Im guessing Matta is getting traded, maybe for Patches?

Looks like MTL is quite thin on D, Maatta would certainly help. But I don't think PIT will change anything in defence in near future. If they are going to trade for Patches/Skinner/other wing it'll be salary of Hagelin/Brassard/Kessel involved unless they get a young ready to play ELC D in return for Maatta.

So they're going to try Brassard as wing and it make sense as he didn't quite fit in as a 3C. He could play either 1) with Malkin and Sprong to complement Geno with the FO and be a two-way speedy forward on this unit or 2) with Sheahan and Kessel to find if there any chemestry could be.

I get the sense that Malkin/Kessel will definitely be on the same line.. And Brassard moving to Malkin's left creates a problem in my eyes in which you either have Rust (and his $3.5m cap hit) or Hagelin (and his $4m cap hit) on the fourth line. I kinda hope they give Rust-Brass-Sprong a chance before moving Brass up to LW

Everybody knows Malkin and Kessel like to play with each other. But Sullivan always returns to three equal lines' idea. Now he'll have Sprong and I hope he'll play him with either Sid or Geno... That leaves Hornqvist on a line with the one of them as well. Phil and Riley played fairly well. I thought adding Brassard could benefit and here's another very capable unit.

As to Rust or Hagelin on the 4th I see no issues with Rust being on the very bottom line as he makes any line just better no matter who he plays with. Hagelin is quite opposite and seems to be attached to Malkin. That's why he'd be the first one who could be traded. I don't think he'll be in PIT next season anyway...

Yeah I mean that's fair - I just kinda would like to see (and I think it could be a very good 3rd line) Rust-Brass-Sprong given a shot. The NHL is constantly changing (Caps won with an Burakovsky-Eller-Connoly 3rd line) - I think that a second line of Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel allows Kessel to be offensive minded still and could be dominant, and that 3rd line I mentioned gives Sprong the leash to just go and score goals and allows the Pens to have their best 9 players all in the top 3 lines.. I'm sure we'll see combinations of everything, especially in the first couple months and with GMJR's comments about Brass at LW - but that's just my $.02

Yeap makes sense. Brassard-Sprong could be considered as a weak chain by now but Rust could make it better. But I think Rust is better as a RW... Anyway if that line proves itself why not?