Pens will probably make a move today. With Rutherford comments about free agency I wouldn't be surprised if a few deals are already done and will be announced early tomorrow.
- dbell646

I think their best hope in FA will be Kulemin and some 4th line fill-in types.

I'm not big on Kulemin but I am intrigued at the potential with Malkin.

Sid-Bennett-Kunitz
Malkin-Kulemin-Horn
Sutter-Duper-Spalling
FA-Gibbons-Goc
Adams

I'd like to see them sign a better 4th line option that Adams. I think they will since JR did everything to call out the 4th line other than say "Craig Adams needs to be replaced".

I have Bennett on the 1st line as JR has made it pretty clear that he wants more grit on the 3rd and 4th lines. Not exactly Bennett's game.

Was off the grid all weekend.....

Love the Neal trade. Would have like to seen a little bit more return, even a 2nd round pick would have been nice, but no big deal. Hornqvist makes this team harder to play against, bottom line. We may be giving up a little in goal production, but this team can easily survive that. Hornqvist is a great 2 way player, can be a net front presence on the PP (which is something that is missed in the playoffs), and can be a leader.

I think their best hope in FA will be Kulemin and some 4th line fill-in types.

I'm not big on Kulemin but I am intrigued at the potential with Malkin.

Sid-Bennett-Kunitz
Malkin-Kulemin-Horn
Sutter-Duper-Spalling
FA-Gibbons-Goc
Adams

I'd like to see them sign a better 4th line option that Adams. I think they will since JR did everything to call out the 4th line other than say "Craig Adams needs to be replaced".

I have Bennett on the 1st line as JR has made it pretty clear that he wants more grit on the 3rd and 4th lines. Not exactly Bennett's game.
- 87_71_11_29

Is Bennett scheduled to be ready when the season starts?

Was off the grid all weekend.....

Love the Neal trade. Would have like to seen a little bit more return, even a 2nd round pick would have been nice, but no big deal. Hornqvist makes this team harder to play against, bottom line. We may be giving up a little in goal production, but this team can easily survive that. Hornqvist is a great 2 way player, can be a net front presence on the PP (which is something that is missed in the playoffs), and can be a leader.
- cap1681

Might not give up anything in goal production. I know Ryan hates spaling but it reads as if we got a player on the rise

Might not give up anything in goal production. I know Ryan hates spaling but it reads as if we got a player on the rise
- dbell646

Yeah, plus you never know what putting Hornqvist with Malkin or Crosby might do for his offensive output. He put up 20+ in the offensive black hole that is Nashville. Really wouldn't be surprised to see him score more goals than Neal this season.

Might not give up anything in goal production. I know Ryan hates spaling but it reads as if we got a player on the rise
- dbell646

Apparently he's a hard worker, but his stats read like Brandon Sutter's from this year (and Sutter's BEST linemates were Gibbons and Megna). He's also not a defensive guy at even strength. I don't really understand the move unless we're dangling Sutter.

Yeah, plus you never know what putting Hornqvist with Malkin or Crosby might do for his offensive output. He put up 20+ in the offensive black hole that is Nashville. Really wouldn't be surprised to see him score more goals than Neal this season.
- cap1681

I am looking at Hornqvist as more what Jussi brought to the Malkin line. Which we needed more than keeping Neal. Now if they get another sharpshooter, the line should be close to the same as last year. If they get a shooter who can make his own plays, the line should improve.

Crosby line, I don't think anyone here is ever going to worry about, as long as Sid isn't hurt, that line will dominate games.

Would have liked if the Pens got Thompson. Good cap hit for 3 more years. Good 4th line center. Heart and soul guy. Ducks gave them a 4th and 7th.....I'd do that in a heartbeat for that guy.

I am looking at Hornqvist as more what Jussi brought to the Malkin line. Which we needed more than keeping Neal. Now if they get another sharpshooter, the line should be close to the same as last year. If they get a shooter who can make his own plays, the line should improve.

Crosby line, I don't think anyone here is ever going to worry about, as long as Sid isn't hurt, that line will dominate games.
- Guile

Difference is Hornqvist is better then Jussi.

I am looking at Hornqvist as more what Jussi brought to the Malkin line. Which we needed more than keeping Neal. Now if they get another sharpshooter, the line should be close to the same as last year. If they get a shooter who can make his own plays, the line should improve.

Crosby line, I don't think anyone here is ever going to worry about, as long as Sid isn't hurt, that line will dominate games.
- Guile

Difference is Hornqvist is better then Jussi.

Difference is Hornqvist is better then Jussi.
- cap1681

I will admit to not following Hornqvist even close to enough to make that judgement. If he is, then this trade is better than I thought.

I still would have liked to have kept Jussi... hell, maybe we are gonna resign him last second. Very wishful thinking, but he is a player I want to keep here.

Apparently he's a hard worker, but his stats read like Brandon Sutter's from this year (and Sutter's BEST linemates were Gibbons and Megna). He's also not a defensive guy at even strength. I don't really understand the move unless we're dangling Sutter.
- cygnus41

Write ups I read says the guy plays 200 feet and is gritty. Goals are not a necessity on this team but if he chips in 10-15 on the 3rd line thats a pretty big upgrade IMO. I think as the season goes on we will be happy or at least satisfied with this move.

Dunno why everyone excludes megna on their roster.. He has shown he can play and put up points with geno. He has speed skill and grit and would fit in the 4th line role and can be bumped up to 2nd or 3rd line if there were injuries in games.


Also thoughts on getting justin peters as a legit backup... only ufa with ties to Carolina I want...

Dunno why everyone excludes megna on their roster.. He has shown he can play and put up points with geno. He has speed skill and grit and would fit in the 4th line role and can be bumped up to 2nd or 3rd line if there were injuries in games.


Also thoughts on getting justin peters as a legit backup... only ufa with ties to Carolina I want...
- nh4442

Megna is a 4th liner. His ceiling is 3rd line and he isn't at his ceiling.

Megna is a 4th liner. His ceiling is 3rd line and he isn't at his ceiling.
- Ryan_Wilson

But he needs to play in order to get to that ceiling.. and at least you have him on ur roster... lol

Do you have stats and chart about where peters lies against other ufa goalies?

Kulemin, Jokinen and Goc for the right prices? Yes.

No B.Pouliot or B.Boyle? We need one of those type of guys on our bottom lines.

But he needs to play in order to get to that ceiling.. and at least you have him on ur roster... lol

Do you have stats and chart about where peters lies against other ufa goalies?
- nh4442

Even strength save percentage of .911% last two years. That is pretty low. Zatkoff was .916% last year.

The more I read on Horn and Spall, the more I like this deal.

Apparently, Horn was quite respected in the NVille room and community. Good leader. Plays all 200 feet. Net front presence. Sounds about what we needed.

I read different things on Spalling. Some say he is physical and a perfect 3rd line player. Others say he isn't physical, overrated. Nothing special.

Guess we'll see.

Kulemin, Jokinen and Goc for the right prices? Yes.

No B.Pouliot or B.Boyle? We need one of those type of guys on our bottom lines.
- Orpik44

You would be buying high on those Rangers players. Anytime players go on a deep run their values go up. Smarter to find other options. Boyle isn't really that good anyways.

Kulemin, Jokinen and Goc for the right prices? Yes.

No B.Pouliot or B.Boyle? We need one of those type of guys on our bottom lines.
- Orpik44

I think Pouliot and Boyle will end up being out of our price range.

Even strength save percentage of .911% last two years. That is pretty low. Zatkoff was .916% last year.
- Ryan_Wilson

I said this weeks ago, but how about Chad Johnson. Would come cheap, put up good numbers last year.

I said this weeks ago, but how about Chad Johnson. Would come cheap, put up good numbers last year.
- cap1681

Boston's backup goalies seem to have a nice track record. (Rask, Khudobin) and now Johnson.

Tampa cleared a bit of Cap space yesterday, I wonder if they miss on a big UFA defender if Paul Martin would waive to go there. They do have some good young talent to get back and they certainly have a need for Martin.

Tampa cleared a bit of Cap space yesterday, I wonder if they miss on a big UFA defender if Paul Martin would waive to go there. They do have some good young talent to get back and they certainly have a need for Martin.
- usethe1-2-2

I think they would rather pay Ehrhoff and save the assets.

You would be buying high on those Rangers players. Anytime players go on a deep run their values go up. Smarter to find other options. Boyle isn't really that good anyways.
- Ryan_Wilson

True...that's why I said "type of guys". Do you have any other names out there that could Fit their mold? Could we consider David Moss one of them?