Penguins Live Chat: Crosby, Prospects, Young Trade Targets

The live chat was fast and furious. Live on YouTube and FaceBook, Pittsburgh Hockey Now began with the Sidney Crosby situation and the reason speculation hasn’t yet run wild. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ schedule and road trips will soon put that issue front and center if it is not resolved.

We somehow filled an entire hour, and it flew by.

Not only will the Penguins’ Canadian road trips give national Canadian media a chance to ask Crosby about his contract status, but they also represent the scenes of the worst moments last season.

There was only one short-lived sound malfunction. We began with viewers taking me to task for my fashion choices and the little trinkets on the fireplace mantle in the studio.

The show began with the Sidney Crosby contract situation and a deeper explanation (4:35). We also explored if the Penguins could defer a lot of cash in a Crosby deal. Next was a short rundown of the best Star Wars movies (9:35). Readers asked about the glut of Penguins forwards and if it’s a problem (11:35). The Penguins defense pairings, why Jack St. Ivany must remain in the lineup, and a look ahead of Sergei Murashov (14:35). We recommend skipping the 16-23 minute marks to avoid the sound issue.

We resumed the show with the Penguins’ biggest issues last season that they must overcome to become a playoff team this season, including overtime play and the big question of whether their older star players can improve in extra time. We opened the young trade targets (29:00), beginning with an in-depth discussion of Nick Robertson, followed by a few other names that could fit the Penguins’ needs.

At 34:30, we entered the free-for-all with more young trade targets, the players the Penguins might lose via waivers, including Valtteri Puustinen, and the impossible choice president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas might face at the NHL trade deadline.

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