Watching Bostons power play is giving me Pens flashbacks. It’s looking rough.

Hello All,

I've been a Penguins fan for around 15 years now which started when I randomly decided to start watching hockey clips on Youtube. Since then I've always kept up with the Pens as best I can and in recent years the TV deals have meant I've been able to watch more and more of the team play from the UK, but I've never managed to get out and watch a game. Last year I visited Boston and got to see a couple of Bruins games and it really made me think how much of a shame it would be if I never got out to see Malkin / Crosby / Tanger play in person.

With all of that said, I'm trying to plan a trip to North America next year that will let me watch at least one (hopefully a couple) of Pens games. Most obvious choice would be to go to Pittsburgh for a week when there are consecutive home games, second choice would be to visit NYC / East and catch maybe a combo of Islanders / Rangers / Devils / Caps / Flyers / Boston away game or two, third would be to head out West for maybe Ducks / Kings away, lastly I wouldn't mind going to Canada (Ottawa / Montreal / Leafs) + Sabres? Calgary / Edmonton?

If I'm honest, Pittsburgh isn't exactly known as a big tourist spot in the UK so not sure how much there would be to do there other than watch the Hockey, so I am leaning towards away games. I also have friends in Cali / NYC so those might be preferred options.

Couple of questions: In terms of getting tickets for games at PPG, are they fairly easy to come by? Presume for games against teams like Ducks / Sharks / Jets it's a bit easier than against the Flyers / Rangers but in general would I be able to pick up tickets quite short notice? In terms of price, what do tickets normally run (Happy to sit anywhere so a range would be appreciated but I might like to splurge on some seats close to ice since this is realistically a once in a life time chance to see the core play).

Obviously the choice of away games will depend on what the schedule for 24/25 actually looks like, when would this normally be released?

Lastly, if you had a choice is there a particular set of away games from those listed above that you would do?

Sorry for the many questions and thanks in advance.

EDIT: For clarity, I mean for the next season i.e. the 24/25 regular season.

Since the Pens missed the playoff. Who are you pulling for?

https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1786436694167728449?t=J5tVD9ZIaIccVPhr-glgyA&s=19

Link to game

I’m going to be in Pittsburgh this weekend and was just wondering what the best bar or restaurant would be the best place to watch the leafs/bruins Saturday night?

Happy Birthday to former GM Ron Hextall! HES celebrating 60 years today.

Anyone know why they’re taking so long this year? I just got an email stating late May / early June, which will be around 2 months. I feel like they were around 2-3 weeks last year.

I am mostly in the keep Sullivan camp provided other changes are made, but hoo boy, this makes it interesting if it came to pass. (Have to imagine logically that it’s a nothing burger.)

Brind'Amour's future with Hurricanes up in the air with previous offer pulled https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/report-rod-brind-amour-unsure-on-his-future-with-carolina-hurricanes-1.2113947

Alright so hear me out. Per my view the Pens returning roster is likely to look like this, barring trades:

Defense:

Pettersson- Karlsson

POJ- Letang

Graves- St. Ivany

Ludvig?

These guys are all under contract, and frankly, despite an up and down year, MGT has expressed support for each of them. POJ remains to be resigned, but I imagine he will com cheaply. Even at a million, that's a team D for a total of 26.5 million against the cap.

Forwards:

SID RUST DOC - 14.85

Bunting -Geno - Rak - 15.6

Smith Eller Puusty UFAG* - 8.25*

Nieto - Acciari - Poolparty - 3.675

Total cap - 42.375

Goalies:

Jarry: 5.375

Cap: $87.675

This leaves 3 roster spots and $13.425 in cap space.

1 roster spot is a goalie, and 2 are likely to be forwards. Obviously, KD's biggest issue is clearing out trash.

Waiting in the wings:

Ponomorev, Koivunen, Gruden, Poulin

long shots outta camp:

Yaeger, Broz, Pickering

All I can say is that based upon this, the biggest problem will be opening up roster spots for the good players we can get with that 13 million, and leaving room for some of this already acquired youth to get games. I would bury that whole 4th line. If Nieto is not done, and just taking next year LTIREMENT, fine. Otherwise, begone, or waive him. Acciari - he's expensive for a 13th forward, but that's what he should be at best. Same with Poolparty. Keeping both on the roster is a mistake. the latter will be easier to move, maybe even just to move up 3 spots in 5th round at the draft or something.

I would still try to move Rakell - despite the bounce back play at the end of the year. He's just not consistent in his time here.

Smith - I'm torn, because I think he was a 32 year old with a new team on a Stanley cup hangover, who just didnt' have the juice. I don't think he's washed though, so I wouldn't hate keeping him... on the 3rd line tho.

So, my shopping list would be a RW for Geno as #1 priority. Then I would look for guys to push our third line to the 4th.

This exercise also demonstrates that there's room to resign Ned, who could definitely be dealt in season if/when Blomqvist is ready, or better yet take the #1 role when we do the same with Humpty Jarry after he has a great fall.

Note, that I'm not searching for miracles or making predictions, just trying to give lay of the land. This is also waaaay too long so. TLDR; Pens have few roster spots but plenty of cap room - need to dump some dunnage.

Wednesday, April 24 - Tuesday, April 30, 2024

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Girlfriend got us minor league playoff tickets for tonight. The problem is it’s the Hershey Bears(Crapitals farm team) vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers farm team). Given this choice, who are you rooting for if you’re in my situation? And don’t worry, I’ll be wearing a Letang jersey.