Since HB is apparently rumoring the Pens being in on Blackwood, how about:

Jarry, Hayes & 2026 2nd for Blackwood and Goodrow.

We save about $5M next season and while Goodrow is overpaid and playing bad hockey, he at least adds an element of toughness to the team. SJ could pair Jarry with Askarov and have a fairly cheap tandem, hoping that they push each other.
- MacPatty

I saw that. Unless they can move Jarry like you proposed it makes no sense. I'd have to look at Blomqvist over Blackwood as their next goalie.

Not sure if they would deal a 2nd after being so active to add them. Not saying they shouldn't consider it, just that I don't see Dubas doing that. Retaining salary to make a deal I can see.

I just have trouble seeing anyone wanting Jarry. And I don't really see Blackwood as an answer, just a shorter contract. Ned is more likely to go with a Jarry/Blomqvist tandem after Blomqvist gets a little more AHL time.

Sid could set himself free if he really wanted to haha. He could ask to be traded and not sign extensions.
- MattStrat

He’s too loyal; he’ll never make a peep.

But he’s one of the all-time greats and could add a few more cups to his resume with the right company. It’s not going to happen in Pittsburgh in the time he has left. Send him to the Avs for some first rounders, kick-start a Pens rebuild and let him pad his stats and get a few more cup runs in with Mack. It’s the right thing to do.

Set him free.

I saw that. Unless they can move Jarry like you proposed it makes no sense. I'd have to look at Blomqvist over Blackwood as their next goalie.

Not sure if they would deal a 2nd after being so active to add them. Not saying they shouldn't consider it, just that I don't see Dubas doing that. Retaining salary to make a deal I can see.

I just have trouble seeing anyone wanting Jarry. And I don't really see Blackwood as an answer, just a shorter contract. Ned is more likely to go with a Jarry/Blomqvist tandem after Blomqvist gets a little more AHL time.
- Tojo.

IMO Dubas needs to come out and say a) this year is a write off. b) We are going to reload for next year and take a run at a cup. I think he is going to be able to get a 2nd for Pettersson and some mid/late picks for some of our other trade chips.

Look, Dubas overpaid Marner once, I expect if he makes it to free agency he will try to do so again but he will have some serious cap clearing to do first.,

IMO Dubas needs to come out and say a) this year is a write off. b) We are going to reload for next year and take a run at a cup. I think he is going to be able to get a 2nd for Pettersson and some mid/late picks for some of our other trade chips.

Look, Dubas overpaid Marner once, I expect if he makes it to free agency he will try to do so again but he will have some serious cap clearing to do first.,
- MacPatty

I don't know why fans are asking for Dubas to come out and say these things lol you can literally see it with all the moves he's made. He took multiple shots in the dark at change of scenery moves. If they worked, so be it, but there was no clear -- "we're going for it" moves at all on this season.

Also -- overpaid for Marner? lol okay. Sure. The guys been over a PPG for the last 7 years. What do you think a PPG player in their early 20s costs?

I don't know why fans are asking for Dubas to come out and say these things lol you can literally see it with all the moves he's made. He took multiple shots in the dark at change of scenery moves. If they worked, so be it, but there was no clear -- "we're going for it" moves at all on this season.
- j.boyd919

Hard to send a clearer message than Beau as 1LW and adding Hayes and Grz to the lineup at all.

EDIT: And trading Eller!!!

Hard to send a clearer message than Beau as 1LW and adding Hayes and Grz to the lineup at all.

EDIT: And trading Eller!!!
- MickV

right? Like come on -- Dubas doesn't need to say poop, everyone knows what he was doing, if you need some sort of declaration for this season, why? There's nothing to gain from it lol

I don't know why fans are asking for Dubas to come out and say these things lol you can literally see it with all the moves he's made. He took multiple shots in the dark at change of scenery moves. If they worked, so be it, but there was no clear -- "we're going for it" moves at all on this season.

Also -- overpaid for Marner? lol okay. Sure. The guys been over a PPG for the last 7 years. What do you think a PPG player in their early 20s costs?
- j.boyd919

The take that Marner is paid to much also cracks me up...and to add to the things you said he's also out killing penalties as well.

There isnt a single team in the NHL that wouldnt take Marner for what he is making. If, and its a big if, he makes it to free agency, that is the only card Dubas has to play to turn this team around. If you overpay Marner in the summer by $1-2M/season, who the frank cares? I'd take a slightly overpaid Marner than whatever jabroni we'd have otherwise.

Lets say we get a good draft pick and we draft an NHL ready forward and we sign Marner.

Bunting-Crosby-Marner
Rakell-Malkin-Rust
Draft Pick-Signed 3C-McGroarty

For better or for worse, that's a solid top 9. Im more concerned about rebuilding the defense, but that is a pretty painless makeover for our top 9 and finally gives us more than one scoring line.

IMO Dubas needs to come out and say a) this year is a write off. b) We are going to reload for next year and take a run at a cup. I think he is going to be able to get a 2nd for Pettersson and some mid/late picks for some of our other trade chips.

Look, Dubas overpaid Marner once, I expect if he makes it to free agency he will try to do so again but he will have some serious cap clearing to do first.,
- MacPatty

If you want to compete next year, I don't trade Pettersson. We've seen Dubas sign Graves and Gryz from UFA to be top 4 D. Keep what you know works.

Now if you want to collect futures, Pettersson is your best asset. Should get a 2nd+.

The take that Marner is paid to much also cracks me up...and to add to the things you said he's also out killing penalties as well.
- MattStrat

At the time he signed the contract it made him like the 6th highest paid player in the league and 5 years later he was still the 8th highest paid player. He has never been a top 10 player in the league and his production drops materially in the playoffs... including some the absolutely gutless plays he made in last seasons playoffs.

Now, Im talking about trying to sign him, so I can certainly see the value in him as a player and I'm only crapping on him in the context of being one of the top 5-10 players in the league as he has been paid. IMO he is a little bit better version of Phil Kessel, better defensively and maybe a bit better offensively but I'm not so sure Kessel wouldn't have produced the same as him if he had Matthews as his center rather than Tyler Bozak.

There isnt a single team in the NHL that wouldnt take Marner for what he is making. If, and its a big if, he makes it to free agency, that is the only card Dubas has to play to turn this team around. If you overpay Marner in the summer by $1-2M/season, who the frank cares? I'd take a slightly overpaid Marner than whatever jabroni we'd have otherwise.

Lets say we get a good draft pick and we draft an NHL ready forward and we sign Marner.

Bunting-Crosby-Marner
Rakell-Malkin-Rust
Draft Pick-Signed 3C-McGroarty

For better or for worse, that's a solid top 9. Im more concerned about rebuilding the defense, but that is a pretty painless makeover for our top 9 and finally gives us more than one scoring line.
- SuperHenderson13

Unless he somehow gets a third, I'd just keep Puljujarvi. They should probably just consider keeping DOC too. He's not putting up crazy numbers next to Crosby, so he might not get a big return and should be affordable enough. I like their chemistry together (DOC and Puljujarvi) and DOC is a great guy to slide up when injuries hit.

We got so many extra 3rds coming that if we aren't getting at least that, and a player can help us, it makes sense to keep them IMO.

There isnt a single team in the NHL that wouldnt take Marner for what he is making. If, and its a big if, he makes it to free agency, that is the only card Dubas has to play to turn this team around. If you overpay Marner in the summer by $1-2M/season, who the frank cares? I'd take a slightly overpaid Marner than whatever jabroni we'd have otherwise.

Lets say we get a good draft pick and we draft an NHL ready forward and we sign Marner.

Bunting-Crosby-Marner
Rakell-Malkin-Rust
Draft Pick-Signed 3C-McGroarty

For better or for worse, that's a solid top 9. Im more concerned about rebuilding the defense, but that is a pretty painless makeover for our top 9 and finally gives us more than one scoring line.
- SuperHenderson13

I agree with the premise of this. I mean, we are paying Karlsson $4-5M more than he is worth so I wouldnt bat an eye to paying Marner $2M more than he is worth if we can get out of Karlssons contract without major retention.

I think you can call what you have modeled there a good top 6, but draft pick-3C-McGroaty sounds a little.... wishywashy>?

If you want to compete next year, I don't trade Pettersson. We've seen Dubas sign Graves and Gryz from UFA to be top 4 D. Keep what you know works.

Now if you want to collect futures, Pettersson is your best asset. Should get a 2nd+.
- Tojo.

I think you can trade him and try to re-sign him. You arent going to get any hometown discount that way but I think we are going to have to pay him market value to keep him regardless. I also worry that he is a bit of a lanky player and he is the most hit individual in the NHL (and probably has been for a while). I worry a bit about his long term health but still really like the player.

If you dont have him next year, not sure how we pull together a competent LD group but sometimes a good offence is the best defence? We just need to be better all around.

At the time he signed the contract it made him like the 6th highest paid player in the league and 5 years later he was still the 8th highest paid player. He has never been a top 10 player in the league and his production drops materially in the playoffs... including some the absolutely gutless plays he made in last seasons playoffs.

Now, Im talking about trying to sign him, so I can certainly see the value in him as a player and I'm only crapping on him in the context of being one of the top 5-10 players in the league as he has been paid. IMO he is a little bit better version of Phil Kessel, better defensively and maybe a bit better offensively but I'm not so sure Kessel wouldn't have produced the same as him if he had Matthews as his center rather than Tyler Bozak.
- MacPatty

I can kind of get behind this take. Is he top 15 to you? I think he's underrated for how good is defensively and a soft play, when as far as I know he had a really banged up foot, in the playoffs when he didn't go to the corner sticks out to everyone. He has 50 playoff points in 57 playoff games. Thats pretty good.

At the time he signed the contract it made him like the 6th highest paid player in the league and 5 years later he was still the 8th highest paid player. He has never been a top 10 player in the league and his production drops materially in the playoffs... including some the absolutely gutless plays he made in last seasons playoffs.

Now, Im talking about trying to sign him, so I can certainly see the value in him as a player and I'm only crapping on him in the context of being one of the top 5-10 players in the league as he has been paid. IMO he is a little bit better version of Phil Kessel, better defensively and maybe a bit better offensively but I'm not so sure Kessel wouldn't have produced the same as him if he had Matthews as his center rather than Tyler Bozak.
- MacPatty

Since 2019, he's had:
7th most points in the NHL
9th most points per game in the NHL
7th most points in the NHL at ES
19th best on-ice ES GD%

He absolutely has been a top 10 player production-wise, you're just wrong.

Probably a top 5 winger at times as well.

I agree with the premise of this. I mean, we are paying Karlsson $4-5M more than he is worth so I wouldnt bat an eye to paying Marner $2M more than he is worth if we can get out of Karlssons contract without major retention.

I think you can call what you have modeled there a good top 6, but draft pick-3C-McGroaty sounds a little.... wishywashy>?
- MacPatty

There is no way to get out of EKs contract without retaining 50%

Friedman didnt have anything on the Penguins situation on his 30 Thoughts blog which I found interesting. No doubt Dubas is better at keeping things quiet compared to Hextall/Rutherford.

The only thing he mentioned was how we did Eller a solid by trading him where he wanted to go despite having no trade protection.

I agree with the premise of this. I mean, we are paying Karlsson $4-5M more than he is worth so I wouldnt bat an eye to paying Marner $2M more than he is worth if we can get out of Karlssons contract without major retention.

I think you can call what you have modeled there a good top 6, but draft pick-3C-McGroaty sounds a little.... wishywashy>?
- MacPatty

It's an ambitious target considering you'd have 2 near rookies on that line. Im hoping McGroaty can become a permanent fixture in the lineup in the second half of the season.

But this line is impossible if Sullivan sticks around

There isnt a single team in the NHL that wouldnt take Marner for what he is making. If, and its a big if, he makes it to free agency, that is the only card Dubas has to play to turn this team around. If you overpay Marner in the summer by $1-2M/season, who the frank cares? I'd take a slightly overpaid Marner than whatever jabroni we'd have otherwise.

Lets say we get a good draft pick and we draft an NHL ready forward and we sign Marner.

Bunting-Crosby-Marner
Rakell-Malkin-Rust
Draft Pick-Signed 3C-McGroarty

For better or for worse, that's a solid top 9. Im more concerned about rebuilding the defense, but that is a pretty painless makeover for our top 9 and finally gives us more than one scoring line.
- SuperHenderson13

Personally I would rather our top lines next year:

Malkin-Crosby-Marner
Rakell- **2nd line FA center** -Rust
Draft Pick -DOC - Puljujarvi


Even though I feel Glass or Ponomarev will be in the 3rd line center spot next season.

There is no way to get out of EKs contract without retaining 50%
- hfc355

I think he will have cap retained, but it doesn't have to be by us. I think it would be a 3 team deal with the 3rd team retaining cap. He would have value in a trade RHD go for increased rates in trades.

Side thought I previously stated about rumors about Letang being potentially shopped and would wavier to go to Toronto or Van. I could see if Dubas really wanted to ship off Karlsson either team being a destination for him as well. If he was being crazy aggressive maybe he trades them both. Who knows. It should be an interesting season and TDL for us.

Personally I would rather our top lines next year:

Malkin-Crosby-Marner
Rakell- **2nd line FA center** -Rust
Draft Pick -DOC - Puljujarvi


Even though I feel like they will have Glass or Ponomarev in the 3rd line center spot next season.
- 123Kid

Obviously early, but I've been unimpressed with Ponomarev.

Sorry - I forgot Dubas's true plan. To sign McDavid and Marner.

Malkin-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-McDavid-Marner

We could work with that.

Personally I would rather our top lines next year:

Malkin-Crosby-Marner
Rakell- **2nd line FA center** -Rust
Draft Pick -DOC - Puljujarvi


Even though I feel Glass or Ponomarev will be in the 3rd line center spot next season.
- 123Kid

Would you have Bunting on your third line? He'd be a nice option, but I doubt we could afford him, and Marner, a 2C, and fix our D.

It might be more get a 2C OR get Marner (if he's even a possibility)

Would you have Bunting on your third line? He'd be a nice option, but I doubt we could afford him, and Marner, a 2C, and fix our D.

It might be more get a 2C OR get Marner (if he's even a possibility)
- Tojo.

That is probably true on getting Marner or a 2nd center. I think Bunting gets shopped and traded in the offseason (I'm hoping at the deadline he is traded to be honest).

I can kind of get behind this take. Is he top 15 to you? I think he's underrated for how good is defensively and a soft play, when as far as I know he had a really banged up foot, in the playoffs when he didn't go to the corner sticks out to everyone. He has 50 playoff points in 57 playoff games. Thats pretty good.
- MattStrat

I am incredibly biased by some of the stuff I saw in the playoffs, maybe thats not fair but some of those plays stick in your mind. I also was the guy that was spouting off about the Leafs getting the steal of the draft getting Marner at #5, as watching him play on the Knights he looked every bit of the second coming of Patrick Kane... and he really has been with the exception of the playoff success.

I don't know exactly where he stands. I'd say a top 15 forward for certain.

McDavid, Mackinnon, Matthews, Draisaitl, Crosby, Kucherov, Stone, Rantanen, Kaprizov, Tkachuk, Barkov to name a few forwards are all players I'd take over Marner.

He is in a group with Panarin, Reinhart (as of the past couple years), Pastranak, Point, Eichel? and there are probably a few other guys in that group. Marchand seems to be taking a step back, but before this season I'd have him in that elite class.

And frankly, I don't think Malkin is all that far off of the pace with a lot of these guys. You put him out there with a top line talent like most of these other guys get to play with and he would be ripping as well. Look how good he and Sid have been when they have played together. Crosby and Malkin have by far the worst linemates out of any of these guys you will see listed on any top players list. (frank) it... sell everything, lets run a Malkin-Crosby-Marner top line and at least have those guys light it up together.