DK’s Daily Shot of Penguins That’s it! Again!

#Penguins #NHL #Pittsburgh
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ABOUT US ► DK Pittsburgh Sports is the proud, pioneering, fully independent venture begun in 2014 by award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic and featuring a professional staff covering the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates year-round and everywhere they go! This is where it all started!

[@tylerstevens3437]

This post season has been really good for dubas. Got a bunch of picks with very limited assets and somehow made the team better

[@mobilepwr2]

Dubas has been brilliant this offseason with the depth. He's gotten NHL roster players and picks simultaneously. While also moving out bad contracts. Typically our GM's in the past have overpaid for those players- either in salary or compensation in a trade- but now he's helping the future while also adding to this years roster. That has never been done, its always been SELL OUT for now which has hampered us today. Would love to see a push for a legit winger to replace Guentzel but Im not sure that's gonna happen

[@PENS68]

Who needs Patrik Laine, Rutger McGroarty was absolutely Dubas best move of the offseason and maybe even his best during his tenure so far, although I will say the Karlsson trade is up there and I know I will get some heat for that, yes he had his lapses and bad moments last season but was not awful either still finishing with 56 points. Also, the Karlsson trade ridded the Penguins of deadweight contracts in Mikael Granlund, Jeff Petry, and Jan Rutta, so I made make that trade 100 percent all over again. McGroarty is a young very highly touted forward who can help the Penguins now and after the big three move on. I hate to see Yager go, but McGroarty absolutely fits what this team needs. The cherry on top is Dubas trying to go after Nick Robertson via an offer sheet. If any of you really don't know much about this kid, go watch his highlights at Michigan and what he did for Team USA at the World Juniors last year helping them to the Gold Medal.

[@michaelmcdermott5372]

Are you saying Dubas has made an offer sheet, or you would like him too? I haven't heard about that, but I haven't been paying attention this off-season. Been focused on Steelers mostly, kinda like saving the Pens stuff like I hold off on my dessert till last lol. When my wife started reading the news I thought they signed Sid, but when she said they traded Yager I had to take a bite.

[@Bearhoff]

Karlsson trade was amazing. The only asset was the 1st round pick all the other players were bad contracts 1 being buyout bad lol. Plus got gained cap space

[@PENS68]

@@michaelmcdermott5372I would like him too. He hasn’t yet, but I think he has to clear some cap. I do think another deal is coming before the season starts

[@brandonconnelly6562]

Just a bummer we lost Yager

[@scottconrad4719]

lol. He’s not played one minute in the nhl. Settle down .

[@coulahawke1411]

Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk style pickups with Tanner Howe and now McGroarty. An elite goalie prospect named Sergei. The penguins could be the panthers in about 6 years time

[@NoOneYaKnow666]

Well....I used to be real excited about Yager lol.

[@KyleFunk21]

DK with the acquisition of McGroarty, is it time to revisit the hypothetical question from a few days ago? lol I see this kid playing in the lineup this year and it feels like he could settle the lines into place. Let’s just throw a big IF out there and say he makes the lineup out of camp, what would your lines look like now??

[@Galilelo_Telescope]

I don’t see how O’Connor doesn’t start the year on the first line.

[@travisbrown2759]

Because he's realistically just a solid 3rd liner. McGroarty, a Chris Kunitz-type player, works perfectly with Sid and Rusty.

[@nicholasquinn7893]

3rd line at Best

[@willie9397]

DOC can help the 3rd line speed and scoring touch, the problem is seeing who works well with him one of the problems last year there was little scoring help from lines 3 & 4 Im thinking Hayes DOC and JP both JP and DOC have good shots and speed Hayes does have good set up skills

[@brandonconnelly6562]

Im.not as thrilled with Dubas moves this offseason. I dont hate this move but Yager can put the puck in the net. Its a bummer to lose Yager for a guy that wanted out anyways. I would have rather given up a lesser prospect and a 1st overall and kept Yager. Im pretty high on Yager and feel he will be a 1 or 2 C in this league for many years. That shot is sexy

[@rascalnicough7376]

I'm sure I'm romanticizing it but I'd love for a kid like this to come along and bring inspiration and breathe new life into Geno's game.

[@travisbrown2759]

Rutger McGroarty, has hands, vision, grit, and a knack for creating offense. He fits perfectly alongside Sid and Rust. Rutger is league-ready right now, and has all the intangibles of a future captain.

[@sctvfan1313]

I was so looking forward to your insight on this trade - so happy they didn't make the trade over the weekend! Thanks for your insight on this

[@michaelgruss1272]

Ummm… DK why don’t you look at guentzal’s height and weight?

[@earthquakkejake9894]

Guentzel started getting hurt more times than not,, whose to say he stays consistent in the future,? It's a gamble either way

[@usmcyounggun6879]

I see your point but Guentzel is the exception and not the rule. Most guys that size aren’t going to have the success that Guentzel did, especially in front of the net. But Jake made it work, although taking a beating constantly to make it work lol.

[@usmcyounggun6879]

@@brandonn7770 lol, okay.

[@usmcyounggun6879]

@@brandonn7770 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Holy crap, it’s honestly hilarious how triggered you are right now. You probably need to put down your phone and go outside for a little bit lol. Just a suggestion but you do you. Have an amazing day!

[@Atheos-1]

​@@brandonn7770 Jake's 5'8" and 165 lbs soaking wet, with his equipment on. 195? Gtfoh

[@ryanconnell5147]

Feel the penguins could have kept Yager and acquired McGroarty. Winnipeg had no leverage yet the penguins gave an equal trade. On a team that has little prospect depth to give your best prospect up to a team desperate to move a player they were going to lose. Sorry that’s a loss for penguins.

[@Bearhoff]

@@ryanconnell5147 same, I'd trade all are 3rd round picks we have plus anything that isn't a 1st round pick than yager. He was something to watch when they played swift. He doesn't make mistakes and has an amazing motor. He stood out like bedard did the year before.

[@RumHutProductions]

Winnipeg Jets and Steelers fan here, good trade for both sides here DK. Jets weren't going to give Rutger a chance this season to play

[@Bearhoff]

@@RumHutProductions I think you guys go us on this one. I live in swift current. Yager is amazing backchecks smart and hard. Was playing sh1 for them at 16 year. His brain and skills are nhl ready. Size isn't near as important as 10 years ago. He's pushing 180 there are smaller guy. His shot and speed, and grit would have fit nicely with sid. His wrister is 2nd to only bedard that I've seen recently the puck doesn't move as fast but the release was just as fast

[@RumHutProductions]

@@Bearhoff I hope so. Jets like to let their prospects play as much junior /AHL as they can rather than throwing them onto the 3rd/4th lines.

[@edom4080]

Trade looks good on paper. BUT if he didnt wanna play for the Winnepeg, perhaps he will get here and not wanna play for theBurgh either. Could he have an attitude problem? This hits me as a Tomlin type acquisition. So it is possible the Pens threw away a perfectly good first rounder. I think we are still waiting for Dubas to create some good results..he did inherit a real mess however so deserves some benefit of doubt. I think this is the last season he gets a pass.

[@robotfox1987]

He signed here, so I think he would like to play here. Pittsburgh isn’t perfect but McGroarty is American and likely didn’t want to play in one of the coldest cities in Canada

[@thatsright4194]

They didn't want to commit to promoting him so he wanted out. He has an entry level contract signed here so he'll get a fair shake out of camp to make the roster.

[@PappyLongbag]

I hate giving up a skilled, right handed center, but McGroarty is a good prospect.

[@pcvetic]

I warming to this deal. Wasn't really happy when i herd Yager was traded. But i glad he wasn't a add on for some larger deal or to get a team to take our "dead weight". Getting a player only 1 year older isn't too bad.

[@BossSpraker]

DK, what happened to the audio for the transitions on these? the music is so quiet in the beginning so i turn it up then my ears explode when you start talk cause you are way louder then it lol just pointing it out that its a lot different then it used to be i thought it was just a couple episodes but its been a few now.

[@maczed31]

Interesting to hear your thoughts on this. Not sure how to feel about this trade. For a guy who has never played in the NHL to ask for a trade doesn't always point to good character....Yager has much better skill but I've heard rumours that the physicality can push him to the perimeter....but he still put good numbers up in skilled competition like world juniors. It's rare a winger makes a big impact on a team with exception of Ovechkin. The weird thing is Dubas selected Yager when he could've chosen guys that were thought to be better that were available at that pick than him in 2023. But clearly he thought McGroarty is better than Yager. .... either way this may end up a good move. In the short term it is because McGroarty can likely suit up next year whereas Yager was likely another year away.

[@willie9397]

Jets probably said Yager or no deal, I would have

[@Bearhoff]

@@maczed31 I think Yager would have made the team he stood out like Bedard did the year before but with most defense awareness and his work ethic. He was everywhere breaking up plays. Best all around moose jaw warrior I can remember.

[@jimbosmith6327]

I hope they go after Nick Robertson as well. What that does to the salary cap for them and the need to shed salary I don't know. But you add another guy like Robertson to the mix and suddenly this team is looking real good this year. Lots of question marks still, but definitely a team to watch.

[@scottconrad4719]

So here is where we are. He wouldn’t have made the jets but he could be a top 6 in Pit. Let that sink in. That’s where this roster is. Getting all giddy about a dude who ha ant played 1 minute of pro hockey and has a documented attitude problem. 90% of the dudes on here saying how great he is hadn’t even heard of him until the trade.

[@DKPS_Steelers]

Pittsburgh. - Dejan

[@michaelgruss1272]

Problem too is Pens and sully simply won’t plug in the young guys.

[@Blackhawknickc]

He really doesn’t have a choice this season

[@brandonrickner1321]

Jack St. Ivany? Valteri Puustinen? Huh. Ok.

[@missingmonk4601]

Let's talk in 4 Years. Rutger had shown himself to be selfish, simple fact.

[@JRL1985]

Why because he didn't want to sign with a terribly run organization, in a city that's freezing cold year round, in the middle of nowhere, with a very high crime/murder rate and has zero night life or anything to do at all?

[@robotfox1987]

Not to compare this kid to Jagr, but I doubt anyone looks back on Jagr’s career and says “wow, he was a diva for refusing to play for any team that drafted him that wasn’t the pens, they shouldn’t have drafted him”

[@johnjericho8922]

Also tax rates are crazy in Canada right now. He's gonna make more money just coming to PA over Mantoba

[@chickenalaking1319]

@@JRL1985Brock Lesnar likes living there.

[@JRL1985]

@@chickenalaking1319 Brock lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which is not or anywhere near Winnipeg, Manitoba, i know you think the country of Canada is one giant city, but thank you for incorrecting me.

[@christopherweir6445]

Let’s see if this kid is the next Jamie Benn like the player THINKS he is …. any player that feels he should never see the AHL or refuse to play n canada sounds like a punk to me.

[@coulahawke1411]

Oh no you should go to the principal about it

[@christopherweir6445]

@@coulahawke1411 will do toots . Anytime you trade an American kid for a Canadian kid , you lose . Yager has higher ceilimg and no entitlement….. and Canadian .

[@chickenalaking1319]

Yeah, but he's OUR punk. And as long as he's a real punk against our division rivals, I'm all for it.

[@NobuhikuObayashi]

I see it as a competitive drive. He saw his Michigan State teammates get NHL time, he feels he’s better than them and wants that time too.

[@christopherweir6445]

@@NobuhikuObayashi that’s usually decided be an NHL coaching staff after camp , not by a punk kid.

[@bobearthquakepumpkinfarm7455]

It seems like I've seen this horse before. When will our prospects become a good team rather than trade bait? Maybe we need a better trainer for the stable.