I realize this may sound off given that the Pens are a legit Cup Contender in a lot of ways, but this season is a bit of a transistion year for them.

Unlike every single year under the old CBA, the NHL Cap is staying steady this year. However, UFA's are still looking to cash in, just like every other year, all the same. This puts a Cap ceiling team like Pens in a bind as prices go up, but the budget pool (ie, the Cap) stays the same.

The Penguins had three tasks this offseason:

(i) Lock-up the Core, high-skill players long-term;
(ii) Solidify the D w/ a Top-4 addition;
(iii) Solidify the Bottom-6, especially the 3rd-line W's;
(iv) Solidfy the Top-6 w/ 2 W's;

They chose to do (i), (ii), & (iv) at the expense of (iii).

In the long-term, I can't argue with this approach. Next off-season the Pens will have the Top-6 (Malkin, Neal, Crosby, Kunitz, Dupuis, Bennett) all signed along w/ Marting, Letang & Scuderi and Despres as a RFA. They'll need some bottom pairing Dmen, a back-up G, & a Bottom-6 F's. They'll have $11M plus any rise in the Cap to fill those needs, which is a pretty good Cap posistion going forward.

3rd/4th-line may suffer this year, but it is easier to get 3rd/4th liners via UFA next year than two Top-6 F's or risk losing Geno/Letang over a few $100K by letting them play out the end of their contract to re-sign Cooke.
- s0rcerer1984

Well said... And it's only July 8th. There is a lot of roster shuffling that will be done before training camp by a lot of teams, and between unsigned free agents, trade-available players, and training camp waivers, there will be plenty of bottom 6 forwards available.

I don't get the overreacting at this point about next year's team. Give it some time to work itself out.

I like Matt Cooke a lot, but not at $2.5 mil x 3 years, or at the expense of a Scuderi, Dupuis, Kunitz or Letang.

We should pull the goligoski move with Niskanen and use him strictly for the PP and not against other teams top players. Get him 30 points by the deadline and then trade him for some assets.

Somebody on the Oilers board said Marchand and Kelly might be available. I like both players.

We should pull the goligoski move with Niskanen and use him strictly for the PP and not against other teams top players. Get him 30 points by the deadline and then trade him for some assets.
- drummer829

There was a point last year that I thought Niskanen was better than Goligoski.

This year he got the Crosby curse after Sid said he would have a breakout year.

Somebody on the Oilers board said Marchand and Kelly might be available. I like both players.
- Orpik44

I can't see either as available. They have a nice forward group for this season, and no real reason to move any of them.

There was a point last year that I thought Niskanen was better than Goligoski.

This year he got the Crosby curse after Sid said he would have a breakout year.
- Orpik44

All-around, Niskanen is probably a better player than Goligoski. That being said, Goligoski can put pts up & that has much more value in the NHL than being incrementally better all-around to due being better on D.

Somebody on the Oilers board said Marchand and Kelly might be available. I like both players.
- Orpik44

I'd take Marchand. Kelly is too much of a cap hit for what he brings.

Somebody on the Oilers board said Marchand and Kelly might be available. I like both players.
- Orpik44

From Boston? Marchand is earing $4.5M/yr for 4 yrs while Kelly is earning $3M/yr for 3yrs. They are good players, but they don't fit the Pens Salary Cap or needs all that well.

You guys are going to have to move somebody.


Kunitz Crosby Dupuis

Neal Malkin Bennett

? Sutter Jokinen

Glass Adams Vitale

Jeffrey- RFA


Scuderi Letang

Martin Niskanen

Orpik Despres

Engelland

Bortuzzo - RFA



Fleury
Vokoun

676,000 in capspace?

You guys are going to have to move somebody.


Kunitz Crosby Dupuis

Neal Malkin Bennett

? Sutter Jokinen

Glass Adams Vitale

Jeffrey- RFA


Scuderi Letang

Martin Niskanen

Orpik Despres

Engelland Bortuzzo - RFA


Fleury
Vokoun

676,000 in capspace?
- t_leafs21

Niskanen is the obvious candidate.

Niskanen is the obvious candidate.
- rival22

He makes 2.3 and is a UFA next summer. You won't get much for him, probably a mid-draft pick but you'll need that money to get two more bottom 6 forwards.


Think Harrington has a shot of cracking the lineup?

He makes 2.3 and is a UFA next summer. You won't get much for him, probably a mid-draft pick but you'll need that money to get two more bottom 6 forwards.


Think Harrington has a shot of cracking the lineup?
- t_leafs21

Wilkes-Barre, yes.

He makes 2.3 and is a UFA next summer. You won't get much for him, probably a mid-draft pick but you'll need that money to get two more bottom 6 forwards.


Think Harrington has a shot of cracking the lineup?
- t_leafs21

Honestly, the cap space is more valuable than any return that he would bring. Maybe get a pick and an AHL depth prospect.

With the depth the Pens have, Harrington will likely spend the season in Wilkes Barre. Could see him as an injury call up at some point though.

Niskanen is the obvious candidate.
- rival22

Glass coming in 2nd and in last case, Fleury..

He makes 2.3 and is a UFA next summer. You won't get much for him, probably a mid-draft pick but you'll need that money to get two more bottom 6 forwards.


Think Harrington has a shot of cracking the lineup?
- t_leafs21

Dumoulin, yes. Harrington, 14-15.

Wilkes-Barre, yes.
- Deadstar

If he doesn't crack the lineup in WBS, then something is wrong

If he doesn't crack the lineup in WBS, then something is wrong
- drummer829

This is the time when Shero will pull a trade Marchand+4th for Harrington+2nd

He makes 2.3 and is a UFA next summer. You won't get much for him, probably a mid-draft pick but you'll need that money to get two more bottom 6 forwards.


Think Harrington has a shot of cracking the lineup?
- t_leafs21

id be totally happy with just a mid round pick. just freeing up salary is benefit enough

Pens sign any good wingers to help out top 6 or depth at wbs... no didnt think so



Good job pens

Pens sign any good wingers to help out top 6 or depth at wbs... no didnt think so



Good job pens
- nh4442

haha man. im not exactly mr sunshine, but you need to relax buddy!

Pens sign any good wingers to help out top 6 or depth at wbs... no didnt think so



Good job pens
- nh4442

They did sign CONNER, EBBETT and some other dude.

Pens sign any good wingers to help out top 6 or depth at wbs... no didnt think so



Good job pens
- nh4442

damn that top line that scored 146 points and was a plus 87 in the shortened season.

Somebody on the Oilers board said Marchand and Kelly might be available. I like both players.
- Orpik44

Marchand he's one of those guys that gets on everybody's nerves when he isn't on your team. I like a lot of the bruins player actually of course I would have liked for them to not have played so well against the pens but I like them.

Marchand he's one of those guys that gets on everybody's nerves when he isn't on your team. I like a lot of the bruins player actually of course I would have liked for them to not have played so well against the pens but I like them.
- Genev21

i absolutely hate marchand. by far my least favorite player in the league. i hate him for the things that make him effective. he also has a good deal of skill for that kind of player. however, if his salary could fit and he was available, id take him for sure, despite the incredible douchebaggery.

im just going to say it now... I for one do not like the direction that this team is headed...

and I know the answers im going to get back...

1) we locked our best players up
2) we are still one of the best teams
3) who cares what you think
the definition of insanity is trying something the same way as before yet expect different results.

what has changed on this team? what should make me believe that this same thing wont happen again? the fact of the matter is, the penguins should have lost in Round 1. Had NYI had an average goalie, we would have lost.

when you lose to a team in 4 straight games while only scoring 2 goals and never holding a lead... it wasn't the bounces. you blame the bounces when you lose in OT in game 7. you don't blame the bounces when you lose in 4 straight games.

I am just tired of seeing guys like bylsma, letang, etc. get free passes and are simply told to come back next year and try again. there has to be some accountability eventually. if I went out and lost my firm 100million dollars, do you think they'd come to me and say it's alright, you'll get it next quarter.

I don't know, i'll probably get some hate for it, but im tired of seeing this organization become what it's becoming... i was thinking about when Torts said that we were the most arrogant organization... and now i realize that he couldn't have been more right.