Quoting: MitchMarnerElite
Yeah, I think every team would like to have a forward with size, physicality and has elite skill. The issue is, those are the hardest type of guys to get. You either draft them like CHI & BUF did with Dach & Cozens, or you have to trade a king's ransom to fetch a guy like Wilson or Tkachuk. Perhaps the Pens should've traded for Kreider at the deadline instead of Zucker, but Kreider is not good defensively and commands a higher salary, so tough call.
There are not a lot of options this offseason, so unless they make a big move for someone like Evander Kane, they're gonna have to change their culture by retooling the complimentary guys, similarly to what Tampa did. Tampa's top 2 lines are a bunch of small skilled guys & their bottom 6 have all the tough grinders (Goodrow, Coleman, Gourde, Verhaghe, Maroon) who do all the heavy forecheck to lift the team. Honestly, it's worked quite well so far as they're outplaying CBJ heavily.
The Pens have too many issues to solve this offseason with their need to fix the 3rd pair & get a top-line RW so they probably have to go this route. There are two guys who I think you guys would like: Julien Gauthier & Sam Bennett. Both extremely play extremely fast, physical & are aggressive on the forecheck, but haven't established themselves as top 6 players. They certainly have the talent to do so.
There is definitely truth that these players are hard to find. No one is doubting that.
But they have had this problem for years now. And they can't seem to figure it out.
I think Josh Anderson is a guy they should target. I know CBJ will try to sign him or match. But maybe not. He'd cost a 2nd in compensation.
Which is probably far less than we'd pay for Krieder.
I don't know, I don't claim to have all the answers. But the need is clear. You can't win when Jake is constantly getting knocked down to the ice. And the mop is absolutely useless.
It's basically Crosby with the puck and no one to pass to. Something has to change.
This team needs to build itself for playoff hockey. You aren't going to just skate past anyone anymore. It happens in every sport. First they get faster, then they get bigger. rinse repeat. Until you plateau
We'll the NHL has officially started to plateau. Everyone has the speed, and the size of guys is next.