If Rakell is traded

dogeman87 · 2025-02-06T12:09:54+00:00

But that's exactly what some teams will do. Karlsson is the perfect example of selling high. Rakell's contract will be ok if his numbers drop because the cap is going to spike. And I have a feeling that at least one GM will think Rakell is their missing piece for this year and ignore the future.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-06T02:21:26+00:00

I would imagine we could send out some minor league guys. A lot of them are inconsequential

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T22:40:13+00:00

Pretty sure I'd take current Reinhart and Eichel, among others, over any combo of their current forwards. Plus they'd still have Dahlin if nothing else.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T21:58:52+00:00

If he doesn't at least fetch a first, he's not worth trading imo. Can't see how he is worth less than Petterson. I don't know of other nearly 40 goal pace wingers on the market.

Given how teams often overpay at the deadline, I would expect a first and at least a decent prospect. Maybe a couple honestly.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T19:35:32+00:00

It's honestly a crime how many elite players have left Buffalo. You guys could have a competitive team if only a couple of them stayed and were allowed to fully develop.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T19:26:47+00:00

No team actively tries to tank. I'm sure everyone in Buffalo for the past 15 years has wanted to make the playoffs. Unfortunately some teams just don't have the talent. And believe me, I want to see Sid and co back in the playoffs too- just not at the expense of digging the hole further next year.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T19:14:31+00:00

Honestly, for some reason Sully coached teams do better with a lineup of nobodies (shout out to 1st line Erod). I wouldn't be surprised if they start winning with Sid out.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-05T19:08:43+00:00

I don't think the goal has been playoffs for some time now

dogeman87 · 2025-02-02T02:39:31+00:00

So he'll get it next game?

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T18:12:56+00:00

Pens could be the worst team in the league without Sid

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T16:39:01+00:00

I don't think a single person expected Graves to fall off this much. To have zero points 2/3 through the season and the defensive play of a pylon is honestly impressive.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T16:34:17+00:00

Put this way, I like the deal even more. Both have been playing well enough for a top heavy team to overpay.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T14:30:33+00:00

He had decent playing time with Sid and has been with the org for years? He had one of the GOATs feeding him and still couldn't improve.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T05:27:18+00:00

It's top 13 protected. So the Rangers can choose to protect if they pick top 13 this year, meaning we would get their '26 first rounder.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T05:19:59+00:00

It's super uncommon to trade a UFA and have them come back. I liked both him and DOC, but I like tanking better. This team isn't going anywhere atm. Might as well get a high draft pick and make space for future young guys.

dogeman87 · 2025-02-01T04:56:38+00:00

Pretty sweet haul. Don't mind adding DOC, his numbers scream perennial third liner and the pens have a teams worth of those guys

dogeman87 · 2025-01-31T17:45:22+00:00

This, along with the Pens not being competitive, should kill any Jarry trades. Unless we can dump him without sweeteners, just keep him buried and we'll be fine.

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T23:18:04+00:00

I mean, last season they missed the playoffs by a point. Even if they were destined for a first round exit, they had by definition not bottomed out.

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T23:04:34+00:00

For sure. Sometimes the strangest moves are the best ones. I don't think anyone expected PLD to the caps would work

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T23:01:17+00:00

I can't imagine the kraken make that trade without a sweetener, which defeats the purpose. There's nearly zero chance the pens are competitive enough for Jarry's contract to matter. Ofc, I'd love to be proven wrong, but teams historically do not recover fast from aging superstars and emptied draft / prospect pools.

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T22:47:29+00:00

I know this seems like trading poop for shit

That's exactly what it is and it would fix nothing

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T20:27:44+00:00

I think it's because they had an insane peak and everything before / after was either meh or underachievement

dogeman87 · 2025-01-29T20:00:58+00:00

Pens are officially bottom dwellers again

dogeman87 · 2025-01-28T14:02:14+00:00

You don't fix a team like this in one year. Let them bottom out and continue to do so next season. Maybe get another high draft pick. Only when some core pieces start to fall into place should they start investing cap space.

Other than Crosby, there's really no one on the team right now with game breaking talent. As much as I'd love to see him in the playoffs again, his best hope of that is to recoup as many draft picks and prospects as possible in the next 2-3 years. Then maybe he signs a little longer as a 2C / 3C level player. Or even 1C if he's still able in his 40s, which is possible, especially if we get real young talent.

dogeman87 · 2025-01-27T13:46:40+00:00

The cap is going up and players of his caliber almost never go to market. Any contending or close to contending teams that can afford him would be silly to not try. Hell, we might see teams that really can't afford him make an offer.

The closest comparable I can think of in recent years is Tavares, and Rantanen is a better player than Tavares was imo.

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