You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 07.18.19
powered byJotCast
Matt Vensel
1:02
Good afternoon, Penguins fans. Glad to be chatting with you today after taking a little time to try to minimize my farmer's tan. If you've got a question, go ahead and fire away. I'll try to get to all of them.
AJ
1:03
It seems quiet on the trade front. Can you see the pens going into the season without signing Petterson, then making a trade early in the season and signing Petterson then?
Matt Vensel
1:04
I believe it's their preference to get something done now with Marcus, though I suppose they could go that route instead. If he continues to progress as a player, he's only going to become pricier.
Feeds
1:04
What’s your take on JJ’s value? It was rumoured that LA, Anaheim and Montreal had interest in him. Would a team just have to give up a pick/player back? Do you think the Penguins would have to add a sweetener to get rid of him? What’s your take? Thabks!
Matt Vensel
1:06
I do think it will take a "sweetener" to get someone to take on Jack Johnson's contract, mostly because of the term, not the AAV. I don't think his contract is as crippling as some make it out to be. There are worse guys making more than $3.25 million a year. That said, if the alternative is trading either Bryan Rust or Nick Bjugstad, I think the Penguins would be better off using, say, a third-round pick to move Johnson's contract. Look at it this way: Would you trade Johnson and a third-round pick for Bjugstad? I'd jump on that deal.
D
1:07
Everyone thinks the Tokarski signing was a precursor to trading Janney. I think it was an insurance policy in case they lose him via waivers. You thought?
Matt Vensel
1:08
Well, they aren't playing Tokarski in Wheeling, nor did Emil Larmi come overseas to play in the ECHL. And I'm guessing they don't want three goalies in WBS. So you do the math...
PM
1:08
It’s more than likely that Pittsburgh will make a move before the arbitration date. Who, in your opinion, is most likely going to get shipped out of town?
Matt Vensel
1:09
As I alluded to a couple of questions ago, I think the likeliest candidates based on the size of their contract and their roles are Nick Bjugstad, Bryan Rust and Jack Johnson (if they can find a taker). I'd be surprised if they traded Gudbranson. He was solid after the trade last February and they desperately wanted to have three righties in the regular lineup. So I'd think he's someone they want to keep.
John
1:09
Are there anymore trades before trading camp?
Matt Vensel
1:11
Jim Rutherford admitted after the Penguins signed Brandon Tanev on July 1 that they will likely have to shed salary before the season to be salary cap compliant, thus the possibility of Bjugstad, Rust or Johnson being traded to accomplish that. They are under the cap currently, I believe, but that will change if they sign Marcus Pettersson, an RFA. Tristan Jarry could be dealt if someone offers something decent.
1:12
Note that dealing Jarry would not be for cap reasons. There's a logjam in Pittsburgh with Matt Murray and Casey DeSmith and they signed Emil Larmi to presumably play a lot in WBS. And since Jarry will have to clear waivers this season, the time to move on may be now.
AJ
1:13
The salary cap not going up to what it was expected really messed stuff up around the nhl huh?
Matt Vensel
1:13
It certainly didn't help teams like Pittsburgh, Washington, Toronto, Vegas and Tampa Bay that are snug against the cap ceiling.
AJ
1:13
Do you think they would trade desmith instead of Jarry for Murray insurance?
Matt Vensel
1:15
Never say never, but I think DeSmith is an ideal backup. He is content in that role, he has shown he can play well after not starting in a while, he has a great attitude and does a lot of work behind the scenes to help his teammates out, and he was solid last year when Murray was struggling then hurt. He helped turn their season around in Nov/Dec.
D
1:15
Maybe a bit early but USA TV deal is coming up. Do you see them sticking with one network or doing a share like the NBA does with TNT and ESPN?
Matt Vensel
1:16
I can honestly say that I have not put any thought into that. Given that ESPN has so many NBA games on at the same time, I doubt they will try to get the NHL back. Maybe FOX tries to make a play? I dunno.
1:17
Don't be shy, folks. Send over a question if you've got one.
Peter
1:17
Hello Matt -- What do you foresee the Lines and the D Pairings looking like.  Also did you see a lack of consistency with Matt Murray last year or was the majority of the problem the people in front of him?
Matt Vensel
1:20
Hey, Peter. Consistency over an 82-game season remains the biggest concern with Murray. He has been excellent in the playoffs. You don't need me to tell you that. But he has yet to show that he can stay healthy and play at a high level throughout the regular season. His strong finish to the regular season this spring certainly gives hope that he can do it. So we'll see. He doesn't need to play 60-65 games. But if he can post a .920-plus save percentage while making about 55 starts, he will certainly deserve a payday around $6-7 million.
1:21
As for the lineup, I'll take a stab. And given how often Mike Sullivan changes his lines, we'll probably see these lines at least once.
1:22
Top line: Guentzel and Crosby are going to play together. When Jared McCann was with them in March, they were the hottest line in the league for a couple of weeks. But Guentzel is more comfortable on his left, they say, and McCann on that line bumps Jake to the right side. I think Dominik Kahun will get a chance to skate with Guentzel and Crosby. If they don't click, it might be Bryan Rust again, assuming he isn't traded to get the Penguins under the salary cap.
1:23
Second: I expect Malkin and Alex Galchenyuk to play together, with the left-shot Galchenyuk playing on the right side. If that's the case, McCann, a speedy two-way forward, makes sense on the left.
1:25
Third: Nick Bjugstad and Patric Hornqvist weren't that productive when playing together late last season, but from a team possession standpoint, those two with Dominik Simon often hogged the puck. I think Sullivan should have stuck with that line to open the playoffs. But I digress. So we'll say Bjugstad, Hornqvist and then either Kahun or Simon on the third line, depending on who Kahun clicks with. He showed last year in Chicago that he can produce playing with top talents. So he'll get a chance to be a top-six winger here, I bet.
1:26
Fourth: Teddy Blueger is your fourth-line center. Brandon Tanev, who signed a six-year deal, could wind up on this line. The right wing could be Rust, Simon, Zach Aston-Reese or a surprise youngster.
1:28
On D, Letang and Dumoulin are great together. The question then becomes what they will do with Marcus Pettersson. If he plays with Justin Schultz, he is going to get a bump in playing time, which he deserves. But then you might have a bottom pair of Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson, which might never escape the zone. We'll see.
Aljohn
1:28
Do you know what the ask is roughly on Pettersson?
Matt Vensel
1:29
I do not, but I'm guessing he lands around $3-4 million per.
I should add that's under the assumption they sign Marcus to a contract that runs three years or more.
Pat
1:29
Do you think there is a chance the Pens look at moving Hornqvist or Schultz? I know Hornqvist has a NMC, but would he consider waiving, to say, Nashville? Also, Schultz is a UFA next summer and Pens have so many others to focus on. They can get great value for a top 4 RHD.
Matt Vensel
1:31
I don't see Hornqvist getting traded. For one, he has the no-trade clause you mentioned. Second, Jim Rutherford has talked so much about needing more chemistry and character in the locker room. He's maybe their loudest leader and then plays like a madman. Third, who is going to want to trade for a 32-year-old winger with a sizeable contract and a history of concussions? Hard to see it happening.
1:32
I think at this point, Schultz is staying. Trading him now isn't going to make them better, plus the Penguins want to re-sign him.
AJ
1:32
Do you think the pens will change their system a little bit to stop the odd man breaks?
Matt Vensel
1:34
The biggest issues with that this past season was that individuals were too often coughing up the puck while trying to make plays. Malkin and Kessel did it often. We saw Jake Guentzel get benched for doing it, too. The coaching staff is going to hammer this point home again. I also think adding speed and depth up front this offseason helps, too, because they can improve at puck pursuit.
FR
1:36
What do you think will happen with ZAR?  Any chance he will be traded?
Matt Vensel
1:37
I don't think he will be traded because he's going to salary arbitration as an RFA. That's pretty common. But if he isn't going to make the team out of camp, and I don't think that's a sure thing (though I do project him to make it), they could look to trade him for something.
Rahn
1:38
If the dominoes fall this way: Johnson moved, Rikkola moves up as a bridge to (my prediction) Niklas Almari either by season's end or for start of 2020-21. Almari is also why moving Maatta wasn't preferred but was possible. Thoughts?
Matt Vensel
1:41
Yes, if Johnson is traded, that would seemingly solidify Juuso Riikola as a top-six defenseman this season. As for Niclas Almari, I don't know that he's considered among the team's top prospects. So it might be a stretch to think he'll be ready for the NHL within the next 14 months. The top defensive prospect is Calen Addison, who will probably spend one more season in the WHL.
anonymous
1:42
I know Nick & Rust are always mentioned as trade bait - but don't those 2 play the exact type of game that Sullivan is wanting to play? Is there anyone else you could see being traded?
Load More Messages
Connecting…