I saw this:
Anyway, Spaling does have this type of two-way grit, offense and versatility that is tough to find in the NHL.

I think his play last year raised some eyebrows...but the question is, will he ever be better than a 3rd liner?

Maybe he is Dupuis replacement...who will end up along side Crosby someday...please see I am half joking here...but just saying...Sid may be a guy that always ends up playing better with those types of players on his line.

If you look back a Neal's numbers before he came to Pittsburgh...they are very much like Hornqvist's.

Neal's point per game play while he was here exceeded expectations (I'm pretty sure)...maybe Hornqvist manages to do something similar here?
- icedog97

I don't remember Stars fans shedding any tears for Neal's departure. I don't think they felt they really "lost" that trade. Nisk wasn't doing anything, and Neal was a dbag.

Sutter-Dupes-Spalling could be a sick 3rd line!

Why the hell did Yzerman trade Purcell for a guy he had to retain 1/3 of the salary for? Crombeen's useless, but its still cheaper to just buy Crombeen out and dump Purcell for a pick if he really wanted to clear space

Kind of puzzling from Yzerman
- Deadstar

It was bizarre... Almost like he went out of his way to do a favor to Arizona.

If you bought out Crombeen (reg buyout, Tampa doesn't have any more compliance), he would have been a $383k cap hit. Even if he had to eat $1 million of Purcell's cap hit, he still would have saved more cap room that he did.

Sounds like Pens already have an offer to Kulemin. No money mentioned, but it will be for at least 3 years.

Let me preface this comment by saying I realize we don't have cap room to make a major addition. That said, the infatuation with third and fourth line players on this board is mind boggling. We already have tons of options for the third line. It's certainly in much better shape now, than it was heading into training camp last year.

Trade XXX for third and fourth line assets and a pick seems to be the common thought process by a few. Paul Martin has more value than that.

Let me preface this comment by saying I realize we don't have cap room to make a major addition. That said, the infatuation with third and fourth line players on this board is mind boggling. We already have tons of options for the third line. It's certainly in much better shape now, than it was heading into training camp last year.

Trade XXX for third and fourth line assets and a pick seems to be the common thought process by a few. Paul Martin has more value than that.
- Oneonta Penguin

So where do you see Hornqvist playing? Also, who fills second line LW and the other top 6 RW that Hornqvist does not occupy?

It was bizarre... Almost like he went out of his way to do a favor to Arizona.

If you bought out Crombeen (reg buyout, Tampa doesn't have any more compliance), he would have been a $383k cap hit. Even if he had to eat $1 million of Purcell's cap hit, he still would have saved more cap room that he did.
- rival22

I almost got into an argument with someone last night when they immediately said Gagner would be bought out by Tampa. Why would they trade Purcell just to buy the return out? Couldn't they just move Purcell for a pick? F'ing Derek Dorsett got a 3rd.

Hey Gunner, Dustin Jeffrey went UFA...

I almost got into an argument with someone last night when they immediately said Gagner would be bought out by Tampa. Why would they trade Purcell just to buy the return out? Couldn't they just move Purcell for a pick? F'ing Derek Dorsett got a 3rd.
- Deadstar

And if someone is offering Gagner at $3.2 mil, even if you have to take Crombeen's dead weight, some teams are going to offer more than a worthless 6th round pick, right?

I get that Tampa didn't want to take any salary back, but even a depth prospect and a mid round pick would be offered by someone, right?

Hey Gunner, Dustin Jeffrey went UFA...
- usethe1-2-2

He can go to Vancouver with Willie DeJardins lol.

Sounds like Pens already have an offer to Kulemin. No money mentioned, but it will be for at least 3 years.
- cap1681

Sweet 10-15 goals that's fantastic!!

Sweet 10-15 goals that's fantastic!!
- nbartley9

Last year. Just wait and see how it all plays out. You might be surprised tomorrow and be happy if they sign someone you like.

Sweet 10-15 goals that's fantastic!!
- nbartley9

Really you think playing with geno he only gets that many...



Also contract talks with sutter begin this week.. aren't u excited

Last year
- dbell646

im pumping up his numbers a little bit, last year he had a glorious 9 goals.

Sweet 10-15 goals that's fantastic!!
- nbartley9

Was thinking more along the line of a solid, 2 way player that will make the Pens tougher to play against. Isn't that what everybody was screaming about leading up to the playoffs this year?

Really you think playing with geno he only gets that many...



Also contract talks with sutter begin this week.. aren't u excited
- nh4442

He will get offered more else where,,, I hope.

im pumping up his numbers a little bit, last year he had a glorious 7 goals.
- nbartley9

If Dupuis can net 20 plus playing with Sid I think Kulemin can do that easily. He scored 30 in the past not playing with a talent like Malkin.

Sounds like Pens already have an offer to Kulemin. No money mentioned, but it will be for at least 3 years.
- cap1681

If true, it's a really great move. The buddy buddy thing with Malkin isn't very important to me other than he may sign for a bit less to be here. He may not score 30 again but to be fair, he was pigeonholed into a defensive role with Toronto and did really well at that. I think if he gets a chance in the top 6 he will fit quite well. If not, he's excellent on the 3rd line.

beep

Sweet 10-15 goals that's fantastic!!
- nbartley9

That's all Kennedy brought and people loved him. Kulemin is big, physical, kills penalties, blocks shots, and has a 2/1 takeaway to giveaway ratio on a Toronto team that turns the puck over like crazy. He actually has pretty nice potential

So where do you see Hornqvist playing? Also, who fills second line LW and the other top 6 RW that Hornqvist does not occupy?
- usethe1-2-2

I have no idea where Hornqvuist plays. We need another top six forward. I don't like the thought of Kulemin as a second liner with Geno. To me, he is a third line guy.

There is chatter that Gorges in MTL might be in play? Would love to see the Pens go after him. Great stay at home D-man with a cap friendly contract.

I have no idea where Hornqvuist plays. We need another top six forward. I don't like the thought of Kulemin as a second liner with Geno. To me, he is a third line guy.
- Oneonta Penguin

Exactly

Let me preface this comment by saying I realize we don't have cap room to make a major addition. That said, the infatuation with third and fourth line players on this board is mind boggling. We already have tons of options for the third line. It's certainly in much better shape now, than it was heading into training camp last year.

Trade XXX for third and fourth line assets and a pick seems to be the common thought process by a few. Paul Martin has more value than that.
- Oneonta Penguin

While I agree that some of the higher-end talent like Martin has more value than bottom-6 forwards and picks, the argument that this team is lacking in the bottom-6 is still valid. It's still weak, at best. As of now, we're still looking at 80% the pre-deadline bottom-6. The only change is Spaling in place of one of the rotating cast of AHL'ers that were filling out that bottom-6 alongside Sutter. And that is not good enough to go into the playoffs, considering that 1 or both of Goc & Stemp are likely gone. And even they didn't drastically improve the bottom-6 other than making the 3rd line serviceable instead of abysmal.

They need to improve the bottom-6. I think Vitale or Sill can still slot in on the bottom-6 and be effective in their roles. I think Adams needs replaced or to end up in the press box 9 out of 10 nights. Glass needs replaced. And the AHL'ers need to be back in the AHL where they belong. There's still a lot of holes that are being square peg into round hole'd in that half of the lineup to take care of.

So while I agree with Martin for some 3rd/4th liners and a pick is getting less than value for the guy, that does not negate the argument that some legit 3rd/4th liners need to be had.

Crosby, bad year? 17 points a head of the next dude. Yeah, pretty terrible.
- pensfan024

Talking about his play-off performance dude.

I have no idea where Hornqvuist plays. We need another top six forward. I don't like the thought of Kulemin as a second liner with Geno. To me, he is a third line guy.
- Oneonta Penguin

We won a Cup with Talbot and Fedotenko on the second line. LA just won with Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli on their second line. Those two will likely end up being very good NHL offensive players, but they aren't there yet.

A player like Kulemin could be an effective NHL second line player with his skill set.