Niskanen's quote was right on. I'm really starting to think i want to sign him. 2 months ago i felt he would be gone 100%, now I'm not so sure I want that to happen.
Interesting to know what kind of hometown discount he might offer. I don't want him north of 4 even though he probably deserves it and could command it in the summer. If he took under 4 for 4 years I think Despres needs to start calling real estate agents.
- canadianpenfan

He's not taking under 4 and his term will be in the 5/6 year range. This is his time to hit the Powerball (so to speak). Minimum of 5 for 5 by judging what some washed up guys got last year.

Rising cap + lots of teams desperately needing a player like him is going to drive up the bidding. Not to mention teams needing to get to the cap floor. It's a thin FA market.

Bylsma could have played Neal on the third line when he got here. He could have sat Niskanen. He could have toyed with Letang's minutes. He could have demanded a rental 2nd line center when Crosby and Malkin were hurt and kept Staal on the third line.
- hardnosed

He should probably toy with letangs minutes right now.

He's not taking under 4 and his term will be in the 5/6 year range. This is his time to hit the Powerball (so to speak). Minimum of 5 for 5 by judging what some washed up guys got last year.

Rising cap + lots of teams desperately needing a player like him is going to drive up the bidding. Not to mention teams needing to get to the cap floor. It's a thin FA market.
- madmike71

I'm with you there. As much as I would love him to be back at a reasonable raise over his existing contract, he's gonna make in the 5+ range and get 5 or 6 years somewhere. He's still only 27 and those years would be his prime years. Someone is going to give it to him. A 2-way puck-moving defenseman that has finally started living up to his draft position right around the time (give or take a year) that most late-first round D-men start hitting their best years. He's right on target for being a solid contributing blue-liner for someone for a number of years and he's going to get paid like it in the off-season. He'd be crazy not to.

All those players were already established in the NHL however. It must be the most difficult thing in the nhl to make the jump from minors to the big time under bylsma.
- Genev21

It's like that for any good team/coach. Look at Detroit... EVERYONE plays in Grand Rapids for a couple of seasons.

Look at any of the top teams in the NHL... unless a guy comes along when the team is in the basement, it's a tough road. For every Brandan Saad or Olli Maatta who are immediate impact players, there are a dozen Slava Voynov, Emerson Etem or Chris Kreider who take a little while to solidify their place in the league.

One bad loss does not undo the ridiculous (good) run the team has been on. A letdown by a first-place team, literally running away with the division, was inevitable. Your bottom-six needs work but I'm sure Ray will address that. I'd be pretty happy if the Flyers were where the Pens are right now.
- BOSS_TWEED

Pretty much nailed it Boss, pretty spoiled group we are when a loss brings out the pitchforks.

He's not taking under 4 and his term will be in the 5/6 year range. This is his time to hit the Powerball (so to speak). Minimum of 5 for 5 by judging what some washed up guys got last year.

Rising cap + lots of teams desperately needing a player like him is going to drive up the bidding. Not to mention teams needing to get to the cap floor. It's a thin FA market.
- madmike71

I agree. Would you want him at 5? I'm really liking him this year but I can't see the Pens going higher than 4. Just can't do it.

Remember last year when everyone despised TK and couldn't wait for him to be gone. Boy he sure would look good on that 3rd line.

Remember last year when everyone despised TK and couldn't wait for him to be gone. Boy he sure would look good on that 3rd line.
- dbell646

TK doesn't looked good under any circumstance. I bet he hasn't had a date since moving to superficial Cali where looks are important.

TK doesn't looked good under any circumstance. I bet he hasn't had a date since moving to superficial Cali where looks are important.
- canadianpenfan

Yes but he can smell a fart before it happens

I agree. Would you want him at 5? I'm really liking him this year but I can't see the Pens going higher than 4. Just can't do it.
- canadianpenfan

I'm going to reserve judgment on him until the playoffs. If he plays like last year, I wouldn't want him for 4. Don't get me wrong, he has been great this season. I don't know if Fleury has me jaded, but I want to see the guy perform during the most important part of the season before making a decision.

TK doesn't looked good under any circumstance. I bet he hasn't had a date since moving to superficial Cali where looks are important.
- canadianpenfan

I just want to take this opportunity to refer to him, once again, as a fruitbat.

Yes but he can smell a fart before it happens
- dbell646

Some looney chick down there will think that's pretty awesome, he just has to keep looking.

Remember last year when everyone despised TK and couldn't wait for him to be gone. Boy he sure would look good on that 3rd line.
- dbell646

He has as many goals at Chris Conner this season, and that is with some top 6 time early in the year...

I'm going to reserve judgment on him until the playoffs. If he plays like last year, I wouldn't want him for 4. Don't get me wrong, he has been great this season. I don't know if Fleury has me jaded, but I want to see the guy perform during the most important part of the season before making a decision.
- mw630

So you would rather keep him and potentially not sign him, losing him for nothing in the offseason?

I wouldn't. If they can sign him 5/20 do it this year. If not you have to trade him for something.

I agree. Would you want him at 5? I'm really liking him this year but I can't see the Pens going higher than 4. Just can't do it.
- canadianpenfan

Niskanen is an ideal #5 defenseman on a cup contending team... But he's played at a top 4 level this season, and someone will pay him at that level this summer. The Pens can't do it though...

He has as many goals at Chris Conner this season, and that is with some top 6 time early in the year...
- rival22

And at 2.4 or whatever he's making. Pass.

Niskanen is an ideal #5 defenseman on a cup contending team... But he's played at a top 4 level this season, and someone will pay him at that level this summer. The Pens can't do it though...
- rival22

For arguments sake, pretend we didn't have Letang or Orpik, could Niskanen be more than a #5 in that situation?

He has as many goals at Chris Conner this season, and that is with some top 6 time early in the year...
- rival22

Also 10 more points. TK was rarely hurt fast and descent on the boards. The complaint was he shoots to much. If you complain about that you are a moron.

I liked TK, but if I had one complaint it was that he shot too much.

So you would rather keep him and potentially not sign him, losing him for nothing in the offseason?

I wouldn't. If they can sign him 5/20 do it this year. If not you have to trade him for something.
- canadianpenfan

If Shero's history is any indication, Im betting there is an offer on the table for him and if he doesnt take it/negotiate then Shero is dealing him by the deadline. Post-Hossa, he hasnt made a habit of letting "valuable" assets walk for nothing.

If Shero's history is any indication, Im betting there is an offer on the table for him and if he doesnt take it/negotiate then Shero is dealing him by the deadline. Post-Hossa, he hasnt made a habit of letting "valuable" assets walk for nothing.
- Rawdog9755

Yeah I'm not worried about losing him for nothing. But the flip side of the coin is trading him probably makes us a worse team this year.

I liked TK, but if I had one complaint it was that he shot too much.
- canadianpenfan

I had a complaint that he shot too much... 3 feet wide and 2 feet above the net or direct center-mass on a goaltender.

In fact, it's looked at times this year as though the Penguins and TK went to the same school of shot accuracy.

Niskanen's quote was right on. I'm really starting to think i want to sign him. 2 months ago i felt he would be gone 100%, now I'm not so sure I want that to happen.
Interesting to know what kind of hometown discount he might offer. I don't want him north of 4 even though he probably deserves it and could command it in the summer. If he took under 4 for 4 years I think Despres needs to start calling real estate agents.
- canadianpenfan

I think it would be Orpik who would need to start calling his real estate agent if the Penguins move forward with Niskanen.

Yeah I'm not worried about losing him for nothing. But the flip side of the coin is trading him probably makes us a worse team this year.
- canadianpenfan

That will be the kicker, but still doesnt seem to weigh heavy on Shero's decision making. We would have been better off with Staal for one more year at the time, and I have a lot of confidence that if Letang didnt sign then he would have been gone this past offseason too. Only guys he seems to wait to sign are ones he seemingly has held captive or isnt hard up to keep ie Cooke. I think Orpik will fall into the captive or isnt hard up to keep.

as a player do you want more money and a shorter contract or perhaps a little less but a longer contract? at 27 years of age, do you prefer getting a max year deal so you know you are signed thru age 35? or do you prefer to get perhaps a little more money and sign another deal at age 31 or 32?