This hurts Maatta and Pouliot, as they are both probably 2 good for junior, but not at NHL level yet. AHL would be perfect.

But... in this case, the AHL age rule really helps the Pens. It buys them one more season before their entry level deals kick in.
- rival22

These rules should benefit the players first, the teams second.

Can't they do a nine game tryout? I think having maatta and Pouliot play a few regular season games would help. We would also get a much better idea of where they are at in their development

Can't they do a nine game tryout? I think having maatta and Pouliot play a few regular season games would help. We would also get a much better idea of where they are at in their development
- drummer829

I'm not sure about that. I thought they might be able to but they could only join at the end of the season last year because their season in London was over.

Can't they do a nine game tryout? I think having maatta and Pouliot play a few regular season games would help. We would also get a much better idea of where they are at in their development
- drummer829

They can in the NHL, but then it would involve some roster moves to make cap and roster space for them, and then when they leave you left yourself with a whole.

I wouldn't be to sure about that. DB's handling or treatment of Despres has been, well, awful. It's painfully obvious he isn't a Despres fan by his actions last year. His comments about him being a top two D pairing kid this year should be taken with a grain of salt. He talks out of his ass at times, especially in this instance.
- Oneonta Penguin

Listen to that interview Madden did with Yohe and hear what he thinks of how the Pens are treating Despres.

Maybe if Bylsma let Despres develop last year they wouldn't have needed to sign an expensive vet like Scuds. Thus giving them the cap space to get a guy that could significantly help the bottom 6.

I think it's mismanagement to the highest degree. Preferring Nisk to Despres is flat out insane.

As much as we complain about the Pens not playing young guys enough, their current defensive contracts are really laid out perfectly.

It's tight this season, but at the end of the year, hopefully Orpik, Niskanen and Engelland will all be gone. That leaves Martin, Letang, Scuderi, Despres, Bortuzzo, and room for 2 of Dumoulin, Harrington, Maatta and Pouliot (or any other darkhorse WBS candidate - Samuelsson, McNeil, Ruopp, D'Agostino, etc).

Martin is done a year after that, so that's another top 4 spot.

very true and you never know if RS makes a trade invloving a dman... we could have added morrow to that list

As much as we complain about the Pens not playing young guys enough, their current defensive contracts are really laid out perfectly.

It's tight this season, but at the end of the year, hopefully Orpik, Niskanen and Engelland will all be gone. That leaves Martin, Letang, Scuderi, Despres, Bortuzzo, and room for 2 of Dumoulin, Harrington, Maatta and Pouliot (or any other darkhorse WBS candidate - Samuelsson, McNeil, Ruopp, D'Agostino, etc).

Martin is done a year after that, so that's another top 4 spot.
- rival22

Hopefully orpik? The guy is our leader on the backend and still has a few more good years. Him with Martin have proved to be a great pairing