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Sam Werner's Penguins chat: 8.31.17
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Sam Werner
12:44
We'll get started in 15 minutes, but leave your questions now!
1:01
OK, let's get started...
Troy Belke
1:01
Do you feel it is time they bring up Pouliot and give him one last chance? If he fails do you think they should include him in a trade package for a center?
Sam Werner
1:02
First off, I'm going to direct you to today's Penguins Prospectus post on Pouliot, which runs down his situation heading into the season: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2017/08/31/derrick-pouliot...
1:08
But to sum things up, Pouliot will have every opportunity to win an NHL job in training camp. But it's unclear, exactly, who he would displace on the current roster. Hunwick? You just signed him. Cole? There goes a physical presence and big PK piece. Maatta? You don't want $4 million sitting in the press box. That said, Pouliot's potential is supposedly so high, if he can realize even part of it, he'll demand NHL playing time. The one complicating factor for Pouliot is that he's no longer waivers-exempt, meaning he would have to clear waivers if the Penguins want to send him down. He's on a one-way deal, which means he'll make $800,000 in the NHL or AHL. The Penguins obviously would prefer a player making that salary is contributing at the NHL level, but it won't kill them financially if they have to send him down. The one-way deal could also act as a potential poison pill for would-be waiver claimers. For more fiscally conservative teams, $800,000 is a lot to guarantee a reclamation project.
As for the trade possibility, I think that would have to go hand in hand with Pouliot raising his stock a bit. Right now, I'm not sure what sort of return the Penguins would be able to get for him.
Jaromir Jagr
1:08
Why....why....WHY will no one sign me (sniff)?
Sam Werner
1:08
I wish I knew, Jags.
HB
1:09
I want to say why i dont like ryan reaves because how is he suppose to protect crosby when first they wont be on the same line, two why should other thugs like tom wilson not blow up crosby  they arent afraid of ryan reaves it just doesnt make sense to me, how he "protects" crosby.
Sam Werner
1:10
First off, I wouldn't say it's a sure thing that Reaves won't play on a line with Crosby at any point this year. Yes, he'll probably slot in on the fourth line to start, but could he end up playing a few games on Crosby's right wing in a pseudo-Hornqvist role? I wouldn't rule it out. The NHL season is long and full of terrors.
1:12
And re: his enforcer role, I don't think other players are "afraid" of Reaves, per se, but they know there's now a physical price to pay for messing with the Penguins' superstars. The Penguins didn't really have that last year. Honestly, the specifics of what Reaves' physicality and his "enforcer" role is something I'm really interested to speak with Penguins players about once they get back in a week or two.
Carrie Underwood
1:12
Talk to Jimerson...I'll be singing National Anthems from now on (I'm really a Pens fan just so you know) ;)
Sam Werner
1:12
Hey, your husband retired. I guess you could be a free agent now.
Jtown
1:12
If a team has a legit 3c they are most likely a contender.  Why would they trade with pittsburgh? Should have signed Bonino.
Sam Werner
1:16
Well, some teams have 2Cs that would become 3Cs on the Penguins, so it probably wouldn't be a like-for-like swap. And $4.1 million for four years is a bit rich for Bonino. Re-sign him, and you're probably taking Sheary or another FA signing off the roster, plus you're locked into him for longer than I'm sure Rutherford would've felt comfortable. Bonino fit in great in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins believe in their organization enough to find a guy (a cheaper guy) to fill that role. Will it work? Who knows. They have to find that guy first.
Ridgerunner
1:17
What's the latest on the 3rd line center search?  Do you think Malkin gets his wish and we sign the winger from the KHL
Sam Werner
1:19
Still status quo on the 3C search. I get the sense it's becoming more and more likely this will stretch into at least the preseason (and very possibly the regular season). Rutherford is in no rush, and why should he be? I don't think you could convince me that even as currently constructed, the Penguins are a legit threat to miss the playoffs. Make sure you can tread water until the right deal comes along, and be firing on all cylinders in April. For a team like the Penguins, the regular season is pretty much all prologue.
Another Justin not Schultz
1:19
With so much of their talent up-front, I assume the Pens will play four forwards on the PP.  Do you think Just-in-the-Money Schultz will play the point on PP1 over Kristopher LeTanger if both are healthy?
Sam Werner
1:20
I'm going to say no, but with a caveat. I expect Letang to be the main PP1 QB when he's healthy, but I wouldn't be surprised if you saw Schultz take a shift with that unit here and there just to ease Letang's workload a little bit (especially during the regular season).
1:21
The even split of defensive minutes worked so well for the Penguins during this Cup run, it'll be interesting to see if they move at all in that direction with Letang in the lineup. He's obviously so used to playing major minutes, but especially for a guy with his injury history, it wouldn't be the worst thing if they could cut down his load a bit this season.
Lukas
1:21
After hearing what Malkin said yesterday, do you think the Penguins will have interest in Danis Zaripov?
Sam Werner
1:22
A 36-year-old winger that hasn't played in North America since 1999? Hard pass.
Lukas
1:23
Who's your pick to be the biggest surprise this year on the NHL and the AHL rosters?
Sam Werner
1:24
To start the year? I'm not sure there will be any major surprises. The one name I'll throw out there to watch is J.S. Dea, who could potentially factor into the 3C mix if the Penguins don't add anybody.
1:25
On the flip side, I'm interested to see if both Chad Ruhwedel and Derrick Pouliot start the year in the NHL. Carrying eight defensemen probably isn't ideal (assuming Letang is healthy), but both would have to clear waivers to go to Wilkes-Barre.
GregR
1:25
If Sprong looks ready in camp, why not start season with Guenzl at 3 line C.  I know, all of Pgh just had a heart attack lol.  Hear me out...Give Sprong a look with Sid and Sheary...and occasionally pop Hornquist in place of Sprong depending how a game is going.  The world wont end if it doesnt work out if Jake or Sprong isn't ready or comfortable....worst case, Jake goes back with Sid...and search for 3L C continues...best case...a young even faster dangerous forward group.
Sam Werner
1:27
For what it's worth, Mike Sullivan seems pretty down on the idea of Guentzel as the 3C. I think the organization sees him as a winger long-term, and would prefer to keep him there. For as dynamic as Guentzel was last year, he's still just 22, and probably due for some growing pains at some point (people forget he was nearly a healthy scratch for Game 1 of the final!). There's a risk that extended time at center could hurt his development as a winger, which is priority No. 1.
Dave
1:28
Do you think GMJR hasn’t pulled the trigger on a third C because a D-man may potentially be involved in a trade (like Maatta)?  It might be smart to wait to see how Letang comes back and if Hunwick/Puliot/Ruhwedel can pick up the slack if that’s the case.
Sam Werner
1:30
That makes sense. As I mentioned earlier, the Penguins have eight defensemen on NHL deals right now, so moving one of them would clear things up, at least. I think the waiting is mostly due to Rutherford just not having a ton of leverage right now and not wanting to deal from a position of desperation. The rest of the NHL knows the Penguins need a 3C, so if Rutherford can prove that he really is OK starting the season as is, it might give him a bit more bargaining position.
GoPens
1:31
I still think the Pens will trade for a 4th center.  How good do you think McClement's chances are to make the team as the 4th center?  That would push Rowney to the wing and make it possible to trade one or two wingers for the 3rd center.
Sam Werner
1:34
It's certainly possible. It helps that McClement is experienced on the PK, an area the Penguins lost a lot from this offseason. He's not much of an offensive threat, but neither is Rowney, really. Rutherford has said all offseason that he likes Rowney in the 4C spot, but shifting him to wing and adding that versatility certainly helped the Penguins last season.
Garrett
1:34
How do you think the loss of Tocchet will affect Kessel's production and his relationship with coaches/players?
Sam Werner
1:35
Honestly? I don't really think it will, at least in any tangible way. A lot was made about the relationship between Kessel and Tocchet, and the two certainly got along well, but the Phil Kessel locker room intrigue storyline has always been a bit overblown. I doubt we'll see any noticeable change this season.
Speedy McSpeedSpeed
1:36
Do you expect that any of Guentzel, Sheary, Sprong, or Rust will be moved this year to help bring in a center? How do the Pens seem to relatively value those four?
Sam Werner
1:39
Not saying it will happen, but of those four, I think Rust would be the most likely to be moved. It says something that he was exposed in the expansion draft over Patric Hornqvist's expiring contract (even though, yes, all parties knew Vegas was going to take Fleury). I think the organization sees Guentzel and Sprong as potential long-term wingers for Sid and/or Geno, which puts them in the upper echelon. Sheary is sort of in that group, but his playoff struggles last year probably knocked him down a peg. Rust is certainly a valuable player and big playoff performer, but he projects more as a bottom-six winger, making him the most expendable.
GoPens
1:39
Would the Pens have been better off just paying Bonino his $4M per season and not signing McClement, Archilbald, etc.?
Sam Werner
1:42
Well, it would've had to have been more than that. Archibald is only making $675k and McClement is on a PTO. Re-signing Bonino would've probably meant not re-signing Sheary or one of the defenseman. For next year, yeah, it might've made them a bit better. But that $4.1 million might not look so great four years down the road when Bonino is 33.
Jerry
1:42
Malkin has always played well with a real physical presence (Ryan Malone, Rusty) on one wing and a sniper on the other (Sykora, SATAN). Might Reeves be an option to play along with Malkin and Kessel - especially if the 3rd line center deal doesn't happen for a while?
Sam Werner
1:43
One of them would have to play on the left, and while Kessel did that for a few games this season (remember that? I had totally forgotten until I was looking up something else earlier today) I don't think it's a long-term solution. I would, however, be interested to see if Zach Aston-Reese could maybe fill that role at some point this season.
dave
1:44
Are they any players that you think  GMJR *wants* to trade?  Maybe Hagelin because of his contract?
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