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

I agree people need to calm down. It's a tied series. They haven't lost yet. The only guy that I'm absolutely convinced needs to be shown the door is Disco.

I don't get this infatuation with Mike Richards. Had a horrible year. Doesn't always show up. Expensive contract. Yuck. Dustin Brown, I like him, but another guy that had a horrible year. By the way, both of those guys have had some ugly incidents in their careers too.

I think Letang is virtually untradeable. His contract is about to skyrocket. Hasn't played well for two years. He has a health issue that could crop up at any time and force him into retirement. Nobody is dumb enough to give up good assets for that.

MAF might need to go, but the FA market isn't great.

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

No on Yak, Ive seen him play against the AVS and he has OV heart 2.0. He will be in the KHL before long. Im not a fan of Russian players in general. Too many years of Kovalev I guess. Yak would just make this team worse. The only EDM player I am interested is Eberle, and im not sure he is what the Pens need. I don't like Letangs contract either, but the Pens have nobody to replace him. For the record, Im in favor of keeping Fleury. I think there are other areas that need fixed over him. I like the idea of Kesler.

No on Yak, Ive seen him play against the AVS and he has OV heart 2.0. He will be in the KHL before long. Im not a fan of Russian players in general. Too many years of Kovalev I guess. Yak would just make this team worse. The only EDM player I am interested is Eberle, and im not sure he is what the Pens need. I don't like Letangs contract either, but the Pens have nobody to replace him. For the record, Im in favor of keeping Fleury. I think there are other areas that need fixed over him. I like the idea of Kesler.
- sammy87

i still like the idea of kesler too, i just dont know if they have the assets to get it done

No on Yak, Ive seen him play against the AVS and he has OV heart 2.0. He will be in the KHL before long. Im not a fan of Russian players in general. Too many years of Kovalev I guess. Yak would just make this team worse. The only EDM player I am interested is Eberle, and im not sure he is what the Pens need. I don't like Letangs contract either, but the Pens have nobody to replace him. For the record, Im in favor of keeping Fleury. I think there are other areas that need fixed over him. I like the idea of Kesler.
- sammy87

I like Kesler very much. That said, he is also a fragile player. We don't need to collect another. Plus, I don't think there is a match between Pittsburgh and Vancouver to get him. We don't have the assets.

I don't like Yak at all. Felt Edmonton made a huge mistake drafting him. He is moody; has regressed and could easily be a malcontent to me. I too see him back in Russia in the not too distant future. Interesting Edmonton was putting feelers out there on him already - the next generational player as the Oiler fans said. The front office of Edmonton doesn't see him fitting in moving forward. He will be dealt before the draft IMO.

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?
- stayinthefnnet

Malkin has the biggest return of anyone and there are GM's out there that would pay it. He is a super star and arguably the most talented player in the league. Look at what Lindros brought Quebec or Hershall Walker to Dallas. That being said, Gogo did net Nisk and Neal, so who knows what Shero can pull off.

Saw Yohe say on Twitter that he'd put Neal with Sid & Kunitz and have Malkin with Bennett and Jokinen. His reasoning was that Malkin is deferring too much, and taking away Neal would force him to shoot. Mentioned his succes with Talbot and Fedotenko.

I agree with his idea and reasoning, but would maybe put Stempniak with Geno. Talbot and Fedotenko were good with him because they'd battle for loose pucks. Stempniak seems a little grittier than Jokinen or Beau.

Malkin has the biggest return of anyone and there are GM's out there that would pay it. He is a super star and arguably the most talented player in the league. Look at what Lindros brought Quebec or Hershall Walker to Dallas. That being said, Gogo did net Nisk and Neal, so who knows what Shero can pull off.
- sammy87

then fine haha. like i said, im in no rush to move him. but id do it for Backes and Pietrangelo coming back.

Saw Yohe say on Twitter that he'd put Neal with Sid & Kunitz and have Malkin with Bennett and Jokinen. His reasoning was that Malkin is deferring too much, and taking away Neal would force him to shoot. Mentioned his succes with Talbot and Fedotenko.

I agree with his idea and reasoning, but would maybe put Stempniak with Geno. Talbot and Fedotenko were good with him because they'd battle for loose pucks. Stempniak seems a little grittier than Jokinen or Beau.
- rival22

thats actually really interesting. the sid, kuni, and neal like dominated for stretches too. and then just let malkin go nuts and be a little selfish on the next line

then fine haha. like i said, im in no rush to move him. but id do it for Backes and Pietrangelo coming back.
- stayinthefnnet

Throw in a 1st or 2nd and its a deal!

I guess after seeing Jagr and Talbot in orange and black in recent years, I can't begrudge you a little payback.

He's had a rough year, and he has to agree to the move (I think), but a change might be good for Richards, and I would have to imagine not many players would turn down a chance to play with Crosby.
- wolfhounds

I'd send Neal for Mike Richards.

Throw in a 1st or 2nd and its a deal!
- sammy87

from the St Louis end?

I'd send Neal for Mike Richards.
- Orpik44

I'm glad you're not Ray Shero.

Holy crap did we play two games last night I didn't know about and lose this series?

from the St Louis end?
- stayinthefnnet

yeah a 2nd, or a 1st with a Pens prospect.

I heard a rumor a while back, Malkin for a 1st, Hamhus, and Kesler. I haven't heard much from Hamhus in a while.

Can say it as much as you want but looking at how many even strength shots a team has when a player is on the ice doesn't tell the whole story. We have been playing perimeter hockey and shooting the puck from Tyler Kennedy angles. Yes, on the stat page is shows a ton of shots but they are horrible angle shots. Don't get me wrong, I always agree with just get the puck to the net and things will happen. However, if you take horrible angle shots you need guys in front of the net to make those things happen and the Pens are not doing that.
- kgrpitt

I gather this, but the point isn't the quality of shots, it's the fact they consistently have the puck. That is the Penguins best method of defense right now, owning the puck.

yeah a 2nd, or a 1st with a Pens prospect.

I heard a rumor a while back, Malkin for a 1st, Hamhus, and Kesler. I haven't heard much from Hamhus in a while.
- sammy87

i cant see STL even doing my hypo. the value Pietrangelo has is probably astronomical. and Backes coming back too? it would be too good to be true. but htats the kind of deal id need for malkin

I gather this, but the point isn't the quality of shots, it's the fact they consistently have the puck. That is the Penguins best method of defense right now, owning the puck.
- Ryan_Wilson

i dont have any stats to back it up, but just from watching, bennett has helped out a lot with this. hes showing the potential we all knew he had. just hope he stays healthy

i cant see STL even doing my hypo. the value Pietrangelo has is probably astronomical. and Backes coming back too? it would be too good to be true. but htats the kind of deal id need for malkin
- stayinthefnnet

That's why I can't see a Malkin deal ever happening. The return that we (and the Pens) would probably want, even if "fair" would be more than other teams would want to give up.

That's why I can't see a Malkin deal ever happening. The return that we (and the Pens) would probably want, even if "fair" would be more than other teams would want to give up.
- rival22

oh yeah. i definitely agree. you dont move him because you "have" to, or for salary, or for a shakeup or anything of the sort. you only move him if it makes the team better, and it would take a mammoth deal to do that.

like i said, the only ones i can think of off the top of my head involve Backes and Pietrangelo, or a deal involving Kopitar. and neither will happen.

Malkin is part of the fabric of this team, and im glad for it.

No trade clause so unless your trading him to the KHL he isn't going anywhere.

then fine haha. like i said, im in no rush to move him. but id do it for Backes and Pietrangelo coming back.
- stayinthefnnet

Don't try to make offers or trade Geno....just stayinthefnnet

Fleury stayinthefnnet as well

Don't try to make offers or trade Geno....just stayinthefnnet

Fleury stayinthefnnet as well
- Orpik44

hmm i wonder how i plucked my name out of imagination?!

and i like tinkering with hypothetical trade offers, even if they wont happen. its better than constantly going over how much DB needs to/not be fired, or how the team lacks heart, or blah blah blah.

Holy crap did we play two games last night I didn't know about and lose this series?
- Grinder47

you didn't get the memo?

you didn't get the memo?
- BulliesPhan87

we put covers on our TPS reports now

I'm glad you're not Ray Shero.
- madmike71

Off course I'm not talking about a straight out deal.

What I mean here is that I want "winners" on my team. Someone that will fight for a cup and bring leadership. Neal does not qualify.