Is there any way Rutger McGroarty and or Avery Hayes could somehow stay on the team and play meaningful minutes after the Olympic break barring injury or trade? (I know they both would have to get recalled after the break.)
Rutger has been flying the last few games and Hayes showed he's got potential with the way he was skating and driving play. (I know it was one game, but that's what we were hoping to see in Ville Koivunen this year.)
The lines seem to be crystalized and are producing for the most part. (Rakell might be dragging the 1st line down because I don't think he's healthy. Having said that, I don't think it's to the point he'd be moved to a different line because that could screw other lines up.)
Do these two (Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes) give Dubas options to try to make a trade to help the playoff push?
12 comments
Rutgers more than Hayes. It would take some significant injuries, even in his 2 goal game, Hayes only played 10 minutes.
Unless we move off of some guys at the deadline who were originally supposed to be rentals (Mantha, Brazeau, etc) or unless someone gets injured, I don’t imagine either will get meaningful minutes until next season.
We’ve seen just how fast injuries could start to pile up out of nowhere and even without major injuries you’re still going to have guys getting banged up and missing a few games here and there. Their time to earn regular lineup spots will come. For now, they are most valuable where they are as necessary depth.
I think Rakell will get moved which opens a spot in the top 6.
Moving Mantha would be really bold at this point but is the best move for the future outlook of the team.
I could see them extending Brazeau on an affordable deal. 28 and just beginning to unlock his potential.
But Mantha is 31, injury prone, and his stock will likely never be higher.
Before the season started I assumed Rust was gone at some point but now it feels like he will stay around.
All that being said, unless someone tweaks something practicing over the break or Rakell gets injured in Milan or traded, I don’t see either of them playing meaningful minutes the rest of the year.
This sub is funny. We’ve got you talking about “Rutger has been flying the last few games.” And just in another post a couple days ago, someone else said, Rutger is slow since being back. Completely contradicting each other. You’ve got half the group who thinks we should continue with the rebuild. The other half that wants to make a run for the Cup since we’ve been playing well. Half the guys wanna trade Rakell, Rust, EK, Mantha, etc. The other half thinks we should go for it with this group.
Unless there’s an injury then I don’t think so. I think they’d be a better backup option then Kevin Hayes when it comes to a playoff scenario, but they seem insistent on them being able to play which is fair.
If we move Rakell (Been pretty inconsistent during his tenure as a Penguin, should’ve traded him last year but hindsight is always 20/20) then that would make room for atleast one of them. Mantha and Brazeau are too important to move on from right now unless we get a crazy offer. A tough situation to be in but it’s a good one
I’m starting to form an opinion of McGroarty. I’m not sure he has top 6 forward talent in the NHL. He needs to start finishing more to change my mind, but usually you either have it or you don’t.
It’s too early for Hayes yet, but he’s earned more opportunities.
It’s a good problem to have. For the last 5+ years the Penguins have been starving for young energy. Hockey is an energy game more than any other (big 4) sport, where inferior talent can and often does triumph because of grit, toughness, and a little luck. It’s what put the 16 and 17 teams over the top. Recently this was obvious to pretty much everyone outside of the people who mattered.
Suddenly they find themselves with an abundance of talented youth and an assload of draft picks in coming years. Kyle Dubas is a fucking wizard (or maybe he has just gotten really lucky).
I honestly see no reason ton not trade a guy like mantha or rakell if the price is right (1st/ prospect) . We’re still in a rebuild, and these guys are proving to be solid depth pieces that we can use in our current lineup
I think they should try to test Hayes on the 1st line with Sid and Rusty before making a move. It was tried in the preseason and it seemed well since they had some points together.
I think it’s risky to force a trade from the top six because they’re particularly not young players. If Raks was the trade bait, or even Mantha – then I’m not sure what the return would be. Teams that would trade for either would be looking to make a push in the playoffs, therefore the return is likely late round frps/ 2nd round picks OR a particular player for player type of trade like the Neal and Horny (Also Spaling but I digress).
I also don’t want to discount Rakell out from recent play because both him and Sid are in the olympics and may have not played as aggressively as they wanted to – not quite a good assumption but I think it’s worth considering. Whereas Mantha has been critical to scoring in this second half of the season and while he is 32, realistically if the Penguins want to make a push for another Cup with Sid, Geno, Tanger, then we’d only need Mantha to be as serviceable as he is for 2-3 more years. In that span, I could see our younger players making the leap.
Unfortunately I they’re destined to be call ups for injuries for the rest of the season.