Having the 2 day break will help the Pens and break CBJ's momentum. It will be really interesting to see how the Pens react. No way they win gm 6 is in CBS if they lose Sat. That place will be rockin.

+1 for the TK reference.
- akane13

Thank ya sir. Figured it was the best way to describe the area.

1. Agree. Fire him right after the exit.
2. Barry Trotz, I'm not sure knows what to do with having two 100-point scorers and two additional 35-goal scoring types on his roster. He is the king of having to deal with 50-point guys. All the sudden, I think Crosby becomes a 65-point guy under Trotz. I don't think he is a fit unless he changes his ways.
3. Agree with this
4. If you deal Letang, no way do you let Niskanen walk. With Orpik probably gone; Engelland in question - that leaves Maatta, Martin, Scuderi, Bortuzzo, Despres as your returning options with NHL experience. Sure, Dumoullin, Harrington or Samuelsson might be ready by then, but I think with the way Despres is being treated/handled, he will be dealt in the off-season. Jokinen can be had for 3.2 million. He is versatile in which he can play second or third line minutes, or be moved with Sid in a pinch. He isn't out of place. Same with Stempniak, who I think we should resign.
5. No one is going to pay a good return for Scuderi. You have to hope he has a Martin like moment next year and rebounds like PMart did after a bad first season with the Pens. Adams - buy him out.
6. There isn't much on the free agent list that really makes an improvement to me. Teams have locked up the quality players and all that remains are older/aging players with diminishing skills or role players. The way to fix is trades not free agents.
7. I'm alright with Sutter at 3.2 provided you have a good third line not involving Glass or Pyatt. He needs capable wingers to play a good game. Put Bennett and Gibbons or Stempniak with him, he seems like a totally different player.
8. See point number 6
9. I think you will always have high expectations with a lineup involving Sid, Malkin, Neal, Kunitz for starters. Adjusting expectations means trading Malkin.
- Oneonta Penguin

sign me up with all of this. if you can get stempy and jokinen for a combined under 6, id take that all day. how high would you go for niskanen?

So, which would you rather have if you were MAF ... the choice of either being traded to a non-play off team or be bought out and not have too many suiters looking to pay you 5 million as a free agent? Not a difficult choice for me.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'd take the buyout everyday. He'd get 2/3 if his deal, so $3 mil, and get to choose where to go. He could sign a $2.5 mil deal as a backup for a contender and end up making more money and have a chance to battle for a starting gig.

Yeah the Scuds experiment needs to come to an end. He has been terribad. I would take a bag of pucks for him just to get rid of the cap hit. I like Letangs skill set, but question his ability to think the game and make sound decisions. With Neal, I just wait for him to lose his cool and do something stupid.

As far as management. Bylsma playing Scuds in a "shut down" role makes me scratch my head. If anything Scuds should be getting sheltered minutes, the guy is a possession black hole, and we are hemmed in our own zone for long periods when he is on the ice.

Shero is responsible as well. The forward group is thin at wings and our 3rd and 4th lines are a joke.
- PittsPens

Scuderi is a bad hockey player right now... Fine... We have bortozzo and despres ...where are they disco???? Some of us have been making these points over and over again since December regarding disco and the post season ... The response from many was "stop hating" and pictures of disco with the cup from 2009... Disco is not a good coach right now ... His loyalty to veterans and refusal to play certain young player consistently is one of ( not the only!!!! ) the big issues for this team moving forward... I normally respect most of Ryan's arguements... But this idea that we have not been out played based on possession numbers and stats is far fetched in my opinion ... Sometimes reality is what is playing out infront of you ... Columbus has been the better team... That is unacceptable based on the names on each teams rosters.

Mike Richards
Drew Doughty
Tanner Pearson

for

Evgeni Malkin
Kris Letang


- SuperHenderson13

There's no way LA will give up Doughty unless Crosby goes. That said, value for value, it's a steal for LA.

There's no way LA will give up Doughty unless Crosby goes. That said, value for value, it's a steal for LA.
- jmatchett383

Don't know much about Pearson, but that deal isn't too bad. You get a solid C, and probably the 2nd best dman in the league.

I know everyone wants to trade letang, my counter to that is what do you realistically get in return? With his health and LTC I don't think many would jump on that. Once Letang is gone, you still have a weak forward group and Scuds, Orpik (maybe) on D and rookies filing out the rest. I assume you resign Nisk at that point, but the D is still not anywhere better than before. The unproven prospects will either sink or swim and it looks to me management and coaching feels they will sink with the way they have been sheltered. IMO a deal with Letang for a D man just makes the Pens D weaker.

Don't know much about Pearson, but that deal isn't too bad. You get a solid C, and probably the 2nd best dman in the league.

I know everyone wants to trade letang, my counter to that is what do you realistically get in return? With his health and LTC I don't think many would jump on that. Once Letang is gone, you still have a weak forward group and Scuds, Orpik (maybe) on D and rookies filing out the rest. I assume you resign Nisk at that point, but the D is still not anywhere better than before. The unproven prospects will either sink or swim and it looks to me management and coaching feels they will sink with the way they have been sheltered. IMO a deal with Letang for a D man just makes the Pens D weaker.
- sammy87

i just need to see more from him in the playoffs in order to justify paying him pushing 8 million a year. thats the bottom line for me right now.

I'd take the buyout everyday. He'd get 2/3 if his deal, so $3 mil, and get to choose where to go. He could sign a $2.5 mil deal as a backup for a contender and end up making more money and have a chance to battle for a starting gig.
- rival22

The only way to improve goaltending is to go after a UFA. Hiller, Halak, and Miller are the only that would be upgrades over MAF. Miller will be overpriced and he has been in decline since the Olympics. He hasn't been that strong for STL and I would even argue that Halak would be doing just as well at this point. Hiller is being benched, ANA has 0 confidence in him so is he an upgrade? Who knows what offers Halak would get, he looks to be the best of the 3, he could go over $5mil, can the Pens afford that? What do you get for MAF? Who would even really take him given his contract and history? Why not throw that money at HIller or Halak?

Oh and watching the Wings last night, Kromwall makes the Pens D look so soft. He can hit like Orpik, but as mobile as Nisk. That's the type of D the Pens need.

Oh and watching the Wings last night, Kromwall makes the Pens D look so soft. He can hit like Orpik, but as mobile as Nisk. That's the type of D the Pens need.
- sammy87

extremely hard to acquire though. despres has the physical tools to do that.

I'd take the buyout everyday. He'd get 2/3 if his deal, so $3 mil, and get to choose where to go. He could sign a $2.5 mil deal as a backup for a contender and end up making more money and have a chance to battle for a starting gig.
- rival22

I'm not sure a fragile goalie like Fleury would be too keen on being bought out. His pool of suitors wouldn't be that large. Agree to disagree.

I'm not sure a fragile goalie like Fleury would be too keen on being bought out. His pool of suitors wouldn't be that large. Agree to disagree.
- Oneonta Penguin

i feel as though if he is bought out, we may find him floating face down somewhere. i really hate that its come to this. i love the guy

You guys need to calm the f' down. Suddenly Letang and Fleury are the problems on this team. I blame Crosby just as much. No sign of leadership or lead by example so far in this series.

Neal...I had enough to know this guy has not a good character for this team. Trade him for a Dustin Brown, Mike Richards or Ryan Callahan types.

You guys need to calm the f' down. Suddenly Letang and Fleury are the problems on this team. I blame Crosby just as much. No sign of leadership or lead by example so far in this series.

Neal...I had enough to know this guy has not a good character for this team. Trade him for a Dustin Brown, Mike Richards or Ryan Callahan types.
- Orpik44

to be fair, i was initially intrigued by the idea of trading letang simply for the redistribution of assets from a position of strength to a position of need. its not to tar and feather the dude.

i feel as though if he is bought out, we may find him floating face down somewhere. i really hate that its come to this. i love the guy
- stayinthefnnet

I love Fleury too, I really want him to do well and turn the corner. What I don't get, he gets the blame when hes faced with odd man rushes constantly, D providing time and space, allowing opponents to park in front of the crease. How many goals has he allowed where Orpik is facing the puck and a guy is right behind him, taps it in, then Orpik looks to the heavens and says Oh yeah, that was my job to stop that! But then realizes hes not losing his job to anyone else so the cycle continues.

Don't know much about Pearson, but that deal isn't too bad. You get a solid C, and probably the 2nd best dman in the league.

I know everyone wants to trade letang, my counter to that is what do you realistically get in return? With his health and LTC I don't think many would jump on that. Once Letang is gone, you still have a weak forward group and Scuds, Orpik (maybe) on D and rookies filing out the rest. I assume you resign Nisk at that point, but the D is still not anywhere better than before. The unproven prospects will either sink or swim and it looks to me management and coaching feels they will sink with the way they have been sheltered. IMO a deal with Letang for a D man just makes the Pens D weaker.
- sammy87

Letang isn't good value right now. You can't afford to have 37% of your cap tied up in 87, 71 and 58. The deal Shero signed Letang to is ridiculously bad. It's the worst in the league IMO. Does having the ability to keep Niskanen when dealing Letang make us weaker? I don't think so. It all depends on who you acquire for him. Shero's mistake was no dealing him in the offseason. He could have commanded easily a Jordan Staal type deal, even though he was a pending FA. Again, to my point earlier ... people want Fleury out. You are one of them. This is because of his fragile state in the play-offs. What has Letang provided in the play-offs the previous two years and the first four games this season? Absolutely nothing positive. All of his mistakes turn into goals for the opposition.

Bottom line, Letang is grossly overpaid, fragile and careless with the puck. However, there are dumb GMS out there that will still value him high enough with the warts to give a great return.

For poops and giggles ... if Ek's sources is right (play along with this because Ek's sources aren't) and Edmonton is getting ready to offer up the third pick in this draft and a top player (presumably Yak), would you trade Letang for that? I'm not a fan of Yak. I think Letang is the defenseman from a play-off team that Edmonton is trying to get (supposedly).

i feel as though if he is bought out, we may find him floating face down somewhere. i really hate that its come to this. i love the guy
- stayinthefnnet

Everyone wants Fleury to succeed. He has that personality that draws people in. Push comes to shove, everyone on this board would rather have MAF succeed instead of seeing him elsewhere.

The only way to improve goaltending is to go after a UFA. Hiller, Halak, and Miller are the only that would be upgrades over MAF. Miller will be overpriced and he has been in decline since the Olympics. He hasn't been that strong for STL and I would even argue that Halak would be doing just as well at this point. Hiller is being benched, ANA has 0 confidence in him so is he an upgrade? Who knows what offers Halak would get, he looks to be the best of the 3, he could go over $5mil, can the Pens afford that? What do you get for MAF? Who would even really take him given his contract and history? Why not throw that money at HIller or Halak?
- sammy87

If Fleury bounces back and the Pens get through a couple rounds, this is all moot, but I like the idea of bringing James Reimer in this summer.

I love Fleury too, I really want him to do well and turn the corner. What I don't get, he gets the blame when hes faced with odd man rushes constantly, D providing time and space, allowing opponents to park in front of the crease. How many goals has he allowed where Orpik is facing the puck and a guy is right behind him, taps it in, then Orpik looks to the heavens and says Oh yeah, that was my job to stop that! But then realizes hes not losing his job to anyone else so the cycle continues.
- sammy87

my criticism with fleury has nothing to do with his stats. he never had the stats when he was the man. none of the goals hes really allowed this series made me want to go run out and get the pitchfork. he has it incredibly hard behind that team. but he always has. he used to be able to bounce back. its just that he is mentally done.

the vast majority of goals in the playoffs, i wouldnt attribute to fleury being fleury. however, once there is a crack in the mental dam, he doesnt have the ability to prevent a deluge anymore.

You guys need to calm the f' down. Suddenly Letang and Fleury are the problems on this team. I blame Crosby just as much. No sign of leadership or lead by example so far in this series.

Neal...I had enough to know this guy has not a good character for this team. Trade him for a Dustin Brown, Mike Richards or Ryan Callahan types.
- Orpik44

Sure, there is no sign of Crosby. However, the other two names have been constant banter on here because of their failures in the play-offs the previous two years as well. Hell, I'd make a case for Letang being worse than Fleury.

Thank ya sir. Figured it was the best way to describe the area.
- kgrpitt

He was a crest killer for sure. Wore the logo out on every tender's sweater he ever faced.

Letang isn't good value right now. You can't afford to have 37% of your cap tied up in 87, 71 and 58. The deal Shero signed Letang to is ridiculously bad. It's the worst in the league IMO. Does having the ability to keep Niskanen when dealing Letang make us weaker? I don't think so. It all depends on who you acquire for him. Shero's mistake was no dealing him in the offseason. He could have commanded easily a Jordan Staal type deal, even though he was a pending FA. Again, to my point earlier ... people want Fleury out. You are one of them. This is because of his fragile state in the play-offs. What has Letang provided in the play-offs the previous two years and the first four games this season? Absolutely nothing positive. All of his mistakes turn into goals for the opposition.

Bottom line, Letang is grossly overpaid, fragile and careless with the puck. However, there are dumb GMS out there that will still value him high enough with the warts to give a great return.

For poops and giggles ... if Ek's sources is right (play along with this because Ek's sources aren't) and Edmonton is getting ready to offer up the third pick in this draft and a top player (presumably Yak), would you trade Letang for that? I'm not a fan of Yak. I think Letang is the defenseman from a play-off team that Edmonton is trying to get (supposedly).
- Oneonta Penguin

hm, i dont know. there definitely is a good bit of value there from Edms end, but I dont know why the notion of having the third pick doesnt floor me. Id want Eberle.

I would slit my wrists if Logan C ever played for the Pens. Can't stand him. Would never root for him.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'm with you on that one. I'd rather have Ryan O'Reilly instead.

Btw: I'd never trade Malkin.

I'm with you on that one. I'd rather have Ryan O'Reilly instead.

Btw: I'd never trade Malkin.
- Orpik44

i cant stress enough that im not trying to beat the trade malkin drum. hes not going anywhere, nor should he.

but if St Louis loses this first round and says (frank) it were tired of being bounced in the first round, and say okay, give us Malkin and Despres for Backes and Pietrangelo. It wouldnt tempt you?