its so heated in here already, will you guys even make it to july 5th?

its so heated in here already, will you guys even make it to july 5th?
- Habitants98

umbh...wat?

its so heated in here already, will you guys even make it to july 5th?
- Habitants98

With the exception of maybe one player possibly added for the bottom 6 I think our roster will be just about locked in by July 5th.

The AHL team will probably have some new faces though.

I can't believe Letang will get a better contract than d-men who actually won a Norris trophy. He was a candidate in a shortenend season on a stacked team that couldn't keep the puck out their net on many nights.

Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but his value to the team is being inflated.

I think Dupuis could probably get $5 million a year from the right team on the open market. I couldn't blame him for trying, but I'd love to see him stay here. A $10ish million contract at $3.35 a year. I think that's reasonable to expect. Maybe not though.
- kill.monsters

I know all things are relative when you're talking millions of $$$, but Duper has not made a ton of money and this is his last chance to cash in. It will be interesting, but I'd wait a week to see what comes my way. 4 or 5 million is a lot to leave on the table. He might like Pittsburgh, but every city can provide a good environment when you're pulling in that kind of money.

Enough with the Bylsma's system. You draw me up a system and show me the x's and o's that has intercepted passes in your own slot and blue line turnovers in the game plan.
- Ryan_Wilson

I would point out that your statement above complete describes Paul Martin circa two years ago? players can certainly improve... I remember how many pepole wanted to trade him and his cap space away that year...

I don't think it is a slam dunk to Montreal. There are going to be plenty of suitors. This move is a game changer for the off season of many teams who might have to reanalyze their strategies now.
- Ryan_Wilson

No doubt. And as you said, despite they buy out, he won't come cheap.

I'm admittedly kind of suprised by the Kunitz move as Shero hasn't been previously willing to give players multiyear extensions in their mid 30's. That said, considering Kunitz has continually improved his game (and production) every year hear and can play with either Sid or Geno, I like it, especially at those numbers. He'd get over $5 mill on the open market.
- Emperor Filonius

Absolutely To put in perspective, Kunitz would have an 88 pts season this year in 82 games.

2008-2009 Anaheim Ducks NHL 62 16 19 35
Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 20 7 11 18
2009-2010 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 50 13 19 32
2010-2011 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 66 23 25 48
2011-2012 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 26 35 61
2012-2013 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 48 22 30 52
2013-2014 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL - - - -

I can't believe Letang will get a better contract than d-men who actually won a Norris trophy. He was a candidate in a shortenend season on a stacked team that couldn't keep the puck out their net on many nights.

Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but his value to the team is being inflated.
- AlfieFever

The only people who worry about that are the agents and GMs who use that as some sort of ultimate real value for a defenseman.

If you want to point something out, make it that he wasn't even the best defenseman on his own team and that he made far too many mistakes for a #1 especialy in the postseason.

Don't use the Norris bit. That's weak. You as an Ottawa fan should know it's offense, offense and more offense for that. If it wasn't then Suter probably would have won it.

I can't believe Letang will get a better contract than d-men who actually won a Norris trophy. He was a candidate in a shortenend season on a stacked team that couldn't keep the puck out their net on many nights.

Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but his value to the team is being inflated.
- AlfieFever

The problem with Letang was not so much in the regular season, but in the playoffs.

The only people who worry about that are the agents and GMs who use that as some sort of ultimate real value for a defenseman.

If you want to point something out, make it that he wasn't even the best defenseman on his own team and that he made far too many mistakes for a #1 especialy in the postseason.

Don't use the Norris bit. That's weak. You as an Ottawa fan should know it's offense, offense and more offense for that. If it wasn't then Suter probably would have won it.
- HopintheCordoba

As far as I know, Karlsson won it for his offense. Defensively, he's on a lower level to Letang.

That being said I think there are tweaks that are necessary. I personally don't care for the amount of "switches" that the Penguins utilize with their d men in their own end but that has nothing to do with Letang's biggest gaffes.

The reason the Penguins utilize those switches is because the coaches put a premium on being aggressive and not allowing the other team's puck carrying players time and space. When the switches go wrong or are slightly delayed things can break down fast.
- Ryan_Wilson

"...We went like this. He went like that. I said to Hollywood, 'Where'd he go?' and Hollywood said 'Where'd who gooooo?"

Regular season hasn't been the problem. Why bother wasting time?

It would be like analyzing Fleury's regular season stats.
- Ryan_Wilson

Because the regular season remains relevant. It is very hard to build a team and fine players based only on playoff statistics... ask wash and florida. They signed bergenheim and ward... someone is gonna shell out big bucks for bickell... doesn't help if the team misses the playoffs

Because the regular season remains relevant. It is very hard to build a team and fine players based only on playoff statistics... ask wash and florida. They signed bergenheim and ward... someone is gonna shell out big bucks for bickell... doesn't help if the team misses the playoffs
- ChrisMS

The regular season should be used to fine tune our team strategies for the playoffs. What we've done so far, hasn't worked. I'd like to see us playing more playoff type of hockey than scoring 5 each game. It sucks but that's how teams are winning nowadays. Chicago could be an exception and we could emulate them in some ways. We have the human material to do that. Just need a couple more forwards to do the dirty work in front of the net. Just my opinion..

Because the regular season remains relevant. It is very hard to build a team and fine players based only on playoff statistics... ask wash and florida. They signed bergenheim and ward... someone is gonna shell out big bucks for bickell... doesn't help if the team misses the playoffs
- ChrisMS

I think the point is that the Penguins don't have a regular season problem, and along with Letang had a great regular season...but in the playoffs they have gotten away from doing the things that were helping the team win in the regular season and that can't continue.

"...We went like this. He went like that. I said to Hollywood, 'Where'd he go?' and Hollywood said 'Where'd who gooooo?"
- akane13

hahahahaa....

As far as I know, Karlsson won it for his offense. Defensively, he's on a lower level to Letang.
- Orpik44

Hmm, I don't know about that. Thats' like someone (maybe you) saying yesterday that Letang skates better than Karlsson which just isn't true.

Hmm, I don't know about that. Thats' like someone (maybe you) saying yesterday that Letang skates better than Karlsson which just isn't true.
- kgrpitt

Latang is a better skater than Karlsson, its just a fact.

The better player maybe debatable, but skating skill is not.

The regular season should be used to fine tune our team strategies for the playoffs. What we've done so far, hasn't worked. I'd like to see us playing more playoff type of hockey than scoring 5 each game. It sucks but that's how teams are winning nowadays. Chicago could be an exception and we could emulate them in some ways. We have the human material to do that. Just need a couple more forwards to do the dirty work in front of the net. Just my opinion..
- Orpik44

The funny thing is that the popular opinion of many that the Penguins play a flat out run and gun style and no D in the regular season and that this is why they are failing in the playoffs is a myth. They were 12th in goals against last season, which is very respectable...and obviously the mysterious issue in the Boston series was simply and suddenly being unable to score.

"...We went like this. He went like that. I said to Hollywood, 'Where'd he go?' and Hollywood said 'Where'd who gooooo?"
- akane13

So many great little scenes in that movie.

Hmm, I don't know about that. Thats' like someone (maybe you) saying yesterday that Letang skates better than Karlsson which just isn't true.
- kgrpitt

I never said "better". I said "faster". Both are smooth.

Is Letang better than Karlsson in anything? Just a question.

Latang is a better skater than Karlsson, its just a fact.

The better player maybe debatable, but skating skill is not.
- nbartley9

Both are very smooth but Letang in my book is faster. And he's also better defensively and one on one. Karlsson is much better on the PP though. Not close.

Hmm, I don't know about that. Thats' like someone (maybe you) saying yesterday that Letang skates better than Karlsson which just isn't true.
- kgrpitt

i think skating and physicality are the only things letang has him in. however, karlsson's pure magic on the powerplay. he can get his own shot on net, and has the ability to make the big time play while still nailing the simple ones every time. id love him running the pens point

The funny thing is that the popular opinion of many that the Penguins play a flat out run and gun style and no D in the regular season and that this is why they are failing in the playoffs is a myth. They were 12th in goals against last season, which is very respectable...and obviously the mysterious issue in the Boston series was simply and suddenly being unable to score.
- Emperor Filonius

Watching the finals, I noticed Chicago wouldn't stop crashing the net and skating fast. We never got close to Rask. We need to crash it. They had Bickell, Shaw, Saad doing it everytime. We need that.

Both are very smooth but Letang in my book is faster. And he's also better defensively and one on one. Karlsson is much better on the PP though. Not close.
- Orpik44

Letang is one of the top 3 best skaters in the league in my opinion.

Gaborik and Grabner