Well, champ, in addition to two growing stars in Bennett and Despres we currently have 10 unsigned RFAs and UFAs. I'm failing to understand how "the same darn team is coming back." Again, I'm not sure what trades you expected to happen while the finals were still going on.
- kill.monsters

A lot of champs in need of a reality check here on this board.

Hm, that would be a little different. You generally don't see deals like this go down without at least a modified/limited one.
- Blackstrom2

Shero wants to keep him for the short term, I don't think there is any question about that. He also wants some flexibility to move him if some of the younger prospects turn into star players.

Well, champ, in addition to two growing stars in Bennett and Despres we currently have 10 unsigned RFAs and UFAs. I'm failing to understand how "the same darn team is coming back." Again, I'm not sure what trades you expected to happen while the finals were still going on.
- kill.monsters

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which way I'm headed. Shero said changes were coming insinuating something significant was going to happen ... well, same coach is back; same train wreck of a goalie in the play-offs is back; really the only trade asset we have besides James Neal in Letang, who will be getting north of 7 million (not worth it in the cap situation for Pittsburgh, especially when you look at his flaws) could very well be back ...

Where are the improvements aside from installing Bennett and Despres? I don't see any coming at this rate. The free agent market is terrible and the only way to get something good to fix our flaws is through trade.

A lot of champs in need of a reality check here on this board.
- Orpik44

Not me ...

Shero wants to keep him for the short term, I don't think there is any question about that. He also wants some flexibility to move him if some of the younger prospects turn into star players.
- Ryan_Wilson

Yep. Please tell me he's not looking for his magic number (58) as his contract value. I wouldn't be surprised.

Not me ...
- Oneonta Penguin

Shero wants to keep him for the short term, I don't think there is any question about that. He also wants some flexibility to move him if some of the younger prospects turn into star players.
- Ryan_Wilson

That may be the main issue on why the deal isn't done yet. Is the stability of a NMC worth about 4 million to Letang?

don't shoot the messenger but just a rumor: Darren Dreger said on TSN (TV) that Letang turned down 8 yrs over $7M per

EDIT: online sources are greatly changing their tunes and versions of this. Definitely take this with a huge block of salt.

- Orpik44

Where are the improvements? Where are they coming from? You tell me. Don't mention Despres or Bennett. We have other issues that were obvious versus the Islanders AND Boston.

don't shoot the messenger but just a rumor: Darren Dreger said on TSN that Letang turned down 8 yrs over $7M per
- errey12

He doesn't want to stay in Pittsburgh that much then. Time to send him packing. That is too much dough for him.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which way I'm headed. Shero said changes were coming insinuating something significant was going to happen ... well, same coach is back; same train wreck of a goalie in the play-offs is back; really the only trade asset we have besides James Neal in Letang, who will be getting north of 7 million (not worth it in the cap situation for Pittsburgh, especially when you look at his flaws) could very well be back ...

Where are the improvements aside from installing Bennett and Despres? I don't see any coming at this rate. The free agent market is terrible and the only way to get something good to fix our flaws is through trade.
- Oneonta Penguin

Teams that make the conference finals generally dont blow up their roster the next year.

Yep. Please tell me he's not looking for his magic number (58) as his contract value. I wouldn't be surprised.
- Orpik44

$4.58 per, enjoy.

don't shoot the messenger but just a rumor: Darren Dreger said on TSN (TV) that Letang turned down 8 yrs over $7M per
- errey12

If so, bye bye Tanger. It was a pleasure watch you grow into the player you are today.

If Shero is giving him 7 mil a year, he must know something about the cap next year. If the cap is 70 mil next year going forward, 7 mil for Letang is doable.
- cap1681

I do think the pens and I mean only if they have to , is sacrifice Dupuis in order to keep Letang. 7 mil per is a very fair offer... I think it's a little higher than he should get, most contracts are based off of points, not that they should be but theyre negotiated that way. He doesn't really put up more numbers than Karlsson so I don't think he should be getting anything above 6.5.

Pens are better off keeping him than getting a sub par package from Toronto

It all boils down to the dynamic of any potential NTC/NMC.

Offer Letang 8 years and 56M with a full NMC and the contract is signed yesterday.

Pens just can't do that, nor should they.

7 mil.. too much from pens imo... would have gone 6.5...

He will get more somewhere else and pens can get more in return and help the lack of forward prospects

Where are the improvements? Where are they coming from? You tell me. Don't mention Despres or Bennett. We have other issues that were obvious versus the Islanders AND Boston.
- Oneonta Penguin

Just wait and see. We could bring a surprise defenseman. A net front presence. We never know. Trade some guys. It's still early. June 27th.

Teams that make the conference finals generally dont blow up their roster the next year.
- Deadstar

So trading Letang is blowing up the roster? Again, where do the improvements come if the free agent market sucks, like it does? Trading Niskanen isn't blowing it up ... trading Kennedy or Jeffrey isn't blowing it up. Those three are replaceable. Even the lower end guys are staying.

It all boils down to the dynamic of any potential NTC/NMC.

Offer Letang 8 years and 56M with a full NMC and the contract is signed yesterday.

Pens just can't do that, nor should they.
- Ryan_Wilson

It's a tough decision. A full NMC is out of question.

So trading Letang is blowing up the roster? Again, where do the improvements come if the free agent market sucks, like it does? Trading Niskanen isn't blowing it up ... trading Kennedy or Jeffrey isn't blowing it up. Those three are replaceable. Even the lower end guys are staying.
- Oneonta Penguin

And we arent even at the draft yet. Last year we went into the seaon with Tangradi as a top 6 and at the end had Iginla (wrongly) on our 3rd line. A lot changes between now and the start of the season, trade deadline, and playoffs.

Anthrax Jones ‏@AnthraxJones 9m
Ask Hossa and Staal: when Pittsburgh releases details of the offer, your ass is gone. Letang traded by Sunday night.

Anthrax Jones ‏@AnthraxJones 9m
Ask Hossa and Staal: when Pittsburgh releases details of the offer, your ass is gone. Letang traded by Sunday night.



- rival22

Is this a reliable source though? I'm not sure if I can believe it. Could be speculation.

Where are the improvements? Where are they coming from? You tell me. Don't mention Despres or Bennett. We have other issues that were obvious versus the Islanders AND Boston.
- Oneonta Penguin

Just wait and see. We could bring a surprise defenseman. A net front presence. We never know. Trade some guys. It's still early. June 27th.
- Orpik44

Yes...please...championship teams are not CREATED in June and July.

There are many factors that create a championship team...some of them are smaller things that you never see...initially...you only see the results of them.

Paul Martin wasn't new to the Penguins this past year...but the way he played was...

He's getting more than Karlsson and less than suter and weber, that's the perfect price at 7 mil per season.

He's getting more than Karlsson and less than suter and weber, that's the perfect price at 7 mil per season.
- drummer829

And Letang is going into his 3rd contract. Karlsson is making that much in his 2nd contract already.