The Isles getting Horvat could push the Pens to finally do something huh?

The pens are almost certainly doing something as we speak. I wouldn’t be surprised if GMRH has been working on a trade or several for a while. They likely have people they have their eye on and people they’re talking to. He’s almost certainly up to something but he’s not going to say what and the beat reporters have admitted they no longer have the access they once did so there’s not even rumors for them to speculate on.

Trades can’t be made overnight. Logistically they’ve gotta m a nightmare. On the Pens end of things, where do they have the cap space for a new boy? Do they even have worthwhile prospects to give up? Do they instead sell off all of their draft picks in a panic to shore up a team that everyone thinks is going to lose in the first round again, if we even make it to the playoffs (we’re making it to the playoffs).

So. Let’s look at the logistics. If we’re gonna armchair gm let’s do it right. Money in money out. We know pens don’t have cap space for a new player without sending someone back, maybe 2 people. Who do we trade? Petry would make the most sense with the second highest cap hit on our team at 6.5 mil and 3 years left in his contract. We can’t. He’s got a modified no trade clause (m-ntc) and a 15-team no trade list. Should we trade Dumo the way people have been calling for for months? He’s in the last year of his contract and costs 4.1 mil so it makes sense. We could probably get someone good for that money and if he doesn’t bounce back he’s gone from his new team in free agency. Except, oh yeah, he also has a m-ntc and a 10-team no trade list. Goodbye Arizona and dreams of Chych (presumably). That is, of course, if Arizona wanted to take him off our hands, which he’s played some of his worst hockey this season, I wouldn’t put it past teams to straight up not be interested. Back to the drawing board, who do we trade? Do we move our defensive futures in POJ or Ty Smith? Do we trade our cheap 7th D in Frieds and Chad? Rutta is cheap, on ltir, and here for 3 years so there’s no point in speculating about him. Petterson gets a pass bc he has 3 years left and is our best D. Tanger can’t be traded.

It doesn’t look good about trading a defenseman so let’s look to forwards instead. Everyone who has been complaining about Dumo is also talking about Big Jeff Carter, but oh look, another no movement clause, this one a full no movement. He’s not going anywhere unless he decides to and at that point he might as well retire instead. Next on the list of names people like to bring up is Kappy, but he’s currently injured. The main question is has he improved enough that other teams want him? That’s for the GMs of other teams to decide. We can’t sell what other people aren’t buying. Heino? He’s making league minimum, so you could throw him into a package but he’s not freeing up enough cap space on his own. Same with DOC and Poehling. Brockstar is on a cold streak but he’s 2.75 mil, signed for another three years, and versatile enough to play on any line. I think he’s worth keeping. I guess there’s Teddy. Third line has looked bad and moving him up didn’t fix it. There was at least 3 separate scoring chances last game that should have gone in for them and didn’t. Teddy’s only 2.2 mil and in need of a new contract so he’s definitely movable, but he’s also 80% of our penalty kill. We traded off ZAR and Simon last year because they were extraneous defensive forwards who couldn’t score and then we spent the month after the trade deadline unable to keep the puck out of the back of our net. I’m currently living in fear that he’s trade bait and hoping and praying that I’m wrong.

Trade a goalie you say? Desm*th may suck but he’s cheap. Where else are we going to get a league average backup goalie for 1.8 mil. And yes Desm*th is league average he’s maybe a little worse at goals expected but for what we’re paying him we are getting our money’s worth. Keep Dusty up and trade him you say? Well Dusty is cheaper and one of the best goalies in the AHL but that would require us to trust Dusty enough to let him start and for him to do good enough to earn the spot. That isn’t going to happen unless Desm*th gets injured again and with our injury luck on goalies going into the post season these last couple years, I’d rather we have depth at goal than selling off parts we don’t think we need for little return. I don’t like Desm*th but unless he gets a lot worse, he’s not going anywhere.

So that’s my main problem, but not the only one. What return do we get? Who is on the market? Who can magically fix everything wrong with the pens and is cheap enough to fit under the cap. You, me, and everyone on social media want Hexy to make a move. I’m certain he’s working on it. What move is he making? Who are we giving up? Who are we getting back? Are we selling just sell? Are we buying just to buy. I don’t think this team as it currently is makes it out of the first round of the playoffs. However I’ve seen trades for the sake of trades and we moved Hagelin for no reason and did not get noticeably better. Trades for the sake of trades can sometimes work out but most of the time they don’t. GMRH knows what he’s doing and keeps his cards close to his chest. He’ll make a move when he’s good and ready, and not a minute sooner.