Martin is a pretty good puck moving D-man. I said this in a earlier blog......I don't think the Pens need that high level, offensive minded d-man with all the firepower they have up front. They need a more balanced, defense-minded group of guys who have trace amounts of offensive ability. I also think Dumolin will get a shot with the big club next season, and he is cut from the same cloth as Martin. Plus, let's not forget about Despres.
- cap1681

Martin and Despres will be more than adequate puck movers.

If you look at their cap hits you'll know why I handpicked them. M.Martin would be very nice for our 4th line for years to come. Basically a replacement to Adams. Hamonic is a very good shut down defenseman. Okposo...I see him as a Fedotenko type. He could work well on our top 2 lines. Give him to either, Sid or Geno.
- Orpik44

I'm sorry, but the only guy i would be interested in is Hamonic. Martin is young, but doesn't have a very high ceiling. Okposo......just no.

Who would be our puck-moving D then?
- errey12

We can sign Ryan Whitney, he's a UFA...

Or maybe Goligoski. Our blogger would be in heaven.
- canadianpenfan

Let's get both and watch Gunner's head explode

We can sign Ryan Whitney, he's a UFA...



Let's get both and watch Gunner's head explode
- rival22

Then we just need to find a way to get Satan back.

To shed some light on why I ask, a poster against playing Carcillo tonight cited Cooke as part of his reasoning:



Now, playing Carcillo is a whole other conversation. But looking at the comparison to Cooke, I felt it really didn't hold, what with Cooke's play being a positive for the Penguins.
- BulliesPhan87

I don't think the comparison is fair at all Cooke is a far more gifted player than carcillo is.

They're terrible deals for Pittsburgh, whether you hand picked them or not. Back to the drawing board.
- canadianpenfan

"I think you need a reality check here" ...M.Martin $1M cap hit for 3 years, Hamonic $0.9M RFA, Okposo $2.8M cap hit for 3 years. Hardly bad deals, fella.

Martin and Despres will be more than adequate puck movers.
- canadianpenfan

Well then, have RS rape Dallas again for the previous-mentioned deal and call it a day.

"I think you need a reality check here" ...M.Martin $1M cap hit for 3 years, Hamonic $0.9M RFA, Okposo $2.8M cap hit for 3 years. Hardly bad deals, fella.
- Orpik44

Who gives a flying (frank) what their cap hits are? They're not good hockey players.

"I think you need a reality check here" ...M.Martin $1M cap hit for 3 years, Hamonic $0.9M RFA, Okposo $2.8M cap hit for 3 years. Hardly bad deals, fella.
- Orpik44

The cap hits are great, the return is no-where near what Shero will be looking for. 1st round pick, NHL ready defenseman, and a prospect, or a higher level NHL player and a prospect.

The cap hits are great, the return is no-where near what Shero will be looking for. 1st round pick, NHL ready defenseman, and a prospect, or a higher level NHL player and a prospect.
- cap1681

You need a reality check too.

Who gives a flying (frank) what their cap hits are? They're not good hockey players.
- canadianpenfan

You said (frank) you should get banned for a day Hamonic is pretty good but anyway. If we could do better, awesome.

Who gives a flying (frank) what their cap hits are? They're not good hockey players.
- canadianpenfan

Okposo had a good series and scored 3 goals... Which is funny, because that is only one more goal than he scored in all of the regular season

Okposo had a good series and scored 3 goals... Which is funny, because that is only one more goal than he scored in all of the regular season
- rival22

Okposo was great in the playoffs. But I'll take the previous 200 or so games to judge him on instead of those 6.

And I wasn't including Hamonic in my previous post, he's really good. That's why he won't be traded.

I don't think the comparison is fair at all Cooke is a far more gifted player than carcillo is.
- Genev21

I kind of agree. Mainly, I agree that Cooke is an all around more capable player, and more dependable.

I know you guys won't agree, but I think Carcillo has some talent. He's no finesse player by any means, but for a pest/agitator/gremlin, he had a little bit of a scoring touch. Now, the obvious trade off is that he has almost no restraint and an infinite capacity for carnage (a very dangerous combination for all in attendance). But when Carcillo could rein himself in, he was one of those fourth line guys you could plug in up the line up for the short term.

I've always hoped for Carbomb, that he could find that right balance on the long term. It will never happen.

EDIT: After looking at the numbers, I would not say the scoring ability I see in Carcillo is greater than Cooke's. No doubt Cooke is a better player. That said, I stand by my feelings on Carbomb.

You need a reality check too.
- canadianpenfan

Why would i expect less return then what Shero got for Staal? It will be an equal if not better return, because he will have more teams in play, and the "puck moving defenseman" is a hotter commodity in today's NHL.

one bad playoff series and everyone wants to get rid of Letang... despite his cap hit, to sign him long term when the cap starts back up... pens are going to PROBABLY regret moving him.
worst pend deals ever
nasland for stojdfown
letang for whoever..


thats my call fellas... take it or leave it I'm sticking to it

For all of the positives that Letang has as a trading chip, you gotta remember that teams who already have a high end puck moving defensemen are out (STL, LA, Minn, OTT, etc), and so are teams where it is unlikely that Letang will sign an extension (for either personal reasons or the team's future, salary cap restrictions).

Why would i expect less return then what Shero got for Staal? It will be an equal if not better return, because he will have more teams in play, and the "puck moving defenseman" is a hotter commodity in today's NHL.
- cap1681

I agree 100%, I think RS will look for a similar return for Letang. Either decent player, 1st rnd pick and prospect. Or Solid player+pick/prospect.

I do think Okposo is a very solid player just on a crappy team. If he were moved to a better team, I think his stats and effort will be a lot higher. Isles are a career killer.

Why would i expect less return then what Shero got for Staal? It will be an equal if not better return, because he will have more teams in play, and the "puck moving defenseman" is a hotter commodity in today's NHL.
- cap1681

"I think you need a reality check here" ...M.Martin $1M cap hit for 3 years, Hamonic $0.9M RFA, Okposo $2.8M cap hit for 3 years. Hardly bad deals, fella.
- Orpik44

one bad playoff series and everyone wants to get rid of Letang... despite his cap hit, to sign him long term when the cap starts back up... pens are going to PROBABLY regret moving him.
worst pend deals ever
nasland for stojdfown
letang for whoever..


thats my call fellas... take it or leave it I'm sticking to it
- ChrisMS

I would rather keep him, but I just don't think he's going take 6-6.5M to stay in Pittsburgh. Plus I'm really leery about giving any d-man more than a 4 year contract, no matter what his name his (Orr excluded).

Why would i expect less return then what Shero got for Staal? It will be an equal if not better return, because he will have more teams in play, and the "puck moving defenseman" is a hotter commodity in today's NHL.
- cap1681

I still have no idea how he got that deal out of Jim Rutherford... As much as I like Staal, what a bad deal from their side.

In the clif notes version to the article: yes dupuis is important to the pens in more ways than one

I still have no idea how he got that deal out of Jim Rutherford... As much as I like Staal, what a bad deal from their side.
- rival22

Like i've always said, he must have blackmail material on 75% of the current GMs.

If you recall the periods of time Letang was out in the past 2 seasons this team struggled. Now that I've said that you have 4 or 5 young dmen Despres included who will need a spot on this roster in the next 3 years. I have to believe that Shero not only drafted these guys to land forwards via trade but to actually play and fill in when some of these guys leave. Have rookie contracts on that blue line will be huge in retaining guys like Kunitz, Duper, Cooke. Letang isn't easily replaceable but we at least have options. Get some young forwards and trade him. Assuming he is asking for top dollar we don't know that yet.

Interesting rumor from twitter. Take it with a grain of salt as it's from one of HockyyInsiderr's buddies:

@NHL_rumor_mill: #RUMOR: #Stars and #Flyers discussing deal centered around Alex Goligoski and Sean Couturier. Details to come #StayTuned