Rust shouldn't be on the 3rd line

Lines wrong but I would like the signing

Miller either signs in Anaheim or retires.
He won’t be going cup running at this point.

I'm just curious why you think they are going to make a trade?

I honestly think their roster is probably set. Which is a really sad situation. But it is what it is.
GMJR has all but said Jankowski is our 3C. As dumb a move as that is.
He wants someone to take faceoffs. Which is why he won't play on the wing.
The problem is he's as soft as brassard, Sheahand, Bjugstad. That just doesn't bode well for his playing a 3C which is why he got replaced by Lucic in CGY.

Line would be this then
Guentzel-Crosby-Kapanen
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Tanev-McCann-Granlund
Jankowski-Blueger-Rodrigues

ZAR is out til mid feburary

Rust is a third liner on a cup contender. I much prefer him on the third line. He can move up whenever someone misses a game (probably almost every game)

They will because they are all in and this current roster I don`t think is good enough to win. The only reason they haven`t is because of question marks surrounding the season and travel.

Why?

So is Kapanen but Kapanen is much better at running a 3rd line than Rust. You would be way better off swapping them

What is wrong with the lines. I don`t think this is how the team is going to look by Jan 13 but if this is the roster they do start with then I think this is my ideal lineup and one that I would assume Sullivan would use as well - at least very similar.

You aren`t wrong but They want to use Kapanen with Sid and have said so numerous times.

Swap Rust and Granlund and keep Tanev on 4th. Put Sceviour in for Aston-Reese.

I don't argue those 1st two points. They are all in, and the roster is definitely not good enough to win.
But it's the rest of the logic that makes no sense to me. Because those things really don't stop you from improving the roster.
I think A. JR gets these ideas in his head, which shows with signings like Ceci. Then we are hell bent from there. One of those ideas, is Jankowski at 3C.
While the rest of us think that's dumb as hell, we also think signing Ceci is dumb as hell too. But here we are.

He was a PPG with malkin.. swap granland with rust and lines are good

Looks perfect to me tbh

So rust after having a career year and has developed great chemistry with Geno gets bumped to the third line? Yeah fat chance

I like Rust but thats hockey management 101. You always improve your team. Granlund is an upgrade. It`s not difficult for players to put up higher point totals when their role and linemates change. There are plenty of players who would have had the same "career year" if put in Rusts position. Look at Vegas. There are a lot of really good hockey players in this league and around the world. There aren`t a lot of top 6, offensive, PP roles in the NHL. I like Rust in a third line role on a healthy team. I think Rust would excel in that role. I think he has good chemistry with ZAR as well. Chances are he is going to play in the top 6 most of the year anyways with injuries on the Pens happening seemingly every game.

Considering Rust would put up a 40-50 point pace playing third line prior to this season and he finally broke out with a PPG season in an elevated role makes me think he’s definitely a top 6 forward. Granland can play 3rd line if pens were to sign him.

Yeah I guess maybe I`m just being optimistic? I would like to think and hope GMJR and Pens organization knows that this team won`t cut it and that moves are needed. I`d like to think they have a plan and that the FA signings weren`t the end of that plan. I think there are still transactions to be made and that there will be opportunities available as many teams are going to want to make moves as well.

Alright sure. Fact is we don`t have Granlund right now so it doesn`t really matter. I would prefer signing a winger and playing Rust on third line. You disagree. We`ll see what Sullivan thinks because that is all that really matters in reality.

The fact that solid UFAS are being signed for such low AAV right now makes me angry that GMJR hasn’t done anything. Haula, Soderberg, AA, granland, etc...

There are still solid FA available to help our third line, the weakest part of our team. I will be very disappointed if GMJR does nothing