Interesting Pens idea
But would they really think about trading Marino right before the playoffs??
Idk about that

The pens trade seems fair

And if we’re obtaining Zucker,
then we should put him in a scoring line to get his stats up
Then maybe we could move him at next year’s deadline for a pick
Otherwise, just buy him out
A 4th line defensive role doesn’t make sense for him

Dahlin - Jokiharju unfortunately don't work together

TBH I am not sure, that is why i threw in two players the sabres are likely to deal at the deadline. Miller obviously not as good but do olofsson and hino make up for the difference? as well as zucker to clear up more cap room for them to make additional moves? I dont really know I like marino a lot and id assume so do pens fans so it may not get it done.

That was where I struggled with this, if i moved marino up i dont think joki would be good with power so that would mean power would be with gudbranson and joki on 3rd pair. Not sure if that would be better. Dont want gudbranson with dahlin playing 20++

Yes I agree just not sure who i would swap with? maybe asplund but i think asplund's defensive game would help out that third line alot who may not be responsible in their own zone. I think that fourth line would be deployed more than a regular teams fourth line

Hard to see the Pens be willing to downgrade defensively for an upgrade offensively
Offense isn’t their problem
I’d think they’d wanna protect their suspect goaltending as much as possible

Maybe we could get Marino in the offseason though?

You very well could be right, although with the cap saving it makes them possible to add another d to the backend with pics as the pens window is closing with the age of their stars. But I would be fine with trying to get him in the offseason and using one of the later 1st rounders to get him

Our 4th line is deployed more than a typical 4th line, but in heavy defensive situations- and that’s just a terrible role to put Zucker in
U could switch him with Asplund
Makes sense for the 4th line bc Asplund fits the defensive role better
And it makes sense for the 3rd line too- just put them out there heavily in offensive situations

They wouldn't, not for thisreturn. If they move Marino the return is going to be a contract control top 6 scoring winger.

So olofsson lol

Dahlin - Marino
Samuelsson - Jokiharju
Power - Gudbranson

Dahlin - Marino take the main load, you distribute the time of the other two pairs approximately equally. Jokiharju needs a partner who mostly stays behind because Joki is constantly go offensive zone and he is also not a physical player, this is often seen in the defensive zone. Samuelsson makes a lot of sense.

Olofsson isn't even close. He is a soft perimeter player that needs the power play for his production.

In this case….
I think you’re 100% right to have Jokiharju with Dahlin

We aren’t a playoff team next season, so the focus should be on development of our young talent
Since Dahlin is showing development with Jokiharju, that’s fine
Not ideal, but fine

Marino is more solid defensively & should absolutely be paired with Power to help mentor him and to be a comfort blanket (so to speak) so that Power can get in a grove and not have the shaky start to his development that Dahlin did with his inconsistent & rotating partners
If we can find 2 RH guys better than Jokiharju, then move him to the 3rd pair
But imo….
Find a partner for Power first, then Dahlin

Also, Jokiharju has looked good at times
He’s not nearly as bad as Fjordy & a few others make him out to be. He’s got a chance to still develop into a good top4 player himself.

And we don’t need studs to pair with Dahlin & Power,
just solid partners so they can have the freedom to do their thing

To be fair, that is Olofsson u just described
He’s an RFA after this season,
so the Pens could sign him to a long term deal & watch him blow up playing alongside Crosby or Malkin
If he can be a 20goal scorer with the Sabres, imagine what he can do with Centers like the Pens have

The classic "powerplay" response, clearly havent watched a game since eichel played with him.

Also, what do you think boeser is lol and he isnt controlled

I don't want boeser. I have made that clear on here.

He has 5 goals at 5v5, 8 goals at even strength. He would be 9th on the pens forward roster in even strength production, which doesn't include Malkin being above him because he only played 24 games. Olofsson isn't worth a RD on a 4.4 AAV deal who plays 21 minutes a night. That return is trash.

...

It's just the facts when a third pair defender plays first pair and fails. It also does not help Dahlin's game and we can see it on the charts. Have you already forgotten Risto how he sucked while playing for 25 minutes?

I know we’re riding good vibes with the Sabres but I couldn’t let this one slide by. Dahlin 6 games w/o Jokiharju: 55% xG, 2.50 xGF/60 & 2.02 xGA/60.Last 2 w/ Joki: 44% xG, 2.60 xGF/60 & 3.21 xGA/60.Let’s see if the isolated numbers notice the away minutes and oh no… pic.twitter.com/pQ85QGJipK

— Chad DeDominicis (@CMDeDominicis) March 14, 2022

Good lord this is 100% the case. He has scored everywhere he has been. I think at the NHL level, he needs a playmaking center to create space to get his shot off. He doesn't have that in Buffalo, our best playmaking center is probably Krebs, and I bet he winds up on the wing. He would be a cost controlled 30 goal winger with Crosby or malkin.

Agreed

Nvm