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"
- Orpik44

I don't hate the guy. I hate his contract; I hate his fragileness; I hate the fact every mistake he makes ends up in the back of the net. I have nothing against him personally. By the stroke of fate, he recovers and plays to a high level next year. I just don't have high expectations of that happening. Maybe he benefits from a new coach in Pittsburgh? Can't honestly tell you.

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

be careful ... you are coming to the dark side.

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.
- Oneonta Penguin

So is Martin's.

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

if he plays every game in the post season, yes.

That would be an assumption he'll miss 30+ games every year. Letang is a fine player and will do just fine.
- Orpik44

He has missed 30+ games in two of the last three years.

I don't hate the guy. I hate his contract; I hate his fragileness; I hate the fact every mistake he makes ends up in the back of the net. I have nothing against him personally. By the stroke of fate, he recovers and plays to a high level next year. I just don't have high expectations of that happening. Maybe he benefits from a new coach in Pittsburgh? Can't honestly tell you.
- Oneonta Penguin

i like letang. i think he can rebound and be more healthy than not. i think, if paired with martin, and held more accountable by a new coach, he can shine through via a simplification of his game.

however, there are an awful lot of ifs there for a true number one defender, which is what he is being paid as.

for those reasons, if the deal is right, i would move him. but he isnt something to be purged of at all costs.

That would be an assumption he'll miss 30+ games every year. Letang is a fine player and will do just fine.
- Orpik44

Well, he was one of the better players for us in the playoffs. I don't particularly love his contract or his inability to play full seasons, but I think it's futile to discuss trading a guy who's value is at an all time low. I don't want to ship him out for a couple of third liners. He does have the potential to perform with the best in the league, I'm hoping a new coach with a simpler system gets him back to that level.

So is Martin's.
- Orpik44

He hasn't missed 30+ games in two of the last three.

He hasn't missed 30+ games in two of the last three.
- Oneonta Penguin

good one

I just happen to remember Martin had a few injuries (broken bones) one after another. Bad luck I guess.

Well, he was one of the better players for us in the playoffs. I don't particularly love his contract or his inability to play full seasons, but I think it's futile to discuss trading a guy who's value is at an all time low. I don't want to ship him out for a couple of third liners. He does have the potential to perform with the best in the league, I'm hoping a new coach with a simpler system gets him back to that level.
- madmike71

I don't want to ship Letang out for a couple of 3rd line guys either. I just really hate his contract, thats all. I just think that money is better spent, then on a guy who plays 50-60 games a season. Letang played well in the playoffs this year after the 2nd game of the playoffs. He was horrible against the Islanders last year. If you can get a really good deal for him, I think you have to look at it. When I say good deal, I mean an NHL ready dman back, a top 6 forward and some type of pick.

Well, he was one of the better players for us in the playoffs. I don't particularly love his contract or his inability to play full seasons, but I think it's futile to discuss trading a guy who's value is at an all time low. I don't want to ship him out for a couple of third liners. He does have the potential to perform with the best in the league, I'm hoping a new coach with a simpler system gets him back to that level.
- madmike71

I think you're correct. A new system should benefit his game. The Letang I like was the one who'd drop the gloves if needed. Hard to play against. We haven't seen much of that lately.

be careful ... you are coming to the dark side.

- Oneonta Penguin

I don't have a side, I just want the Pens to win the cup. I don't care about 109 point seasons if it means another early exit from the playoffs.

I don't want to ship Letang out for a couple of 3rd line guys either. I just really hate his contract, thats all. I just think that money is better spent, then on a guy who plays 50-60 games a season. Letang played well in the playoffs this year after the 2nd game of the playoffs. He was horrible against the Islanders last year. If you can get a really good deal for him, I think you have to look at it. When I say good deal, I mean an NHL ready dman back, a top 6 forward and some type of pick.
- Thorny

A really good deal for me would be O'Reilly, Stastny or Eberle for him. It would be hard to pass. But again it's unlikely until he proves he's healthy moving forward.

Would you trade Neal for Wheeler +?

A really good deal for me would be O'Reilly, Stastny or Eberle for him. It would be hard to pass. But again it's unlikely until he proves he's healthy moving forward.

Would you trade Neal for Wheeler +?
- Orpik44

no, wheeler is overrated. we can do better than him.

A really good deal for me would be O'Reilly, Stastny or Eberle for him. It would be hard to pass. But again it's unlikely until he proves he's healthy moving forward.

Would you trade Neal for Wheeler +?
- Orpik44

If they could find a deal like that, I am ok with Letang leaving. I am all for Neal being traded, if a top 6 forward is coming back. I just see Neal as a 1 trick pony, and if he isn't doing that trick...he is useless. That Wheeler deal, would depend what else is included.

no, wheeler is overrated. we can do better than him.
- SuperHenderson13

Is Wheeler a playoff type of forward? That's my only concern. We know he can be a top 6 guy. I really like Little as well.

A really good deal for me would be O'Reilly, Stastny or Eberle for him. It would be hard to pass. But again it's unlikely until he proves he's healthy moving forward.

Would you trade Neal for Wheeler +?
- Orpik44

Stastny is a UFA. He will also cash in after this season.

I think Wheeler is like Oshie to me ... pleasing to the eye but overrated. I don't think Winnipeg makes that deal.

Colorado's need for a PMD and a scoring Dman might be closing. They are going to go after Niskanen hard and they have Tyson Barrie who had a huge year. Not sure they would have interest in Letang.

Stastny is a UFA. He will also cash in after this season.

I think Wheeler is like Oshie to me ... pleasing to the eye but overrated. I don't think Winnipeg makes that deal.

Colorado's need for a PMD and a scoring Dman might be closing. They are going to go after Niskanen hard and they have Tyson Barrie who had a huge year.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'd say Neal pleases our eyes with his snap/wrist shots as well. Other than that he just isn't a hard working guy.

So the question is....

What team will have interest in a player that comes with a 7.25 mil contract and might play 1 game with you before he has to retire?

Don't see a lot of teams lining up for that....

So the question is....

What team will have interest in a player that comes with a 7.25 mil contract and might play 1 game with you before he has to retire?

Don't see a lot of teams lining up for that....
- madmike71

i tried a similar argument earlier didn't work


and

I CANT STOP EATING PISTACHIOS!

So the question is....

What team will have interest in a player that comes with a 7.25 mil contract and might play 1 game with you before he has to retire?

Don't see a lot of teams lining up for that....
- madmike71

again, that logic applies to anyone pretty much with the contract obviously a variable.

you guys act like letang is a ticking time bomb. i have read nothing to indicate that he is at anymore risk of getting a stroke than you or i.

again, that logic applies to anyone pretty much with the contract obviously a variable.

you guys act like letang is a ticking time bomb. i have read nothing to indicate that he is at anymore risk of getting a stroke than you or i.
- SuperHenderson13

I'm not worried about the stroke at all ... just the other stuff that plagues him.

I don't have a side, I just want the Pens to win the cup. I don't care about 109 point seasons if it means another early exit from the playoffs.
- Thorny

Those points in the season go low enough and your one of the 14 teams looking in from the outside.

again, that logic applies to anyone pretty much with the contract obviously a variable.

you guys act like letang is a ticking time bomb. i have read nothing to indicate that he is at anymore risk of getting a stroke than you or i.
- SuperHenderson13

a stroke history is something that makes him more likely to have another.

So the question is....

What team will have interest in a player that comes with a 7.25 mil contract and might play 1 game with you before he has to retire?

Don't see a lot of teams lining up for that....
- madmike71

Any player who sacrifices their body is in risk to get injuried. Letang is a target for the other team's forecheckers just like Crosby and Malkin are as well.

The stroke is gone. Let's move on from this episode.