If there is a big move to be made Shero normally makes them well before the deadline, the exception to that was the Dupuis trade.
- Ryan_Wilson

This year is interesting with the roster freeze for the Olympics. Roster freeze is through 2/25 I think, and deadline is 3/5. Only about a week to work with.

Looking at the forward grouping, you'd think they would be a need to add a player or two, but reality shows they just keep winning.

I tend to agree that they won't be making any moves until the TDL. I believe they need to add a forward (maybe 2) and a goalie before the playoffs.

I also believe playing Engo and Bortuzzo over Despres gives some pretty good insight to how the team views him. I don't get it, but then again, I didn't understand it last year either.
- madmike71

I still think all this talk of trading Letang and Despres is a bit premature. In my opinion the Penguins, when fully healthy, have 9 NHL-capable Dmen; (1) Letang, (2) Martin, (3) Orpik, (4) Scuderi, (5) Niskanen, (6) Maatta, (7) Despres, (8) Bortuzzo, and (9) Engelland*. But they haven't had a healthy team all season. If Shero wants to keep 8 NHL Dman available to him then all it takes is for one player out of the 9 to be on IR at any given time until the Playoffs begin. This sounds unlikely, but given the frequency of Dmen getting injured I think it is very possible. And Despres can always be shipped down to WBS as a last resort for a week or so until, inevitabley, next injury occurs.

* = I included Engelland, but I personnaly do not consider him a NHL-capable Dman come playoff time. For that reason alone I would consider keeping the other 8 Dmen.

Sorry, but the quote from the moderator in the debate scene from Billy Madison applies here.
- Ryan_Wilson

I award you no points and may god have mercy on your soul.

Good stuff

Hey, I created the whole idea of the sarcastic font.

But Johnson is Crosby's BFF.

As for trading Letang for Yakupov I don't think that is the route the Penguins want to go with a Letang trade. Maybe a Despres and Harrington for Yakupov as their career paths are still unknown. And I am unsure if the Oilers are even entertaining the idea of trading Yakupov.

As I have been saying there seems to be some motion in Edmonton towards trading Eberle.

Curtis Lazar is going to be a Canadian folk hero.

Where was I...Oh right, Eberle. For some reason the media and fans around Edmonton have become much more open to the idea of trading Eberle to fill the gaping holes outside of the Oilers top 6 forwards. The idea is to get a defenseman who can actually play defense though.
- Ben37

Depres and Harrington for Yakupov? What is wrong with people? Yakupov was selected 1st overall a YEAR ago. I can understand not willing to move anyone of importance like Letang for Yakupov because of the question marks he has but if anyone thinks you can trade pieces like Depres and Harrington for Yakupov you've lost your mind.

Imagine Yakupov was your player, would you move him for Belov and Musil? (Just an example, I'm not saying those 2 equals Depres and Harrington)

Depres and Harrington for Yakupov? What is wrong with people? Yakupov was selected 1st overall a YEAR ago. I can understand not willing to move anyone of importance like Letang for Yakupov because of the question marks he has but if anyone thinks you can trade pieces like Depres and Harrington for Yakupov you've lost your mind.

Imagine Yakupov was your player, would you move him for Belov and Musil? (Just an example, I'm not saying those 2 equals Depres and Harrington)
- Steven_Dean

I agree, Edmonton isn't trading Yakupov for 2 prospects, but if you think that Yakupov for an All Star/Norris Finalist defenseman makes any sense whatsoever, then you are also on crack.

Why would you even consider Yak????? Makes 0 sense.

If you trade Letang, what happens to Nisk? Re sign him?

If Letang is moved after his mega deal, it means he is a serious problem to the team. Out the door after a 7 yr extension signals something.

A five page thread in which the topic of trading Letang is seriously discussed?

If only I'd saved some of the posts from the past basically calling me nasty things for even suggesting such a notion...

If you trade Letang, what happens to Nisk? Re sign him?

If Letang is moved after his mega deal, it means he is a serious problem to the team. Out the door after a 7 yr extension signals something.
- sammy87

Yeah... there was a window to trade Letang, and that was this summer.

If he is moved, it's not going to be until a few years into his deal (unless something drastic happens to his play or the team).

It's just not how Shero handles business.

I think it should be letang however seeing what I am seeing there is no doubt it will be Despres. I also agree losing letang wouldn't be a devastating blow. This team will score regardless and even though he is good defensively he turns the puck over way to much and it really doesn't matter how good you are defensively when the other team is skating in on a breakaway. On top of all that the team obviously gets more from dealing letang and there is more money to play with next year which could mean the return of both niskanen and orpik.

Have the pens and oilers ever completed a trade with one another?
- dbell646

One of the biggest deals ever in the franchise for Paul Coffey.

Yeah... there was a window to trade Letang, and that was this summer.

If he is moved, it's not going to be until a few years into his deal (unless something drastic happens to his play or the team).

It's just not how Shero handles business.
- rival22

i dont think the team suddenly crumbles if he is kept, either. i have faith he will rebound, and the cap going up will offset his raise.

still. id move him for eberle in a one for one swap. its more about dealing from a position of strength to fulfill a position of perceived need than it is to rid the team of letang. giving up big quality to get big quality in a pure hockey trade.

One of the biggest deals ever in the franchise for Paul Coffey.
- acdc1206

That was a pretty big acquisition.

With three UFA's this year and Martin's contract being done after next year, I'm not sure how they trade either Letang or Despres. It's not like they can just count on guys like Dumoulin, Pouliot, Harrington or even baby Ulf. Dumoulin and Samuelsson played OK, but they look like he they need more time. I'm still not convinced Bortuzzo is much more than a slight improvement over Engo at this point.

If Nisky or Orpik get extended, then I could easily see Despres getting moved.

That was a pretty big acquisition.
- dbell646

A little perspective on NHL salaries.... In a salary dispute with the Oil, Coffey wanted a raise on his 325K salary. So he got traded to the Pens and I believe was given a 500k salary.

My how things have changed....

With three UFA's this year and Martin's contract being done after next year, I'm not sure how they trade either Letang or Despres.
- madmike71

Totally agree. Some team might overpay for Niskanen. Orpik might decide to move on, as even if the Penguins re-sign him, he's unlikely to get more than 2 or 3 years of term. I love Scuderi, but he's getting older. I love the young defensemen, but you don't want to get too young too quick.

Shero has rarely focused on short-term moves, and typically those kinds of moves haven't been his best moves (Morrow and Iginla).

A little perspective on NHL salaries.... In a salary dispute with the Oil, Coffey wanted a raise on his 325K salary. So he got traded to the Pens and I believe was given a 500k salary.

My how things have changed....
- madmike71

Wow

i have faith he will rebound, and the cap going up will offset his raise.

- stayinthefnnet

I do too, he works too hard for him not to get back to where he was during the regular season last year.

Interesting stat: in the 86 regular season games he played last year and the year before, Letang had 15 goals and 65 assists.

With three UFA's this year and Martin's contract being done after next year, I'm not sure how they trade either Letang or Despres. It's not like they can just count on guys like Dumoulin, Pouliot, Harrington or even baby Ulf. Dumoulin and Samuelsson played OK, but they look like he they need more time. I'm still not convinced Bortuzzo is much more than a slight improvement over Engo at this point.

If Nisky or Orpik get extended, then I could easily see Despres getting moved.
- madmike71

Right.. I don't think that you could lose 3 of Orpik, Niskanen, Letang and Despres and not have some huge questions next season.

If the plan is to let Nisky & Orpik walk, you need both Letang & Despres back.

Whatever combination of:
Letang - Martin
Scuderi - Maatta
Bortuzzo - Despres

is pretty good... but if you take one away, then you are relying on Engelland, Dumoulin, Harrington or whomever as a regular player, and leaving you very thin in case or injury.

Right.. I don't think that you could lose 3 of Orpik, Niskanen, Letang and Despres and not have some huge questions next season.

If the plan is to let Nisky & Orpik walk, you need both Letang & Despres back.

Whatever combination of:
Letang - Martin
Scuderi - Maatta
Bortuzzo - Despres

is pretty good... but if you take one away, then you are relying on Engelland, Dumoulin, Harrington or whomever as a regular player, and leaving you very thin in case or injury.
- rival22

At this point I'd extend Martin over Orpik. Maybe even Nisk.

The Pens will have to trade a Dman for a forward. They are way too weak on forward now and with nothing in the system. Dupuis is a 3rd liner who is now done for the season. Gonna happen sooner or later.

I do too, he works too hard for him not to get back to where he was during the regular season last year.

Interesting stat: in the 86 regular season games he played last year and the year before, Letang had 15 goals and 65 assists.
- hardnosed

There you go... we have short memories around here. He was bad in the playoffs, and that carried over to this season. But not too many near point per game defensemen in the league right now.

One scarier stat though, is that after tomorrow's game, he'll have missed 36% of the Pens regular season games in the past three seasons.

I'm not so sure this message board is prepared to deal with the likely Maatta healthy scratch tomorrow.

I'm not so sure this message board is prepared to deal with the likely Maatta healthy scratch tomorrow.
- Ryan_Wilson

Did Lidstrom ever get scratched?

I'm not so sure this message board is prepared to deal with the likely Maatta healthy scratch tomorrow.
- Ryan_Wilson

I'm okay with giving him a breather. He's played hard. Had a few tough plays last game. Get Despres out there with Bortuzzo(they practiced together).

One scarier stat though, is that after tomorrow's game, he'll have missed 36% of the Pens regular season games in the past three seasons.
- rival22

Can't really blame him for the current infected cut, or the food poisoning last year, or the broken toe blocking a shot last year. And then he's had a knee twice and a hip injury that lingered. He's also battled through some of those when he probably should have rested.

Obviously this was coming
@penguins: NEWS ALERT: #Pens have re-assigned Harry Zolniercyzk and Brian Dumoulin to @WBSPenguins. http://t.co/JMA1D0BE2N