@Russostrib: UPDATE: Matt Cooke gets blessing of Boogaards and will wear 24 with #mnwild; Development camp tidbits http://t.co/Hsy42ep3Vn
- HopintheCordoba

That was neat! I'll miss the Cookie Monster.

If I were convinced that Sid and Geno are going to stay healthy the entire year, I'd have no problem moving Jussi. Problem is... Our star centers seem to miss a lot of games and we don't have Staal to pick up that slack anymore. I think Jussi was VERY effective when Sid went down....certainly much more than Sutter.

Jussi has proven to be very versatile. He can play on virtually any line....center or wing. Plus he's a great FO guy. He's a keeper IMO. I keep Eng simply because he's so affordable. He provides toughness when needed and he's not a bad 6/7 D.

We're stuck with Glass.....that is a fact. Nisk is the guy that gets moved.....whether you can sign the RFA's and scrape the bottom of the barrel for another forward remains a question. They will need to have some money come deadline day to get another Morrow type.

Fact is... Our bottom 6 will be fluid and not a great group.
- madmike71

that's a good point.

I like jokinen, I thought he brought some good stuff to the table. it sounds like cleary and use have moved on... if that's the case, I wouldn't mind a morrow-sutter-jokinen line.

and I think we could find someone to take glass. shero would have to get creative, but I believe he could get something.

If I were convinced that Sid and Geno are going to stay healthy the entire year, I'd have no problem moving Jussi. Problem is... Our star centers seem to miss a lot of games and we don't have Staal to pick up that slack anymore. I think Jussi was VERY effective when Sid went down....certainly much more than Sutter.

Jussi has proven to be very versatile. He can play on virtually any line....center or wing. Plus he's a great FO guy. He's a keeper IMO. I keep Eng simply because he's so affordable. He provides toughness when needed and he's not a bad 6/7 D.

We're stuck with Glass.....that is a fact. Nisk is the guy that gets moved.....whether you can sign the RFA's and scrape the bottom of the barrel for another forward remains a question. They will need to have some money come deadline day to get another Morrow type.

Fact is... Our bottom 6 will be fluid and not a great group.
- madmike71

madmike, we're only stuck with Glass because Shero and Bylsma want to. He could be bought out any time. We have two buy outs to use until next season. Maybe the coaching likes the guy.

madmike, we're only stuck with Glass because Shero and Bylsma want to. He could be bought out any time. We have two buy outs to use until next season. Maybe the coaching likes the guy.
- Orpik44

Wasn't somebody saying you can't buy out a contract that small? I don't know the rules for buyouts, but you're right about Shero.....it's not his M.O.

Even If they shed Nisk and Glass, it still doesn't leave much to pick up a quality 3rd line forward while paying the RFA's and leave money for deadline salary. I read that the Pens like to have at least 700k of cap space.

This is an interesting analysis. Keep stories like this coming. I really like looking at these types of non-traditional stats. I think they can really paint a vivid picture of what is really happening.

Wasn't somebody saying you can't buy out a contract that small? I don't know the rules for buyouts, but you're right about Shero.....it's not his M.O.

Even If they shed Nisk and Glass, it still doesn't leave much to pick up a quality 3rd line forward while paying the RFA's and leave money for deadline salary. I read that the Pens like to have at least 700k of cap space.
- madmike71

If that's the case wtf did we hold on to MAF. We could have signed Khudobin, Cooke, our RFAs and Morrow with his money (added to Nisky's).

This is an interesting analysis. Keep stories like this coming. I really like looking at these types of non-traditional stats. I think they can really paint a vivid picture of what is really happening.
- ferryg

?
Something tells me you were drinking till late. Am I right?

If that's the case wtf did we hold on to MAF. We could have signed Khudobin, Cooke, our RFAs and Morrow with his money (added to Nisky's).
- Orpik44

I know a lot of us want Fleury gone, but the reality is there is no one out there with the experience to take on a 55+ game load through the year.

I have given up hoping he will turn it around in the playoffs, but it seems as though he can get the team there with good numbers. Hell we have Vokoun to play the last 24 games if needed, I have no problems with $7M being tied up in our back end.

Other teams have that amount or more in a tandem that I feel is not as good. Fleury is my favorite player so i would love nothing more than to see him prove all of us wrong, but that was supposed to happen this year.....

If you have a look at all the other rosters they are going to have one area that they are weak on. The pens are no different.


Penguins strengths
Top 6 - close to best in the league
Bottom 6 - weak but can be improved

Top 4 - Average to better than average, depending on results
Bottom 2-4 - Below av to average

Goal - Average to above av
Back up - Close to best in the league.

Either way you look at it the Pens are pretty set in key areas, this team becomes better than last year if MAF actually performs in the playoffs, show me a good goalie and I will show you a good coach. MAF is as much Bylsma's job security than anything else.

Another thing, with the way this roster is constructed, if the Pens top players dont step up when it matters, then we are not going to go very far in the playoffs, both Sid and Geno disappeared in that Boston series, so if you look to 'blame' someone, look at your highest paid players to perform when it matters most.

I know a lot of us want Fleury gone, but the reality is there is no one out there with the experience to take on a 55+ game load through the year.

I have given up hoping he will turn it around in the playoffs, but it seems as though he can get the team there with good numbers. Hell we have Vokoun to play the last 24 games if needed, I have no problems with $7M being tied up in our back end.

Other teams have that amount or more in a tandem that I feel is not as good. Fleury is my favorite player so i would love nothing more than to see him prove all of us wrong, but that was supposed to happen this year.....

If you have a look at all the other rosters they are going to have one area that they are weak on. The pens are no different.


Penguins strengths
Top 6 - close to best in the league
Bottom 6 - weak but can be improved

Top 4 - Average to better than average, depending on results
Bottom 2-4 - Below av to average

Goal - Average to above av
Back up - Close to best in the league.

Either way you look at it the Pens are pretty set in key areas, this team becomes better than last year if MAF actually performs in the playoffs, show me a good goalie and I will show you a good coach. MAF is as much Bylsma's job security than anything else.

Another thing, with the way this roster is constructed, if the Pens top players dont step up when it matters, then we are not going to go very far in the playoffs, both Sid and Geno disappeared in that Boston series, so if you look to 'blame' someone, look at your highest paid players to perform when it matters most.
- walshy66

I get all of what you're saying walshy...but it's been 4 years of losing in the playoffs...MAF didn't play bad in all of them, but in two of them he just blew it. Badly.

It's far from being all on him but when you stop to look at your big contracts, he's the one you should unload based in performances. Just my opinion. Bylsma needs to do a better job on protecting his goalie during game too...

Crosby and Malkin need to man up in the playoffs. Neal needs to stop being a chicken. If we can fix those things, we'll be serious contenders every year.

If I were convinced that Sid and Geno are going to stay healthy the entire year, I'd have no problem moving Jussi. Problem is... Our star centers seem to miss a lot of games and we don't have Staal to pick up that slack anymore. I think Jussi was VERY effective when Sid went down....certainly much more than Sutter.

Jussi has proven to be very versatile. He can play on virtually any line....center or wing. Plus he's a great FO guy. He's a keeper IMO. I keep Eng simply because he's so affordable. He provides toughness when needed and he's not a bad 6/7 D.

We're stuck with Glass.....that is a fact. Nisk is the guy that gets moved.....whether you can sign the RFA's and scrape the bottom of the barrel for another forward remains a question. They will need to have some money come deadline day to get another Morrow type.

Fact is... Our bottom 6 will be fluid and not a great group.
- madmike71

That is why you keep Jokinen. He can fill any top 6 spot in case of injury, or gives an option if Bennett has a step back this season.

And let's not forget, he has zero trade value. Carolina couldn't get rid of him until they ate $900k, and still only got a bag of pucks for him in return.

Can we stop worrying about the Bruins though? The odds of playing them in the playoffs again are minute.

That is why you keep Jokinen. He can fill any top 6 spot in case of injury, or gives an option if Bennett has a step back this season.

And let's not forget, he has zero trade value. Carolina couldn't get rid of him until they ate $900k, and still only got a bag of pucks for him in return.
- rival22

The biggest concern I have with Jokinen is a lack of consistency. When he's on, he's great, but when he'd not, he's invisible.

The biggest concern I have with Jokinen is a lack of consistency. When he's on, he's great, but when he'd not, he's invisible.
- Emperor Filonius

It was a small sample size, but he seemed to be pretty good defensively when playing for the Pens, even when he was on a "scoring" line.

Hey if Morrow is still out there and willing to take 2 mil or less I'd sign him today.

Hey if Morrow is still out there and willing to take 2 mil or less I'd sign him today.
- dbell646

It would be ok value, but I would prefer we not go over the cap, even momentarily.

It would be ok value, but I would prefer we not go over the cap, even momentarily.
- Deadstar

Shero is on Vacation I anticipate a trade soon after his return.

It's Fleury's fault the Pens lost to the the Bruins.

It's Fleury's fault the Pens lost to the the Bruins.
- Ben37

It wasn't Fleury's fault.....it was his baby's fault. Plus the sun was coming in from the West, Sid took off his jaw protector, Dana Heinze washed all the team's socks, and Matt Cooke stepped on crack and his mom was day to day with a lower body injury.

That's why the Penguins lost to the Bruins........

Hey if Morrow is still out there and willing to take 2 mil or less I'd sign him today.
- dbell646

I agree. But would take more than just moving Niskanen out.

If you trade Niskanen for a pick and sign Morrow at $2 mil, you'd have just under $1 million and only 20 players signed.

I know a lot of us want Fleury gone, but the reality is there is no one out there with the experience to take on a 55+ game load through the year.

I have given up hoping he will turn it around in the playoffs, but it seems as though he can get the team there with good numbers. Hell we have Vokoun to play the last 24 games if needed, I have no problems with $7M being tied up in our back end.

Other teams have that amount or more in a tandem that I feel is not as good. Fleury is my favorite player so i would love nothing more than to see him prove all of us wrong, but that was supposed to happen this year.....

If you have a look at all the other rosters they are going to have one area that they are weak on. The pens are no different.


Penguins strengths
Top 6 - close to best in the league
Bottom 6 - weak but can be improved

Top 4 - Average to better than average, depending on results
Bottom 2-4 - Below av to average

Goal - Average to above av
Back up - Close to best in the league.

Either way you look at it the Pens are pretty set in key areas, this team becomes better than last year if MAF actually performs in the playoffs, show me a good goalie and I will show you a good coach. MAF is as much Bylsma's job security than anything else.

Another thing, with the way this roster is constructed, if the Pens top players dont step up when it matters, then we are not going to go very far in the playoffs, both Sid and Geno disappeared in that Boston series, so if you look to 'blame' someone, look at your highest paid players to perform when it matters most.
- walshy66

I'd also add that is that with the majority of the Top-6 F and Top-4 D locked up for the next few years, the Pens can concentrate on the Bottom-6 F's via FA & the Bottom-2 D via the farm system. This doesn't help this year, but when the Cap jumps up big a big margin next off-season the Pens are well posistioned to grab a few solid depth players by being able to offer deals with a few extra dollars & years.

I agree. But would take more than just moving Niskanen out.

If you trade Niskanen for a pick and sign Morrow at $2 mil, you'd have just under $1 million and only 20 players signed.
- rival22

Honestly, moving Niskanen isn't going to allow the Pens to really add anyone that isn't currently on the team of any consequence.

If you move Nisky's $2.3M/yr salary and add in the $700K of space the currently have, the Pens would be left with $3M in Cap space. Subract the qualifying offers for Jeffrey ($687K), Zolnierczyk ($660K) and Bortuzzo ($577) and the Pens are left with $1M.

Fact of the matter is the Bottom-6 is just going to suffer this year unless an internal option (ie, Jokinen, Sutter, or Jeffrey) raise the level of their game.

Haha geez its hard on Brandon Sutter in here. He's an ideal 3rd line center. I dont think any line on it with him will suffer.

Honestly, moving Niskanen isn't going to allow the Pens to really add anyone that isn't currently on the team of any consequence.

If you move Nisky's $2.3M/yr salary and add in the $700K of space the currently have, the Pens would be left with $3M in Cap space. Subract the qualifying offers for Jeffrey ($687K), Zolnierczyk ($660K) and Bortuzzo ($577) and the Pens are left with $1M.

Fact of the matter is the Bottom-6 is just going to suffer this year unless an internal option (ie, Jokinen, Sutter, or Jeffrey) raise the level of their game.
- s0rcerer1984

Yeah, I think we are just going to have to hope that someone within the organization makes a surprise impact and contributes.

Maybe a good third line grinder can be found at the deadline for a playoff run.