I really don't mind the Neal for goose trade, both are pretty 1 demensional and streaky as hell.

Just curious of the return you guys are expexcting if letang is traded. And am I the only one who thinks he looks like a werewolf?
- NoobasaurusRex

Never knew Neal was so one dimensional. Moody too.

This is true, but one thing that Carolina knew, was that Staal would resign there. Whoever trades for Letang is going to want to be assured that he will resign there and what it will likely cost.

And you'd have to get a high pick, but you'd have to get back at least one really good, young roster player. The way this team is set now, you can't wait around for picks and prospects to develop, they would need to be able to plug someone in for another run now.
- rival22

Which is why I said not to trade him. As good as he is, Malkin will always be second fiddle to Crosby (assuming he stays healthy). Plus, the return for Malkin would be...wow. If you traded him to a team that needs a Marquee player to promote the team (Florida), imagine the return. Huberdeau, the 2nd overall pick (MacKinnon), and Markstrom to start. Maybe also Weiss and another 1st rounder. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I think Letang is the smarter money.

My opinion of the Edler hit, was he was going to lay into him then let up because Staal dished the puck off... I don't think he intended to destroy his knee... unfortunate result... I'd give him 1-2 games off for not at least trying to lift his leg up... mind you he does sort of pull his leg back away from Staal but the collision happens... although at pro hockey speed its almost impossible to react to certain situations.

I don't want to be one of the slow motion replay analysts that Im growing tired of.

Which is why I said not to trade him. As good as he is, Malkin will always be second fiddle to Crosby (assuming he stays healthy). Plus, the return for Malkin would be...wow. If you traded him to a team that needs a Marquee player to promote the team (Florida), imagine the return. Huberdeau, the 2nd overall pick (MacKinnon), and Markstrom to start. Maybe also Weiss and another 1st rounder. I know it probably sounds crazy, but I think Letang is the smarter money.
- jmatchett383

I agree 100%. Now, having said that I'd prefer to see 87 and 71 grow old together, sticking with $8.7M contracts until they turn 35 when they would drop down to $3M for 5 years ultimately retiring together in 2027 after lifting their 7th Stanley Cup at ages 40 and 41.

Dam, I was hoping this blog was about injuries to Iginla and Dupuis

You guys should bench Malkin, he and Crosby could use the rest! Of course last time you did that we still lost!

I think Neal has been playing well the last few games. He isn't scoring, but he's been skating hard and played well on the forecheck in GM #1.
- rival22

I agree.. He has had some pep in his step. I like it!

My Priority order this offseason:

1. extend/trade Letang
2. extend Malkin
3. re-sign Dupuis
4. extend Kunitz
5. re-sign Cooke
6. sign Murray
7. sign Iginla
8. sign Morrow
- cap1681

Realize I'm responding super-late to this, but the way you phrased it bothered. We'd be extending Malkin, Kunitz, & Letang, which is quite a bit different than re-signing then as either a UFA or a RFA.

Also, i'd alter the order slightly:

1. extend/trade Letang
2. extend Malkin
3. re-sign Dupuis
4. sign Iginla
5. sign Murray
6. re-sign Cooke

I'd let Morrow & Kennedy walk. Next year we'd have Iginlia, Dupuis, Kunitz, & Neal on the Top-6 W's with Bennett & Cooke being centered by Sutter. Bennett is the wild-card as he could play Top-6 W or be used to add some scoring skill to the 3rd line.

Realize I'm responding super-late to this, but the way you phrased it bothered. We'd be extending Malkin, Kunitz, & Letang, which is quite a bit different than re-signing then as either a UFA or a RFA.

Also, i'd alter the order slightly:

1. extend/trade Letang
2. extend Malkin
3. re-sign Dupuis
4. sign Iginla
5. sign Murray
6. re-sign Cooke

I'd let Morrow & Kennedy walk. Next year we'd have Iginlia, Dupuis, Kunitz, & Neal on the Top-6 W's with Bennett & Cooke being centered by Sutter. Bennett is the wild-card as he could play Top-6 W or be used to add some scoring skill to the 3rd line.
- s0rcerer1984

You think you'll be able to sing both Iginla and Dupuis after extending Malkin and giving Letang his raise? I'm assuming we're talking multi-year deals for Iginla and Dupuis which will carry into the Letang/Malkin extensions.

You think you'll be able to sing both Iginla and Dupuis after extending Malkin and giving Letang his raise? I'm assuming we're talking multi-year deals for Iginla and Dupuis which will carry into the Letang/Malkin extensions.
- jmatchett383

Pens will have $8.5M in Cap space next year w/ a base roster as follows:

XXXXX-Crosby-Kunitz
XXXXX-Malkin-Neal
Bennett-Sutter-Jokinen
XXXXX-Vitale-Glass

Martin-Orpik
Letang-Despres
Niskanen-Engeland

Add depth w/ Bortuzzo (RFA) at $600K & Adams at $700K w/ a total remaining cap of $7.2M.

$7.2M could work out to Iginlia at $3.5M and Dupuis at $3M is possible w/ $700K left over, but who knows? Just have to wait & see.

Pens have a ton of contracts expiring in 2014 (Jokinen, Kunitz, Glass, Orpik, Niskanen) so Cap sapce for Letang and Malkin's extensions shouldn't an issue, though a mini-tool will be needed in 2014-15 & going forward from what the team is now.

In other Worlds injury news, I guess Sweden's Alex Edler (Canucks) blew out Eric Staal's knee with what everyone is saying was a dirty hit. I haven't seen it, the youtube videos seemed to be pulled down for copyright infringement.

edit: Here's a crappy video of it-

https://vine.co/v/bE66j3KgmXi

Yay... bad hit. No reason to come into him like that.
- rival22

This video was actually pretty good. Reminds me a lot of the hit Ovi laid on Gleason and Gonchar. He should be suspended for it.

If letang doesn't sign and wants rediculous money what would his trade value be? same as staals basically, I good player that is obviously being traded?
Our 10th a top prospect and an average prospect?

You guys owe us one for Neal still.
- NoobasaurusRex

He should get more in return. We don't owe you anything for Neal. Your GM, err ex-GM didn't think so. You don't have enough to get Letang in a deal.

Yeah... this is apparently it:


He brings a lot on himself, but the guy can't win. He lets those shots go through and they score, then the Milbury's of the world question his heart.
- rival22

I guess he broke it going in the first block. That's the best defensive effort I've seen from him, ever.

If letang doesn't sign and wants rediculous money what would his trade value be? same as staals basically, I good player that is obviously being traded?
Our 10th a top prospect and an average prospect?

You guys owe us one for Neal still.
- NoobasaurusRex

I'd be glad to take Benn or Eriksson (love his contract). Choose one for us

Pens will have $8.5M in Cap space next year w/ a base roster as follows:

XXXXX-Crosby-Kunitz
XXXXX-Malkin-Neal
Bennett-Sutter-Jokinen
XXXXX-Vitale-Glass

Martin-Orpik
Letang-Despres
Niskanen-Engeland

Add depth w/ Bortuzzo (RFA) at $600K & Adams at $700K w/ a total remaining cap of $7.2M.

$7.2M could work out to Iginlia at $3.5M and Dupuis at $3M is possible w/ $700K left over, but who knows? Just have to wait & see.

Pens have a ton of contracts expiring in 2014 (Jokinen, Kunitz, Glass, Orpik, Niskanen) so Cap sapce for Letang and Malkin's extensions shouldn't an issue, though a mini-tool will be needed in 2014-15 & going forward from what the team is now.
- s0rcerer1984

That's pretty good. We could always trade Niskanen if we feel Despres is ready to take on his duties...give the money to Iggy/Dupper/Murray.

I'd be glad to take Benn or Eriksson (love his contract). Choose one for us
- Orpik44

Eriksson's contract is wonderful.

I guess Torres needs to change his name to Rick Nash then Shanny would see things differently.

I guess Torres needs to change his name to Rick Nash then Shanny would see things differently.
- madmike71

Torres is in a bad position. His name is becoming worse than Cooke's around the league.

Does he has the talent to become a Cooke type of player (like he's now)?

Eriksson's contract is wonderful.
- kill.monsters

Can you imagine Eriksson on Geno's wing? wow...just too much talent in one line

I guess he broke it going in the first block. That's the best defensive effort I've seen from him, ever.
- Orpik44

And after he broke his foot, probably the last one you'll see from him as well. Im surprised he did it in the first place but I guess those ghosts of playoffs past got to him.

My opinion of the Edler hit, was he was going to lay into him then let up because Staal dished the puck off... I don't think he intended to destroy his knee... unfortunate result... I'd give him 1-2 games off for not at least trying to lift his leg up... mind you he does sort of pull his leg back away from Staal but the collision happens... although at pro hockey speed its almost impossible to react to certain situations.

I don't want to be one of the slow motion replay analysts that Im growing tired of.
- nelson911

Yeah its always hard to tell from the slow mo replays but that looks pretty dirty. It looks like he thought Staal was gonna come up and maybe turn forehand with the puck and then he just decided to clip him while Staals leg was extended. Im sure he didn't mean to do that much damage, but it happened none the less.

the asking price for Letang would be HIGH. and I mean high.

I would see, good roster player, great prospect, 1st round pick... and maybe more.

hopefully we extend letang at a reasonable rate. I think he understands that his game is going to benefit if he is in pitt.

I see him taking a little bit more than what karlsson took. right in that range. perfectly fine with that. guy deserves to get paid.

the asking price for Letang would be HIGH. and I mean high.

I would see, good roster player, great prospect, 1st round pick... and maybe more.

hopefully we extend letang at a reasonable rate. I think he understands that his game is going to benefit if he is in pitt.

I see him taking a little bit more than what karlsson took. right in that range. perfectly fine with that. guy deserves to get paid.
- SuperHenderson13

$6.5M max. from us, please.

Geno at $9M sounds cool too.

If we trade him it will be either to Anaheim or Edmonton. Take note.

and of the following teams, who makes the big move first?

VAN, PHI, WSH, STL?

my money's on Vancouver.

$6.5M max. from us, please.

Geno at $9M sounds cool too.

If we trade him it will be either to Anaheim or Edmonton. Take note.
- Orpik44

I could see us trading him to ANA

for Fowler, Etem and a 1st. that wouldn't be a horrible deal IMO for either side.

and of the following teams, who makes the big move first?

VAN, PHI, WSH, STL?

my money's on Vancouver.
- SuperHenderson13

Yeah, they HAVE to. The Sedins are already on their 30s and they don't look like a tough team built for the playoffs.

Saint Louis has to do something as well....

I don't care about the FLyers