I agree with this, but I am not sure I can stomach Nisky at 5 mil a year, and I have a pretty big stomach. I think if you are giving a guy 5 mil a year, he needs to be a top pairing guy, and I dont thinks that is Nisky. If you can get him under 5, I am sold. Him and Maatta would be a great #2, that leaves Despres/? as the 3rd. These guys must get a chance to play, let them learn on the fly. There is enough talent on the team, that they can make up for the mistakes you will get from the young guys. They are going to happen, you just have to accept it as the learning process.
- Thorny

I think your stomach can rest easy. Nisky played his way to a big payday and not from the Pens.

I think its a mistake to dangle Pouliot out there. Our farm system is devoid of talent. We truly have two stud prospects that could make a move toward an NHL roster spot - Harrington and Pouliot in the coming year. We have questions on defense with Orpik, Niskanen and probably Engelland gone; Letang's continue fragility issues. Pouliot is Letang's replacement when he gets another injury ... we know that is only the matter of time.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's especially devoid of forwards. I'd ask for young forward with the same potential. Like it or not, they'll have to trust that Letang will play like the guy he was a couple of years ago. I think a more structured system will do wonders for his game.

I agree, you ask him if he wants to stay and be apart of this for 4-4.5 mil a year for the next 4-5 years. If he says yes, then you keep him. He is a good locker room guy and would love to keep him and Maatta together. If he says he wants 5-5.5 mil for 5 years, you ask him for a list of teams that he might want to play for, contact them...let it be known he has interest, whomever gives you the best pick, you trade his rights to and thank him for his services. I just cant see having 18 mil tied up in 3 dman.

It's especially devoid of forwards. I'd ask for young forward with the same potential. Like it or not, they'll have to trust that Letang will play like the guy he was a couple of years ago. I think a more structured system will do wonders for his game.
- madmike71

I think a coach that will hold him responsible for his play will do his game wonders. The best thing they can do, is take away ice time.

The Rags are the luckiest team in the NHL. They draw Pittsburgh in the second round, a team that didn't seem to care enough t show up in Game 5 and 6 to close out the series and now play Montreal without Carey Price and a rookie tender in net.
- Oneonta Penguin

The Rags strategy is to take out the other team's best players. Staal's numerous cheapshots against Crosby and Krieder running every goalie he sees. He tried it against Fleury and now it worked against Price in Game 1.

I agree, you ask him if he wants to stay and be apart of this for 4-4.5 mil a year for the next 4-5 years. If he says yes, then you keep him. He is a good locker room guy and would love to keep him and Maatta together. If he says he wants 5-5.5 mil for 5 years, you ask him for a list of teams that he might want to play for, contact them...let it be known he has interest, whomever gives you the best pick, you trade his rights to and thank him for his services. I just cant see having 18 mil tied up in 3 dman.
- Thorny

You also have to think long term. Martin only has 1 year left. If nisk walks this year and Martin the next, then I think you may be putting way too much pressure on the young kids

Crosby produces at a rate of .43 GPG in the playoffs compared to .49 in the regular season. Crosby also takes faceoffs, plays in the defensive zone and doesn't take as many bad penalties.
He isn't a one trick pony that needs others too produce. Crosby underachieved for the first time and you compare him to a consistent underachiever? So far you have shown me nothing. Try again.
- usethe1-2-2

Crosby has been a non factor his last three series. I was proving a point. Using play-off numbers is rich.

Actually, you have shown me very little as well.

It's especially devoid of forwards. I'd ask for young forward with the same potential. Like it or not, they'll have to trust that Letang will play like the guy he was a couple of years ago. I think a more structured system will do wonders for his game.
- madmike71

I have zero faith Letang can do that. He is one of the most injury prone players in the NHL and I won't even discuss the stroke.

I have zero faith Letang can do that. He is one of the most injury prone players in the NHL and I won't even discuss the stroke.
- Oneonta Penguin

because you shouldnt have to discuss the stroke. stroke is a non issue.

i hate the term "injury prone"... this is the NHL... every NHL player is prone to injury.

I think a coach that will hold him responsible for his play will do his game wonders. The best thing they can do, is take away ice time.
- Thorny

I've read multiple articles on Dan's system. It's complicated and it's particularly rough on the D. Martin looked like poop for a couple of years, Z asked to leave. Letang has gone south. A couple others haven't exactly thrived either.

Here's a good article that get's into the pro's and con's of Dan's system. I think it deserves to be said that Dan never instituted his system until after his cup run.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/...stanley-cup-playof/nfZwk/

because you shouldnt have to discuss the stroke. stroke is a non issue.

i hate the term "injury prone"... this is the NHL... every NHL player is prone to injury.
- SuperHenderson13

Have to agree with that.

You also have to think long term. Martin only has 1 year left. If nisk walks this year and Martin the next, then I think you may be putting way too much pressure on the young kids
- drummer829

I understand that, I do...and I would be ok with bringing Martin back. I just think Nisk at 5 mil, is more than he is worth. I don't think he is a top 2 guy, and I don't think you can pay him that. You want to play him 4-4.5 and let Martin walk next year, I can be ok with that. I hope in 2 yeas from now, Despres, Harrington, Maatta and the other guys are all getting regular minutes on the blue line with Letang. That would free up tons of money to use on bringing in help for the forwards.

I have zero faith Letang can do that. He is one of the most injury prone players in the NHL and I won't even discuss the stroke.
- Oneonta Penguin

who was the winnipeg player? the suspense is killing me and i dont want to cheat and look it up. my last guess was ladd

because you shouldnt have to discuss the stroke. stroke is a non issue.

i hate the term "injury prone"... this is the NHL... every NHL player is prone to injury.
- SuperHenderson13

No, I shouldn't have to discuss it. No one saw that coming to a young, in shape hockey player. Ok, he is a fragile hockey player. Is that better than injury prone? God knows he is three or four trips to the IR each year.

I understand that, I do...and I would be ok with bringing Martin back. I just think Nisk at 5 mil, is more than he is worth. I don't think he is a top 2 guy, and I don't think you can pay him that. You want to play him 4-4.5 and let Martin walk next year, I can be ok with that. I hope in 2 yeas from now, Despres, Harrington, Maatta and the other guys are all getting regular minutes on the blue line with Letang. That would free up tons of money to use on bringing in help for the forwards.
- Thorny

So, are you on the trade Pouliot wagon as well, since he wasn't mentioned.

No, I shouldn't have to discuss it. No one saw that coming to a young, in shape hockey player. Ok, he is a fragile hockey player. Is that better than injury prone? God knows he is three or four trips to the IR each year.
- Oneonta Penguin

the stroke i dont hold against him. it sucks. but thats not an "injury prone" kind of thing the way crosby's concussion was for him.

however, besides the stroke, letang has not shown he is exactly an iron man.

So, are you on the trade Pouliot wagon as well, since he wasn't mentioned.
- Oneonta Penguin

i wouldnt be in a rush to move him. but if he comes in an lights it up initially, and some team wants to overpay, you look at the team structure and pull the trigger on a deal if it blows you away.

yet again, it depends on the return. which i really dont see a lot of ones being touched on. im fine entertaining the notion of just about anyone leaving, but the return has to be both beneficial and feasible, which is a tough fish to catch.

No, I shouldn't have to discuss it. No one saw that coming to a young, in shape hockey player. Ok, he is a fragile hockey player. Is that better than injury prone? God knows he is three or four trips to the IR each year.
- Oneonta Penguin

guy's had some bad luck, but i think it is harsh to say that he is fragile.

inferring that a player is going to get hurt this upcoming season solely based on the fact that he has been injured in the previous seasons is just plain dumb.

not directing that at you, but just in general, people try to create more problems than there really are.

So, are you on the trade Pouliot wagon as well, since he wasn't mentioned.
- Oneonta Penguin

No, I just lumped him in with the young guys...if you can roll with Despres, Pouliot, Harrington, Maatta, Letang...and a vet, I am ok with Borts as the 7th dman. I just think you need to let these guys play, so you can see what you have. You will never know till they get the chance. We know Maatta and Letang can, we have seen a little bit what Despres can do. I just don't think you need to invest 5 mil in Nisky, with that talent coming up.

guy's had some bad luck, but i think it is harsh to say that he is fragile.

inferring that a player is going to get hurt this upcoming season solely based on the fact that he has been injured in the previous seasons is just plain dumb.

not directing that at you, but just in general, people try to create more problems than there really are.
- SuperHenderson13

He is what he is ... a three to four-trip to the IR guy. It's not dumb. It's called planning ahead. His resume the last two or three years follows this path.

guy's had some bad luck, but i think it is harsh to say that he is fragile.

inferring that a player is going to get hurt this upcoming season solely based on the fact that he has been injured in the previous seasons is just plain dumb.

not directing that at you, but just in general, people try to create more problems than there really are.
- SuperHenderson13

I get what you are saying, but lets face it...his past injuries will factor into his value. He is injury prone, there really is no other way to say it. I just have a hard time with his salary, when he has missed a good portion of games the last few years it seems. Are you ok paying him 7 mil a year, and getting 50 games out of him a season? Just curious.

No, I shouldn't have to discuss it. No one saw that coming to a young, in shape hockey player. Ok, he is a fragile hockey player. Is that better than injury prone? God knows he is three or four trips to the IR each year.
- Oneonta Penguin

I swear to god you won't admit it but you hate the guy...

and don't come with that talk "I want the best for the Penguins, his contract is horrible"

No, I just lumped him in with the young guys...if you can roll with Despres, Pouliot, Harrington, Maatta, Letang...and a vet, I am ok with Borts as the 7th dman. I just think you need to let these guys play, so you can see what you have. You will never know till they get the chance. We know Maatta and Letang can, we have seen a little bit what Despres can do. I just don't think you need to invest 5 mil in Nisky, with that talent coming up.
- Thorny

I have no problem with this. Have said this many times. I don't have Letang on my list though, but I have Martin on mine. He is your best Dman.

I get what you are saying, but lets face it...his past injuries will factor into his value. He is injury prone, there really is no other way to say it. I just have a hard time with his salary, when he has missed a good portion of games the last few years it seems. Are you ok paying him 7 mil a year, and getting 50 games out of him a season? Just curious.
- Thorny

That would be an assumption he'll miss 30+ games every year. Letang is a fine player and will do just fine.

I understand that, I do...and I would be ok with bringing Martin back. I just think Nisk at 5 mil, is more than he is worth. I don't think he is a top 2 guy, and I don't think you can pay him that. You want to play him 4-4.5 and let Martin walk next year, I can be ok with that. I hope in 2 yeas from now, Despres, Harrington, Maatta and the other guys are all getting regular minutes on the blue line with Letang. That would free up tons of money to use on bringing in help for the forwards.
- Thorny

Letang-Harrington
Maatta-despres
Pouliot-dumoulin/bortuzzo

Just an idea, but this is IF they all develop how they are supposed to and of course scuds gets sent packing. Its very possible that this is the defensive lineup in a year and a half