mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness

[Gaucho]

Penguins put forwards Josh Currie and Frederick Gaudreau, defensemen Zach Trotman and Kevin Czuczman, and goaltender Max Lagace on waivers.

[NTP66]

Trotman on waivers? Now we’re talking.

[Gaucho]

oh, he'll clear... again (?)

[NTP66]

What are the realistic expectations of this team? I’d like to think that a healthy core makes them contenders, but I’m not sure after all of the changes.

[nocera]

My expectations are playoffs and a round 2 exit.

[NTP66]

I don’t like your expectations.

[King Colby]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

[King Colby]

Those are high expectations. I think they finish between 4th and 6th in the MassMutual NHL East Division

[Gaucho]

3rd at worst.

[King Colby]

1. Philly
2. Worshington
3. Boston
4. Penguinos
5. Islanders
6. Rangers
7. Buffalo
8. Devils

Thats my more optimistic prediction

[Jim]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

[King Colby]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

Correct. Also not relevant to my question

[Jim]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

Correct. Also not relevant to my question

Okay, then add "No" to the front of my response. Is it relevant now?

[King Colby]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

Correct. Also not relevant to my question

Okay, then add "No" to the front of my response. Is it relevant now?

Yes. So if those 5 are not on the taxi squad, who is?

[Jim]

So is the taxi squad comprised of these journeymen?

I assume they start with 22 on the roster, kapanen makes 23, ZAR is on IR, and then the taxi squad is these 5 plus whom? Nolan?

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

Correct. Also not relevant to my question

Okay, then add "No" to the front of my response. Is it relevant now?

Yes. So if those 5 are not on the taxi squad, who is?

Not picked yet. There are still a lot of people in camp that will not be on the roster nor taxi squad.

[King Colby]

Everyone (non-exempt) except for the starting lineup is going to get waived.

Correct. Also not relevant to my question

Okay, then add "No" to the front of my response. Is it relevant now?

Yes. So if those 5 are not on the taxi squad, who is?

Not picked yet. There are still a lot of people in camp that will not be on the roster nor taxi squad.

Ok bub - I'm saying its likely if people are waived, they'll probably get named to that squad. Good chance all 5 of those dudes are on the taxi squad. The other guys are guys theyre gonna want playing pro games. Unless they think they can benefit from hanging around the big squad. Or if they'd have to go back to Junior otherwise.

[Jim]

Ok bub - I'm saying its likely if people are waived, they'll probably get named to that squad. Good chance all 5 of those dudes are on the taxi squad. The other guys are guys theyre gonna want playing pro games. Unless they think they can benefit from hanging around the big squad. Or if they'd have to go back to Junior otherwise.

No bub, they are likely to be waived because they needed to be waived. These are the guys that are 100% NOT going to make the 18 man roster, nor the potential 3 man healthy scratch list (or top 2 goalies). They need to be scratched, period. Taxi or AHL. The Penguin literally scratched EVERYONE that they NEEDED to scratch. The fact that it is 5 is nothing more than fluke.

It leaves non-exempt 12F: Malkin, Crosby, Guentzel, Zucker, Tanev, Rust, Kapanen, McCann, Blueger, Sceviour, Jankowski, Rodrigues
... plus Lafferty (exempt), and Reese (IR)
How many forwards do you usually have (when you are going to scratch 2 D)? 12+1 you say? So literally every F that needed to be scratched was scratched you say?

It leaves 6D: Letang, Matheson, Dumoulin, Pettersson, Ceci, Marino
... plus scratched Riikola, Ruhwedel who aren't going to get waived as they would most likely get claimed. So literally ever D that needed to be scratched was scratched you say?

After the waives listed today, the Pens have 12F + 6D + 3 scratches (+Reese).

The Taxi can still have O'Connor, Poulin, Legare, Joseph, etc on it. Plus, there is no rule that you need the 3 healthy scratches, so more guys might get the boot to save cap, but that is not a needed move. The 5 guys that were scratched NEEDED to be scratched, no matter what.

Lagace (the only G on the roster that needed to be waived) will probably be the taxi goalie though. But if someone is really close to NHL ready, would you rather want them practicing with (and at the speed of ) the NHLers or playing against 22 year olds in the AHL? Would you also want them on the short list for if someone pops a knee in warmup? I'm going with the NHLer and on the short list. You also have 2 health scratch D already, so having 2 D on the taxi (2 D waived) makes 4 D not playing.

Possible Taxi:
G: Lagace
D: Joseph or Trotman
F: O'Connor, Zohorna, +1 (remember that someone will get bumped down when Reese returns in a couple weeks)

D is a hard call because you already have Riikola and Ruhwedel in the press box. The Taxi D is not going to get a whiff unless something goes really wrong.

[Gaucho]

[Gaucho]

I'd be glad to be proven wrong, but I don't think Legaré has the skating to play at the highest level.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Wow, showing crowds and fans from opening night in 2019. Ugh, makes me sad.

[Gaucho]

I have a good feeling about Matheson.

[Gaucho]

Pens win.

[willeyeam]

What are the realistic expectations of this team? I’d like to think that a healthy core makes them contenders, but I’m not sure after all of the changes.

I have no hope for my sports teams for the foreseeable future and I'll tell you what it's not fun

[Gaucho]

GMJR failed to address the team's biggest need in the offseason in a convincing manner.

[Gaucho]

That said, Pens in 4.