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Where does the Kessel trade leave the Pens?


B21

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So how does the roster shake out after the Kessel trade?  Assuming more more trades or signings and all line combinations being up for debate., this is what I envision....

 

Perron / Crosby / Kessel

Dupuis / Malkin / Hornqvist

Kunitz/ Sutter / Bennett 

Wilson / Sundqvist / Rust

 

Letang / Maatta

Pouliot / Cole

Lovejoy / Scuderi

(Erixon)

 

Fleury

(Zatkoff)

 

That roster costs $68,503,333 + whatever Bennett gets.  I can see any number of guys winning a spot on the 4th line but Wilson, Rust and Sundqvist carry the "biggest" cap hits (by "biggest" I mean by no more than $200K-$300K over the next guy).

 

Kunitz is often noted as a question mark but I don't see him that way.  I see a guy not as good as he was to start the season and not as bad as he finished. Perfect for the 3rd line.  I'll take 15/25/40 there any day.

 

Dupuis is an absolute question mark.

 

I'm not in love with the 5/6 defense pairing.

 

The 4th line is iffy no matter who ends up there.

 

Does Bennett finally step up (and stay healthy)?

 

Where does Plotnikov fit in?

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So how does the roster shake out after the Kessel trade?  Assuming more more trades or signings and all line combinations being up for debate., this is what I envision....

 

Perron / Crosby / Kessel

Dupuis / Malkin / Hornqvist

Kunitz/ Sutter / Bennett 

Wilson / Sundqvist / Rust

 

Letang / Maatta

Pouliot / Cole

Lovejoy / Scuderi

(Erixon)

 

Fleury

(Zatkoff)

 

That roster costs $68,503,333 + whatever Bennett gets.  I can see any number of guys winning a spot on the 4th line but Wilson, Rust and Sundqvist carry the "biggest" cap hits (by "biggest" I mean by no more than $200K-$300K over the next guy).

 

Kunitz is often noted as a question mark but I don't see him that way.  I see a guy not as good as he was to start the season and not as bad as he finished. Perfect for the 3rd line.  I'll take 15/25/40 there any day.

 

Dupuis is an absolute question mark.

 

I'm not in love with the 5/6 defense pairing.

 

The 4th line is iffy no matter who ends up there.

 

Does Bennett finally step up (and stay healthy)?

 

Where does Plotnikov fit in?

I would put him on the Malkin line, if Dupuis healthy let him and Hornquist battle it out!
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I did the same analysis with the Leafs. This is what I came up with:

 

? / ? / ?

? / ? / ?

? / ? / ?

? / ? / ?

 

? / ?

? / ?

? / ?

 

?

?

 

:ph34r:

 

Well played.

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I'm looking more towards:

Kunitz/ Crosby / Kessel

Perron/ Malkin / Hornqvist

Dupuis/ Sutter / Bennett 

Wilson / Sundqvist / Plotnikov

 

I think they'll keep Kunitz with Crosby, he's just not third line material.  Duper's on the other hand has speed(or had, we'll see) and a willingness to bang the corners.   Having Kunitz and Hornqvist on the top lines also gives both a player willing to front the goaltender.

 

I have Plitnikov penned into the fourth line, but he could move to the third.  I don't see the Pens being willing to sign him to a one year contract, then bury him in the AHL.  If he works well, he could move to Malkin's line, and mix the top lines a bit.

 

I don't know a lot about Erixon, but I'm hoping he can push Scuds and Lovejoy a little bit.  I'm hoping that Scuds year last year was an aberration due to over playing him due to injuries.  I think he can help to teach the youngsters and assist in their growth.

 

I think JR will still find another free agent to fill out the fourth line with a physical forward on the cheap.  Need a little muscle for the regular season.

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@nossagog

Expect Plotnikov to start out with Malkin. They brought him in for that purpose as they skate together in international play fairly often.

If that happens, then I expect Kunitz to go to the third line then.  Not sure if that is a good fit as it could be Kunitz-Sutter-Dupuis.

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If that happens, then I expect Kunitz to go to the third line then. Not sure if that is a good fit as it could be Kunitz-Sutter-Dupuis.

I actually think that will be a great third line.

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