to be truthful, Neil Smith has always been a whacko, especially as GM.

Yeah, sorry Neil Smith but...

[Pitts]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10127818

That's the article. He also states that trading Jarry IS BS.

[Puck-Lurker]

Between Blomqvist and Murashov we don’t need to draft a goalie anytime soon!

If the Pens don't manage to keep Murashov in North America, that is no sure thing.

Yeah, it just seems like with the geopolitical situation, if Murashov is willing, they should get him under contract somehow and keep him in the U.S. We don't want to potentially miss the next Shesterkin because he's stuck behind the new Iron Curtain.

I'm really torn on what the best path forward is for Murashov. If Russia wasn't so busy being Russia, it would be easy choice to say he needs to go back to Russia IF he is going to play in the KHL and not the MHL. KHL is better than the AHL, and definitely better than the ECHL, so playing against tougher competition would be good for him.

The other half of me says even with the log jam, keep him here, let him start the season in the ECHL and be the main guy there, reward him with some AHL games if he plays well or if one of Gauthier or Larsson plays poorly. At some point in the season, I think the Penguins will need to decide to move on from Larsson or Gauthier. Larsson signed a 2 year deal. Maybe the Penguins can parlay Gauthier's good ECHL season into a decent prospect swap if he can show a little bit of that in some AHL games.

Murashov, by the way, is still in town. Taylor Haase says she saw him this morning at the practice rink, so there's a chance he might get on the ice with Crosby, Smith, and Dumoulin today. Tanner Howe is supposed to skate with them, maybe Pickering and a few others that haven't cleared out of town yet after the dev camp.

Could try to lend Murashov to a team in the SHL or Liiga? Those are excellent leagues in their own right and the next best thing if not the NHL or KHL.

[KG]

Don't know who this guy is. But Hall would make a lot of sense. Only 1 year left. If he's healthy he would fill a hole on LW with Sid.

[FLPensFan]

Don't know who this guy is. But Hall would make a lot of sense. Only 1 year left. If he's healthy he would fill a hole on LW with Sid.

Pretty sure this guy was gaining some notoriety for trade rumors, claiming to be a former NHL scout. At this point though, I think he's just like any other Eklund or other crazy insider guy...doesn't really get much right.

[FLPensFan]

Looks like we aren't getting very far in the "getting younger" department:

[Puck-Lurker]

Looks like we aren't getting very far in the "getting younger" department:

Some fiddling with numbers. I took the opening night roster with some mock roster I have in my head for 24-25.

Thirteen guys stayed, they all aged a year since last year (shocker).
F: Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Rakell, Eller, Acciari, DOC
D: Karlsson, Letang, Graves, Pettersson
G: Jarry, Ned
Adding +13

Mutations:
- Smith (32) --> Beauvillier (27) -5
- Harkins (26) --> Lizotte (26) =0
- Guentzel (29) --> Bunting (28) -1
- Carter (39) --> Hayes (32) -7
- Nieto (31) --> Puljujarvi (26) -5*
- Ruhwedel (33) --> St Ivany (24) -9
- POJ (24) --> Grelczyk (30) +6
Subtracting -21 (or -16, if we don't factor in Nieto immediately going to LTIR again).

We're getting younger - in part. Our stars are getting older.

They probably got a higher age, because they're figuring Aho or Shea is playing over St Ivany. Meh whatever.

[Dynasty1970]

ON THIS DAY in 2001, the Pittsburgh Penguins TRADED Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals, in exchange for Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek & Future considerations.
... the 3 players received went on to score just 73 points combined.