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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 07.01.19
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Matt Vensel
9:53
Good morning, folks. Thanks for joining me today, a couple of hours before the start of NHL free agency. We'll get started here in a few.
9:54
If you've got a question, submit it now to get it in the queue.
9:59
Alright, I've got coffee. It's time to get this party started.
Richard
9:59
Are the penguins trying to trade Jack Johnson?
Matt Vensel
10:00
Richard, from my understanding, the Penguins were looking at trading either Jack or Olli Maatta and dealt Maatta because they could actually get a better return for him (plus his cap number was about $1 million more). I wouldn't rule out them trading Jack if they want to clear out space to sign a free agent, but they'd have to give up something good to do it, presumably. Time might be running out to dump salary.
Richard
10:00
Is there still a chance to acquire Zucker from Minnesota?
Matt Vensel
10:01
I'd say that ship has sailed now that the Penguins have dealt Kessel.
Bill from Va,
10:01
Hey Matt, I hear all kinds of different Penguin names up for trade including Rust, Horny etc. Why is it you never hear the Name Simon in trade talks? He is a real weak link . Couldn't he be included in a package deal? Thanks Matt
Matt Vensel
10:02
Probably because he is making relative peanuts. All of the disdain for Dominik Simon frustrates me. He's a decent young player, one who might still be developing. Be mad at the coaching staff for putting him on the top line in the playoffs, not the player.
Guest
10:02
Any thoughts whether or not the Pens will actually sign a free agent? I think they are better off making trades if they need more moves. Rutherford has not been good signing free agents
Matt Vensel
10:03
They might be able to squeeze in one of note, maybe two, depending on what happens with their RFAs and they find a way to clear more space. But they're not getting anyone above $5 million a year.
Guest
10:03
When we will hear of a much needed trade of Jack Johnson, the worst player on the team? The Pens need much better skating, transition and offense from the blue line than they had last year. Please tell me Rutherford sees the priority of getting another puck moving defenseman back there.
Matt Vensel
10:04
I think this is probably the group of defensemen the Penguins will bring to camp. They have four lefties (Dumoulin, Pettersson, Jack and Riikola) and four righties (Letang, Schultz, Gudbranson and whoever wins the camp battle between Ruhwedel and Trotman).
10:05
Unless they trade one, it's hard to imagine a FA of note coming here.
Kenny Bania
10:05
How close are the Pens to signing Ethan Prow?  He's a homegrown right-handed defense option that would come on the cheap, and I'm surprised they wouldn't be more interested in keeping him.
Matt Vensel
10:06
I have not heard anything about him, but I'm assuming he is moving on considering they brought some other blue-liners back. I was kind of surprised last year that he did not get a look after all those injuries in February. He was an AHL All-Star and a pretty good puck-mover. But he's also 26 or 27, so I don't know how much he'll get better.
Kenny Bania
10:06
A lot of people have complained that Galchenyuk's output is far lower than Kessel's.  But the Pens have also brought in Kahun, which not only make the comparison closer, but also spreads production around the roster better.  Is GMJR in the process of constructing a more balanced roster?
Matt Vensel
10:08
Well, they definitely want more depth and competition up front. For pretty much the entire season, they only had one or two lines clicking. And in the playoffs, no lines that were clicking. In terms of talent, you can't argue that Galchenyuk is comparable to Phil. Galchenyuk has been a bit of a disappointment. But the Penguins obviously feel they will be better with addition by subtraction. We'll see if they're right.
Matt
10:08
I get the sense that Evgeni Malkin would be a great full-time left wing to Crosby, and would score over 100 points again with ease. The Pens are certainly full of centers. What do you think?
Matt Vensel
10:09
No.
Brayden
10:09
All of the top power plays within the league have a big right handed shot along the left side. Who do you see the pens targeting to replace Kessels void on the PP?? Or would you consider someone from the current roster?
Matt Vensel
10:11
Brayden, good question. That's something I've been thinking about. If they feel they NEED a righty on that side of the power play so there is the threat of the one-timer, who would it be? Bjugstad? Then again, I don't know if I saw Phil take a single one-timer during my first year on the beat, so I'm not sure that matters to the Penguins. I think Guentzel deserves the opportunity to step in, though the Penguins will need to tweak their structure and philosophy. Maybe they will try to have more movement with all those lefties. With their setup in recent seasons, their five guys were pretty stationary, though obviously they had a ton of success. In 2017-18, they had the best PP in franchise history, and that's really saying something given the talent here over the years.
Lord of Carson
10:11
Matt,  please tell me they aren’t serious about potentially bringing Cullen back ?  It’s time to rip the bandage off on this and turn the job over to Teddy or whomever no ?
Matt Vensel
10:13
I don't know what's going on with that. Jim Rutherford told me last week that they were still waiting to hear what he plans to do, so I guess that means the door is still open. I'm a big Teddy believer and think he might eventually be a solid third-line center in the league. Matt Cullen was a heck of a leader, but the Penguins also need some other guys to step up and become leaders, too. Maybe if Cullen does not come back, it will force others to try to fill that void?
10:14
For the record, Cullen was a solid fourth-line center last year. Not for someone his age, but for anyone period. That said, he's a year older and will presumably run out of gas one of these years.
pozone
10:14
Any chance we get simmons and Zucker? I hear Stralman is also a possibility. Schultz needs to make up his mind on an extension or get traded. JJ or Gubranson should be on trade table and also Bugstadt and Rust. What say you?
Matt Vensel
10:16
That is unrealistic. They have $5.1 million in cap space right now and would have to execute at least a couple of trades to make this scenario you just laid out possible. By the way, I think it would be foolish if the Penguins trade away Nick Bjugstad. Was he great last year after he got sent to the Penguins in early February? Nah. But he did some good things and has pretty good skill for a guy his size and with his reach. Give him a chance to settle in and see what he can do.
Stinkpot
10:16
Who do you think won the Kessel-Galchenyuk trade?
Matt Vensel
10:18
I'll put it this way: I think both teams got what they wanted in this trade. The Penguins got rid of Kessel and got another top-nine forward with a little scoring upside. They also got a defensive prospect and a little cap space. The Coyotes got the goal-scorer they sought. Whether the Penguins "win" this deal will hinge on whether getting rid of Phil does magically make the "culture" better, or if Pierre-Olivier Joseph ends up developing into a really good player down the road.
Rahn
10:19
If Bob signs in FLA, Jarry to Panthers to give them a low cost, expansion eligible goalie makes sense, no?
Matt Vensel
10:19
Sure, why not? Emil Larmi had a good camp and Tristan Jarry will be waiver-eligible this year, so they may look to move him for a pick.
Rahn
10:20
The idea of Galchenyuk playing center is off, I think. Montreal was starving for centers, moved Drouin there, and said Galchenyuk couldn’t handle it defensively. Would make a defensive RW a need for that line.
Matt Vensel
10:21
I agree. I'd rather play him on the wing, though if he can't hang defensively, he might not be able to stick on Malkin's line, unless Malkin plays with more hunger and discipline in his own end this year. I'd guess Nick Bjugstad is the leading candidate to be the third-line center, but knowing Shufllin' Mike Sullivan, we'll probably see both of those guys playing center and wing throughout the season.
Pens Fan
10:22
Does Kessel make the HOF?
Matt Vensel
10:22
I think he will have a case based on his production, two Cups and his long ironman streak. But will the selectors hold it against him that he has now worn out his welcome with three teams and been traded?
Kenny Bania
10:23
Would a trade of Jack Johnson still be possible?  He and Erik Gudbranson have the same shortcomings, but I'd rather keep the more expensive Gudbranson, since he's five years younger and has only one year left on his deal.  Johnson did improve as last season went on, but that won't always be the case at his age.  A five-year contract was just a mistake.
Matt Vensel
10:24
I already addressed earlier in the chat a question about Jack Johnson being traded, so please scroll up for that answer. As for Gudbranson, don't forget that he is a right-handed shot. That's important.
Strafman1
10:24
Hi Matt. How can this possibly be the deal JR settled for? if Galchenyuk is bad he leaves next yr. If hes good he'll leave commanding more than the 6.8M kessel was getting in FA. We didn't unload JJ in the deal or even get draft picks. in fact we gave them a pick on top and still only got this back. JR really dropped the ball. Ari should have taken Guds or Jj too to make this even close to fair. I really feel like this was the last nail in 87s coffin for another cup. JR has no plan and the few good moves he makes anymore seem to be to erase all the past mistakes so it's 1 step fwd 2 steps back. please talk me off the ledge here
Matt Vensel
10:24
Maybe because it was the only deal still left on the table due to Phil's ability to choose the eight teams he can be traded to?
10:27
Sorry for the delay. My mug needed a refill. Let's continue.
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