Ill throw in John Scott to sweeten the pot

Want Miller
- SiloCity

Is Buffalo keeping 5 mil of his salary?

WOW!

This Vokoun issue is not really a problem yet, hopefully he just recovers.

A healthy rested Vokoun in the playoffs may not be a bad thing.

MAF will dominate in the regular season, I have faith in that.

James Neal, day to day, with an upper body injury. Why is this team so brittle?

James Neal, day to day, with an upper body injury. Why is this team so brittle?
- stevens87

Can't we at least wait until the season starts for guys to start getting hurt?

I was looking at Capgeek, trying to figure out rosters and cap room and there was too many moving parts for me... then I realized that the season hasn't even started yet and it was this complicated

This Vokoun issue is not really a problem yet, hopefully he just recovers.

A healthy rested Vokoun in the playoffs may not be a bad thing.

MAF will dominate in the regular season, I have faith in that.
- nbartley90

MAF needs to be spelled at times. Play him non-stop and he'll start to crack; any goalie will. That's why you need a reliable 15-20 game backup.

Shero has no choice but take low risks, don't act like he is great at bargaining...he's running out of cap space.
- dkilo11087

Shero's trade record is outstanding, though his FA record could be better. I'd take him as pens gm over anyone else out there. If he needed cap space he would find a way to make it happen

They aren't moving Despres for a backup goalie.
- Ryan_Wilson

I could see it if the backup goalie was a young up n' comer. Despres has one foot out the morrow door IMO. Was he mostly a cap decision? I think so but he didn't make shero find a way to keep him either.

I just think Despres being sent down is less of an indictment on him and more of a sign of how well Maata played.

Lindback.....once Bishop shows he is the starter of course.

I just think Despres being sent down is less of an indictment on him and more of a sign of how well Maata played.
- Deadstar

I agree

A lot of variables would have to be in place for this to happen, but a deadline deal for Brodeur would be interesting.

I agree
- Ryan_Wilson

Like I said you need more than 1 defenseman in your line up. Especially with the likes of Orpik, Martin, and Niskanen having expiring contracts. Maatta impressed and they want to take a better look. Doesn't make Despres expendable.

In my opinion Despres went down because they truly do want to see how close Maatta is. But why on earth would that mean Despres is on the outs? You need 6 defenseman and probably pretty soon you'll need at least 3/4. Despres was an easy move he will be back as soon as Maatta project is over.
- dbell646

This is what I hate about Bylsma!!! Despres should play all season no matter what!!! The Pens need to develop him in the NHL. If he's a good coach then he should be working with him to make him better. Nobody can tell me that Bysma just don't like Despres. You know what Engo, and Nisk are this guy has upside that neither of those guys have. I cant wait until he's gone.

This is what I hate about Bylsma!!! Despres should play all season no matter what!!! The Pens need to develop him in the NHL. If he's a good coach then he should be working with him to make him better. Nobody can tell me that Bysma just don't like Despres. You know what Engo, and Nisk are this guy has upside that neither of those guys have. I cant wait until he's gone.
- lloyd095

It wasn't Bylsma who made signed the contracts that forced the team to send down Despres. Maybe you should direct your anger at Shero.

It wasn't Bylsma who made signed the contracts that forced the team to send down Despres. Maybe you should direct your anger at Shero.
- rival22

Well I'm sure Shero discussed roles and if Despres wasn't going to be a healthy scratch like most of last year he would still be here. I don't believe this is salary cap related.

Well I'm sure Shero discussed roles and if Despres wasn't going to be a healthy scratch like most of last year he would still be here. I don't believe this is salary cap related.
- lloyd095

Its not completely salary cap related. It is however directly related to his waiver status and their interest in seeing Maatta play.

Its not completely salary cap related. It is however directly related to his waiver status and their interest in seeing Maatta play.
- Ryan_Wilson

I watched all but 1 of the preseason games and I've got to be honest, I didn't think Maatta was overly impressive. He was decent. Didn't make many mistakes and didn't look out of place, but he also looked like he needed to get a little stronger to play at this level.

As far as Despres goes, Tiops has occasional articles that says his sources tell him that the team is souring on him a bit. One article says that some in the organization think his ceiling is no more than a 5th or 6th guy. I have no idea if this is true or not. With the way he was handled last year I'd say there might be a little smoke there.

I just hate to see them not encourage a player of Despres attributes. Big, Skilled and can skate. They need more of that.

I dont pay for TIOPS and am not sure how much stock I'd put into their reports.

I dont pay for TIOPS and am not sure how much stock I'd put into their reports.
- Deadstar

Like I said, I have no idea how much (if any) truth is behind his articles. I will say I didn't think Despres was handled correctly last year. I'm not the only one that feels this way. Virtually every respectable writer and a few ex-players have chimed in on that subject. It's one of the reasons Bylsma was directly asked about him at his season ending press conference. Don't know if you saw it, but Dan looked like he was having a prostate exam as he answered it....

How can we trust anything the FO/HCDB says now, after all but promising to see Despres in the top 4 this year? I know the season is just starting and it was pre Scuds....but how do you go from a top 4, to the minors...but you keep a guy like Eng on the roster.

How can we trust anything the FO/HCDB says now, after all but promising to see Despres in the top 4 this year? I know the season is just starting and it was pre Scuds....but how do you go from a top 4, to the minors...but you keep a guy like Eng on the roster.
- Thorny

Despres can go to WBS without having to clear waivers. He is the only player on that blue line that can do that.

Despres can go to WBS without having to clear waivers. He is the only player on that blue line that can do that.
- cap1681

I understand that, but isn't about getting the best 23 players on the roster?

I understand that, but isn't about getting the best 23 players on the roster?
- Thorny

It's about fitting the cap. Despres will be brought up sooner rather than latter.